Eurhopalothrix browni
| Eurhopalothrix browni | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Eurhopalothrix |
| Species: | E. browni |
| Binomial name | |
| Eurhopalothrix browni Taylor, 1990 | |
The worker holotype was collected from berlesate of rainforest leaf-mould
Contents
Identification
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo (type locality), Indonesia, Malaysia.
Distribution based on AntMaps
Distribution based on AntWeb specimens
Check data from AntWeb
Biology
Little is known about the biology of most species in this genus. Nests are rarely found, and queens and males have not been collected for many species. Longino (2013) summarized their biology "Eurhopalothrix specimens are encountered almost exclusively in samples from mass extraction techniques that recover small arthropods in sifted litter, rotten wood, and soil. Densities, at least in the northern Neotropics, are usually low, with workers occurring in < 10% of quantitative samples of 1 m2 litter plots, but occasionally may reach densities as high as 40% of samples. Live colonies of Old World Eurhopalothrix were observed by Wilson (1956) and Wilson and Brown (1984), and a Costa Rican colony of Basiceros manni was observed by Wilson and Hölldobler (1986). All basicerotines, including Eurhopalothrix, are thought to be predators in tropical leaf litter, relying on stealth or sit-and-wait techniques. Sampled specimens are often coated with a thin layer of clay, especially on the face, which is thought to function as camouflage, enhancing crypsis (Hölldobler & Wilson, 1986). Highly specialized spatulate setae may be instrumental in acquisition and adherence of the clay layer (Hölldobler & Wilson, 1986)."
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's New General Catalogue, a catalogue of the world's ants.
- browni. Eurhopalothrix browni Taylor, 1990b: 404, figs. 2-4, 44 (w.) BORNEO.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
General features as illustrated. All Class A attributes present, with those of Class B, unless otherwise indicated. Dimensions (mm): HL 0.50; HW 0.53; CI 106; ML 0.12; MI 24; SL 0•29; SI 55; PW 0.29; WL 0.56. Eyes either lacking or imperceptibly minute. Face of clypeus between frontal lobes divided by an almost vestigial low, transverse welt.
Frons spanned by a slightly arched, shallowly depressed groove emanating on each side at about the normal position of the eye; bordered anteriorly by a conspicuous transverse welt. Occipital border broadly and distinctly emarginate (its outline comparatively somewhat 'V' shaped; not an even arc); occipital angles approximately right angular. Mesosomal profile almost a continuous curve, but interrupted at the promesonotal/propodeal junction by a minute, very feebly indented notch. Metanotal groove weakly incised dorsally as a distinct trench which more-or-less severs the surrounding sculpture. Petiolar node in dorsal view distinctly longer than wide. Specialised enlarged hairs lacking on promesonotum, petiole and postpetiole, represented only be one pair on the frons (one hair has been lost from the holotype); the remaining hair clavate, expanded to about t its maximum height, well differentiated from the minute ground pilosity. Several such hairs at least are probably normally present on the dorsal surface of first gastral tergite, where the holotype has a single, unpaired, club-shaped mediolateral hair. Ground pilosity minute, scattered, moderately prominent on gastral dorsum.
Type Material
Malaysia: Sabab: Lungmanis, mile 45 (Labuk Rd, ex Sandakan) (05°52'N., 118°04'E.). Holotype. Worker, collected from berlesate, rainforest leaf mould (RWT ace 68.502, 12-13.vi.1968). In Australian National Insect Collection (type No. 7775); the specimen gold-palladium coated for SEM study.
Etymology
Named for Professor W. L. Brown Jr, of Cornell University.
References
- Taylor, R. W. 1990c. New Asian ants of the tribe Basicerotini, with an on-line computer interactive key to the twenty-six known Indo-Australian species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Invertebr. Taxon. 4: 397-425 (page 404, figs. 2-4, 44 worker described)
