Dolichoderus mariae

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Dolichoderus mariae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dolichoderinae
Tribe: Dolichoderini
Genus: Dolichoderus
Species: D. mariae
Binomial name
Dolichoderus mariae
Forel, 1885

Dolichoderus mariae casent0003312 profile 1.jpg

Dolichoderus mariae casent0003312 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen Label

Synonyms

This ground-nesting species forms large colonies and forages on low vegetation for arthropod prey and honeydew.

Photo Gallery

  • Workers tending aphids. Photo by Tom Murray.
  • Workers found at the edge of a marsh in Door Co. Wisconsin. Photo by James Trager.
  • Edge of a marsh in Door Co. Wisconsin, with Dolichoderus mariae. Photo by James Trager.

Identification

Identification Keys including this Taxon

Distribution

Reported from Massachusetts west through Illinois to Minnesota and Oklahoma, and south to Florida and Mississippi.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 46.81° to 30.02°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Nearctic Region: Canada, United States (type locality).
Neotropical Region: Mexico.

Distribution based on AntMaps

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Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
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Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.
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Abundance

Can be locally abundant but populations can be spotty, particularly in the southern most portions of its range.

Biology

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Dolichoderus mariae casent0103850 head 1.jpgDolichoderus mariae casent0103850 profile 1.jpgDolichoderus mariae casent0103850 dorsal 1.jpgDolichoderus mariae casent0103850 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0103850. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by ABS, Lake Placid, FL, USA.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • mariae. Dolichoderus mariae Forel, 1885a: 349 (w.) U.S.A. Mayr, 1886d: 436 (q.); Wheeler, W.M. 1905d: 306 (m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1966: 726 (l.). Combination in D. (Hypoclinea): Emery, 1894c: 229. Senior synonym of blatchleyi, davisi: Creighton, 1950a: 334. See also: Smith, D.R. 1979: 1415; Johnson, C. 1989a: 2; Mackay, 1993b: 75; Shattuck, 1994: 58.
  • davisi. Dolichoderus mariae subsp. davisi Wheeler, W.M. 1905d: 308 (w.) U.S.A. Junior synonym of mariae: Creighton, 1950a: 334.
  • blatchleyi. Dolichoderus (Hypoclinea) mariae var. blatchleyi Wheeler, W.M. 1917i: 462 (w.) U.S.A. Junior synonym of mariae: Creighton, 1950a: 334.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Johnson (1989) - The species is basically bicolored. The mandibles, antennae, head, alitrunk, legs, and petiole are brownish-orange and the first segment of the gaster has a variable, anterior band of this lighter color. The remainder of the gaster is dark brown to black. Intensity of color varies from callow age to maturity in ants and somewhat through time for museum specimens. I have seen museum specimens of Dolichoderus over 50 years of age, however, with essentially the same color as found in recently collected material. Also color interpretation varies. Wheeler (1905a) described this species as "... yellowish blood-red, and gaster black", and also as "...bright-red and blue-black bodies".

Structurally, a fine granulation sculptures the integument of head, pro- and mesothorax, and faint depressions or foveolae also occur on the head. This sculpture is weak, leaving a superficially smooth, shining surface under low to moderate magnification. A more distinct granulation sculptures the propodeum where a network of delicate ridges enclose shallow polygon-like depressions. This sculpture is weak leaving a shining propodeum in strong light. The integument of petiole and especially the gaster is smooth and reflective. No erect hairs exist on head, scapes, or body, one of the more distinctive attributes of this species. In dorsal view, the length of the propodeum distinctly exceeds its width. The integument within the concavity of the declivous face of propodeum with a series of fine vertical ridges or striations; some specimens have a distinct, centrally-located vertical ridge. A delicate granulation within the concavity reduces reflectivity often to a near-opaque state.

Type Material

Type locality - Vineland, New Jersey.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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  • Clark Adam. Personal communication on November 25th 2013.
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  • Emery C. 1895. Beiträge zur Kenntniss der nordamerikanischen Ameisenfauna. (Schluss). Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere 8: 257-360.
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  • Menke, S.B. Personal Communication. Field Museum Specimen Data
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  • Talbot M. 1956. Flight activities of the ant Dolichoderus (Hypoclinea) mariae Forel. Psyche 63: 134-139.
  • Talbot M. 1976. A list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Edwin S. George Reserve, Livingston County, Michigan. Great Lakes Entomologist 8: 245-246.
  • Van Pelt A. F. 1966. Activity and density of old-field ants of the Savannah River Plant, South Carolina. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 82: 35-43.
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  • Warren, L.O. and E.P. Rouse. 1969. The Ants of Arkansas. Bulletin of the Agricultural Experiment Station 742:1-67
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  • Wheeler W. M. 1904. The ants of North Carolina. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 20: 299-306.
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  • Wheeler, G.C., J. Wheeler and P.B. Kannowski. 1994. CHECKLIST OF THE ANTS OF MICHIGAN (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE). Great Lakes Entomologist 26:1:297-310
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  • Young, J. and D.E. Howell. 1964. Ants of Oklahoma. Miscellaneous Publications of Oklahoma State University MP-71