Formosimyrma lanyuensis

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Formosimyrma lanyuensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Formosimyrma
Species: F. lanyuensis
Binomial name
Formosimyrma lanyuensis
Terayama, 2009

Formosimyrma lanuyensis side (www.niaes.affrc.go.jp).jpg

Formosimyrma lanuyensis top (www.niaes.affrc.go.jp).jpg Specimen Label

The holotype worker was collected in an evergreen forest in Taiwan. This is the only known representative of this montypic genus.

Identification

Terayama (2009) - F. lanyuensis is the only species of the genus Formosimyrma, which is a member of the Solenopsidini tribe in the Subfamily Myrmicinae. Within the genera of tribe Solenopsidini, this ant most closely resembles Mayriella, distributed from Nepal through Southeast Asia into Papua New Guinea and Australia to New Zealand. However, it is distinguished from the latter by the median portion of clypeus with a thin and high longitudinal wall (anterior margin of clypeus armed with a pair of sharp teeth just above the mandibles in Mayriella), 8-segmented antennae (10-segmented in Mayriella), and oval eyes (eyes elongate and lower section narrows into a point in Mayriella).

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Taiwan (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

Worker

FormosimyrmaH.jpgFormosimyrmaL.jpgFormosimyrmaD.jpg
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Nomenclature

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

  • lanyuensis. Formosimyrma lanyuensis Terayama, 2009: 159, figs. 225-229 (w.) TAIWAN.
    • Type-material: holotype worker.
    • Type-locality: Taiwan: Taidong Pref., Lanyu I. (Orchid I.), 1.x.1993 (M. Terayama).
    • Type-depository: NIAS.
    • Distribution: Taiwan.

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

Description

Worker

Head densely punctate, 1.14 times as long as wide, with slightly concave posterior margin and subparallel sides in full face view. Mandible smooth and triangular, with 7 teeth; apical to basal 2nd teeth acutely triangular, and basal tooth rectangular. Anterior margin of clypeus convex, median portion with a thin longitudinal wall; the wall well produced anteriorlly in full face view. Antenna with 8 segments; scape short, not reaching posterior margin of head, SI = 77; 3rd to 5th segment each wider than long; 6th segment twice as long as length of 5th segment; 7th segment 1.6 times as long as wide; terminal segment 2.5 times as long as wide. Eye oval, 0.05 mm in maximum diameter.

Alitrunk densely punctate, promesonotal dorsum convex, anterior and lateral corners of dorsal disc round, not carinate; propodeal tooth acute, longer than its basal width. Petiole densely punctate, with relatively long peduncle, node with convex dorsal margin and straight anterior and posterior margins; in dorsal view, dorsal disc 0.63 times as long as wide, with convex anterior and posterior margins. Postpetiole densely punctate, higher than long, with convex dorsal margin; in dorsal view, dorsal disc 0.75 times as long as wide.

Gaster smooth and shining, with many sub decumbent hairs.

Measurements (mm). HL 0.63, HW 0.55, SL 0.42, WL 0.70, PL 0.27, PH 0.20, DPW 0.20, PPL 0.15, PPH 0.20, PPW 0.20, TL 2.0.

Color. Head and alitrunk yellowish brown, dorsum of propodeum darker; petiole and postpetiole brown, dorsal surfaces dark brown; gaster brown; antenna and legs yellowish brown.

Holotype Specimen Labels

Type Material

Holotype. Worker, Lanyu is. (Orchid is.), Taidong Pref., 1. x. 1993, M. Terayama leg.

Type depository. NIAES.

Etymology

The specific epithet is based on the name of type locality, Lanyu island.

References

  • Terayama, M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan. Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266. PDF

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
  • Terayama M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University. Liberal Arts 17:81-266.
  • Terayama Mamoru. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta, Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
  • Terayama, M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta; Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.