Eurhopalothrix jennya

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

The type samples were collected from lowland rainforest leaf-litter samples.

Identification

Keys including this Species

Key to Old World Basicerotini

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 4.966666667° to 1.55°.


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.

jennya. Eurhopalothrix jennya Taylor, 1990b: 413, figs. 16-18, 48 (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 (mm): HL 0.57; HW 0.61; CI 106; ML 0.16; MI 28; SL 0.33; SI 54; PW 0.37; WL 0.66. The Kampong Segu paratypes have HW 0.59- 0.63, and those for Gunong Mulu 0.58-0.63. Eyes minute, with 4 to 6 facets. Occipital border broadly, distinctly, but relatively shallowly emarginate. Petiolar node in dorsal view essentially square, its length and breadth subequal.

Specialised enlarged hairs well differentiated from those of the ground pilosity. Each clavate, expanded to about its height. Distributed (when complement is complete) as follows: 3 pairs on frons, where the hairs are well dispersed; 4 frame a large transverse, posteromedian rectangle (the posterior pair dividing the occipital border approximately into thirds), with one on each side immediately behind the eye. In effect the head has 2 transverse rows, the anterior of 4 hairs, the posterior of 2, with the latter each aligned longitudinally with one of the median anterior hairs. Promesonotum with an erect dorsolateral hair on each side, at about its mid length (one or both of these hairs is frequently missing from specimens). One pair (posterolateral) on petiolar node (missing from holotype), and 6 on dorsal surface of first gastral tergite, arranged in 2 longitudinal rows of 3 [one K. Segu paratype has a 4th hair (? supernumerary) on one side]. None of the type workers has posterolateral erect hairs on the postpetiole, similar to those of the queen (see below). Slight impressions in the appropriate positions imply that these have been present, but were lost in all specimens examined. The equivalent postpetiolar hairs in other species seem to be more deciduous than those in other positions. Ground pilosity of minute scattered hairs is moderately dense on all dorsal body surfaces, scapes and legs.

Queen

General features as in the worker, with the usual differences of full alate sexuality. Specialised hairs of head and petiole as in worker. Additional such hairs on the 2 available specimens (apart from those at the gastral apex) as follows: 1 pair at posteromedian border of pronotum; 2 pairs (relatively short and slender) in 2 longitudinal rows on disc of scutum; 2 pairs placed respectively laterally and posterolaterally on margin of scutum; a pair laterally on scutellum; and a posterolateral pair on postpetiole. Twelve hairs are scattered on the first gastral tergum, loosely arranged in 4 longitudinal rows.

Type Material

Type Locality: Malaysia: Sarawak: First Division: Kampong Segu, 20 miles S.W. of Kuching (01°33'N., 110°20'E.). Paratypes: Malaysia: Sarawak: Forest Division: Kampong Segu, holotype, I5 para type workers, 2 paratype queens (RWT accs 68.289, 291, 292, 4.vi.1968); Fourth Division: Cunong Mulu National Park, near Marudi (04°15'N., 114°19'E.), 21 paratype workers (P. Hammond, J. E. Marshall, v-viii.1978); (Long Palau), 4 paratype workers (B. Bolton, 2.ix.1977). All samples from lowland rainforest, usually from leaf litter berlesates. Holotype and most paratypes in Australian National Insect Collection (type No. 7779); holotype gold-palladium coated for SEM study. Paratypes in The Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Museum of Comparative Zoology, MKUB, MKUC.

Etymology

Named for my friend Jenny Rothschild, formerly of Semengoh Research Station, near Kuching, Sarawak. The name should be considered a noun in apposition.

References

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 413, figs. 16-18, 48 worker, queen described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Mezger D., and M. Pfeiffer. 2011. Partitioning the impact of abiotic factors and spatial patterns on species richness and community structure of ground ant assemblages in four Bornean rainforests. Ecography 34: 39-48.
Mezger D., and M. Pfeiffer. 2011. Partitioning the impact of abiotic factors and spatial patterns on species richness and community structure of ground assemblages in four Bornean rainforest. Ecography 34: 39-48.
Pfeiffer M., D. Mezger, and J. Dyckmans. 2013. Trophic ecology of tropical leaf litter ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) - a stable isotope study in four types of Bornean rain forest. Myrmecological News 19: 31-41.
Pfeiffer M., and D. Mezger. 2012. Biodiversity Assessment in Incomplete Inventories: Leaf Litter Ant Communities in Several Types of Bornean Rain Forest. PLoS ONE 7(7): e40729. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0040953
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.