Euponera maeva

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Euponera maeva
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Ponerinae
Tribe: Ponerini
Genus: Euponera
Species complex: sikorae
Species: E. maeva
Binomial name
Euponera maeva
(Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2013)

Pachycondyla maeva casent0034340 p 1 high.jpg

Pachycondyla maeva casent0034340 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Known only from the single worker holotype that was collected from the leaf litter of montane rainforest.

Identification

Rakotonirina and Fisher (2013) - Worker. Clypeus anteriorly wide and straight, with slight median notch; reddish ferruginous species with densely and finely reticulate-punctate sculpture; mandible smooth between punctulae; posterior margin of head concave; antennal scape not surpassing posterior cephalic margin; metanotal groove deeply impressed; dorsal outline of mesosoma with clearly convex mesonotum; posterolateral margin of propodeum bordered with narrow lamellae, which form an obtuse angle at about the level of the propodeal spiracle; petiole node anteroposteriorly flattened, its posterior margin medially notched in dorsal view. Anterior face of third abdominal segment straight, not forming a shallow impression; antennal scape and outer surface of tibiae without erect hairs; dorsum of head and rest of body covered with a few erect, slender hairs.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -21.29° to -21.29°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Malagasy Region: Madagascar (type locality).

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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Biology

Castes

Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

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

  • maeva. Pachycondyla maeva Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2013: 467, figs. 8, 10, 13, 46, 47, 48, 75 (w.) MADAGASCAR. Combination in Euponera: Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014: 87.

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

Description

Worker

(1 specimen): HW: 1.35, HL: 1.54, CI: 88, SL: 1.07, SI: 79, PW: 1.05, WL: 2.01, NH: 0.95, NL: 0.45, NW: 0.83, DNI: 186, LNI: 213.

Head cordate, broader behind than in front; sides broadly convex; posterior margin distinctly medially excised. Head dorsum with dense and fine reticulate punctures. Eyes small and flattened, not protruding, situated in anterior fourth of lateral borders of head. Antennal scape not reaching posterior cephalic margin; funicular segments wider towards apical portion. Anterior clypeal margin straight and slightly notched medially. Mandibles smooth and shiny apart from scattered punctures; apical margin armed with eight teeth.

With mesosoma in dorsal view, metanotal groove deeply impressed and straight; in profile, mesonotum distinctly convex; junction between propodeal declivity and lateral portion of propodeum slightly marginate; posterior margin of propodeum narrowly lamellate, forming obtuse angle at about the level of propodeal spiracle; mesosoma dorsum densely and finely reticulate-rugulose. With petiole in lateral view, node anteroposteriorly flattened, posterior margin medially notched in dorsal view. Anterior face of first gastral segment not forming a shallow cavity; first two gastral tergites densely punctate.

Body covered with short golden hairs and very dense pubescence; antennal scape and outer surface of tibiae lacking erect hairs. Integument matte and red ferruginous in color.

Type Material

Holotype worker: Madagascar, Fianarantsoa, PN Ranomafana, Vatoharanana River, 4.1 km 231° SW Ranomafana, -21.29, 47.4333, 1100 m, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), montane rainforest, 27–31 Mar 2003 (Fisher, Griswold et al.), collection code: BLF08400, specimen code: CASENT0034340 (California Academy of Sciences).

References