Eurhopalothrix dubia

Eurhopalothrix dubia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Eurhopalothrix
Species:	E. dubia
Binomial name
	Eurhopalothrix dubia; Taylor, 1990 Specimen Labels

The type specimens were collected from Berlese funnel extractions of rainforest leaf mould.

Identification

Mezger & Pfeiffer (2010) - Distinguished from any other species of E. platisquama group by higher number of setae on upper section of head: six. Square array of four standing setae grouped in middle of head and anterior to this array two further standing setae. Postpetiole with one pair of setae. Eye with about 20 om-matidia. Squamiform ground pilosity dense, resembling Eurhopalothrix platisquama. Distance between squamiform hairs 12 μm on average, i.e., smaller than in Eurhopalothrix elke and Eurhopalothrix seguensis. Rugolae with 25 μm diameter similar to those of E. elke Scape with one outer row of ten setae and one inner row of six setae. Mandible 1.5 times as broad as long, comparable to that of E. platisquama. Masticatory margin with nine teeth.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 5.866666667° to 2.8°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

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

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.

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.

Biology

Explore Overview of Eurhopalothrix 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)."

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Castes

Nomenclature

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

dubia. Eurhopalothrix dubia Taylor, 1990b: 409, figs. 13-15, 47 (w.q.) 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 (holotype, mm): HL 0.69; HW 0.74; CI 107; ML 0.17; MI 25; SL 0.40; SI 54; PW 0.44; WL 0.78. The smallest (Umas Umas) and largest (Lungmanis) paratypes have HW 0.73 and 0.85 mm respectively. Occipital border almost straight, transverse [its outline at most minutely curved (usually concave) or sinuate]. Petiolar node in dorsal view essentially square, with its length and breadth subequal, to distinctly but moderately wider than long.

Frons and clypeus almost entirely, and other dorsal body surfaces extensively, covered by a ground pilosity of dense, flattened, thoroughly appressed, squamous, shining silvery hairs, which are almost contiguous and fill or overlap the punctures bearing them. These hairs with feathered margins under SEM examination. Specialised erect hairs also present, well differentiated from those of the ground pilosity. Each clavate, barely expanded, though relatively thick and columnar; distributed (when complement is complete) as follows: 6 on frons: 2 pairs grouped posteromedially at the occipital border in a tight square array (the hairs spaced by about their average length); the other 2 hairs each midway between this group and the ipsilateral eye. Such hairs lacking on promesonotum and petiolar node, and on dorsum of first gastral tergite; one pair (posterolateral) on postpetiole. Ground pilosity of scapes and legs dense, generally less specialised than on body, though squamous hairs are present on the antennal scapes and humeral knees.

Type Material

Type Locality: Malaysia: Sabah: Umas Umas, near Tawau (04°16'N., 117°54'E.). Malaysia: Sabah: Lungmanis, mile 45 (Labuk Rd, ex Sandakan), 4 paratype workers (RWT aces 68.475, 502, 12-13.vi.1968); Sepilok Forest Reserve, near Sandakan (05°52'N., 118°04'E.), paratype worker (RWT ace 68.451, 12.vi.1968); Umas Umas (type locality), holotype, 7 paratype workers, 2 paratype queens (RWT aces 68.626, 627, 12-13.iv.1968). All specimens from Berlese funnel extractions of rainforest leaf mould. Holotype and paratypes in Australian National Insect Collection (type No. 7778), holotype gold-palladium coated for SEM study. Worker paratypes in The Natural History Museum, Museum of Comparative Zoology, MKUB.

References

Mezger, D. and Pfeiffer, M. 2010. Eurhopalothrix elke, a new species from Borneo, and a key to the species of the E. platisquama group. Myrmecological News. 13:133-139.
Satria, R., Jannatan, R. 2021. Dealate queens of the ant genus Eurhopalothrix Brown et Kempf, 1961 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) from Sumatra. Far Eastern entomologist 430, 11–16 (doi:10.25221/fee.430.3).
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 409, figs. 13-15, 47 worker, queen described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Kishimoto-Yamata K., F. Hyodo, M. Matsuoka, Y. Hashimoto, M. Kon, T. Ochi, S. Yamane, R. Ishii, and T. Itioka. 2012. Effects of remnant primary forests on ant and dung beetle species diversity in a secondary forest in Sarawak, Malaysia. Journal of Insect Conservation DOI 10.1007/s10841-012-9544-6
Mezger, D., and M. Pfeiffer. "Eurhopalothrix elke, a new species from Borneo, and a key to the species of the E. platisquama group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Myrmecological News 13 (2010): 133-139.
Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58
Taylor R. W. 1990. 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). Invertebrate Taxonomy 4: 397-425.
Woodcock P., D. P. Edwards, R. J. Newton, C. Vun Khen, S. H. Bottrell, and K. C. Hamer. 2013. Impacts of Intensive Logging on the Trophic Organisation of Ant Communities in a Biodiversity Hotspot. PLoS ONE 8(4): e60756. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0060756
Woodcock P., D. P. Edwards, T. M. Fayle, R. J. Newton, C. Vun Khen, S. H. Bottrell, and K. C. Hamer. 2011. The conservation value of South East Asia's highly degraded forests: evidence from leaf-litter ants. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B. 366: 3256-3264.