.jpg){kind=logo}
Formica liopthalma
| Formica liopthalma | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Tribe: | Formicini |
| Genus: | Formica |
| Species: | F. liopthalma |
| Binomial name | |
| Formica liopthalma Chang & He, 2002 | |
Seifert & Schultz (2021) found that while the description of this species clearly indicates it belongs to the subgenus Coptoformica, it does not allow a species-level identification. The material investigated during their revision indicated four species to occur in Gansu (the type locality of F. liopthalma): the Beishan morph of Formica exsecta, Formica pisarskii, Formica manchu and Formica brunneonitida. The very rough, unskilled description of Chang & He, mentioning “hairs very sparse” and a weakly notched petiolar crest, could possibly indicate a synonymy with F. brunneonitida but this remains a speculation.
Identification
Chang and He (2002) - Similar to Formica longiceps, but F. liopthalma lacking pubescence on both eye faces; upper 1/3 of petiole node bent forward; posterior half of head dorsum black; hairs very sparse.
Distribution
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China (type locality).
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
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- liopthalma. Formica liopthalma Chang & He, 2002a: 52, figs. 13, 14, 51 (w.) CHINA.
Type Material
- Holotype worker, No. 99 - 096, 18-V-1999, Wuwei, 3400 m, Gansu Province, coll. CHANG Yourde.
- Paratypes 7 workers, No. 99 - 254; 12 workers, No 99 - 005; 4 workers, No 99 - 090, same as holotype. Deposited in Ningxia Agricultural College collection.
Description
References
- Chang, Y.-D.; He, D.-H. 2002a. Taxonomic study of genus Formica L. from Northwest China with descriptions of nine new species and four new records (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Zoological Research. 23:49-60. (page 52, worker described)
- Seifert, B., Schultz, R. 2021. A taxonomic revision of the Palaearctic ant subgenus Coptoformica Müller, 1923 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Beiträge zur Entomologie 71 (2): 177–220 (doi:10.21248/contrib.entomol.71.2.177-220).
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Chang Y.D., and D.H. He. 2002. Taxonomic study of genus Formica L. from Northwest China with descriptions of nine new species and four new records. Zoological Research 23(1): 49-60.
- Tie Ru, and Xu Shengquan. 2004. Variety and distribution of ants in Northwest China. Journal of Ningxia Agricultural College 25(3): 4-9.