Gnamptogenys volcano

Gnamptogenys volcano
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ectatomminae
Tribe:	Ectatommini
Genus:	Gnamptogenys
Species:	G. volcano
Binomial name
Gnamptogenys volcano Lattke, 1995 Specimen Label

Nothing is known about the biology of Gnamptogenys volcano.

Identification

A member of the volcano complex (in the ericae subgroup of the sulcata species group).

Gnamptogenys volcano is close to Gnamptogenys sulcata but the latter can be recognized by the longitudinal costulae on the propodeal declivity, broader head, rounded mandibular basal angle with no tooth and the straight clypeal lamella with acutely angulate sides. The structure of the clypeal lamella, mesepisternum, and mandible make this a striking species within the sulcata group. (Lattke 1995)

Keys including this Species

• Key to New World Gnamptogenys workers

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 10.28333333° to 9.8712602°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Costa Rica (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

Explore Overview of Gnamptogenys biology  Not much is known about the the biology of Gnamptogenys volcano. We can speculate that the biology of this species is similar to other species of the genus. Gnamptogenys are predatory ponerine ants that inhabit tropical and subtropical mesic forests. Nesting is typically at ground level in rotten wood or leaf litter. Some exceptions include species that are arboreal, a dry forest species and species that nests in sandy savannahs. Colony size tends to be, at most, in the hundreds. Queens are the reproductives in most species. Worker reproduction is known from a few species in Southeastern Asia. Generalist predation is the primary foraging/dietary strategy. Specialization on specific groups (millipedes, beetles, other ants) has developed in a few species. ‎

Nomenclature

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

• volcano. Gnamptogenys volcano Lattke, 1995: 191, figs. 64, 65 (w.) COSTA RICA.
  • Type-material: holotype worker.
  • Type-locality: Costa Rica: Heredia, 18 km. N Volcán Barba, 10°17’N, 84°05’W, 800 m., 4-14.vii.1986, no. 1383-5 (J. Longino).
  • Type-depository: LACM.
  • Status as species: Lattke, et al. 2007: 262 (in key); Camacho, et al. 2020: 460 (in key); Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 11.
  • Distribution: Costa Rica.

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

Description

Worker

Holotype measurements: HL 1.38; ML 0.55; HW 1.18; ED 0.25; SL 1.18; WL 1.93 mm; CI 0.86; SI 1.00; OI 0.21.

Head in frontal view elongate, vertexal margin concave; eyes prominent and situated at mid-length; clypeal lamella relatively long, laterally rounded and medianly concave; mandibles smooth and shining, with prominent piligerous fossae; subtriangular basal angle preceded by a tooth and concavity (or notch); scape when laid back barely surpasses vertexal margin; mesosomal dorsum with longitudinal costulae and propodeal declivity with transverse costulae, in dorsal view the costulae arch posterad and become longitudinal; gaster with longitudinal costulae, including postpetiolar sternum, weakly effaced anteromedianly; metacoxae with dorsobasal tooth, dorsally with transverse costulae and laterally mostly smooth and shining; subpetiolar process with no posterior heel; tibiae and femora smooth and shining. Body with numerous standing golden hairs; body brown, legs and antennae reddish brown.

Type Material

Holotype worker. Costa Rica, Heredia: 18 km Volcan Barba, 10°17'N 84°05'W, 800m, 4/14-VII-1986, J. Longino no. 1383-5. Wet forest litter sample. Deposited in Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History. One antenna lacking.

Etymology

The name of the species comes from the latin word for volcano, as the type locality is near the Barbas volcano.

References

• Cantone S. 2018. Winged Ants, The queen. Dichotomous key to genera of winged female ants in the World. The Wings of Ants: morphological and systematic relationships (self-published).
• Lattke, J.E., Fernández, F. & Palacio, E.E. 2007. Identification of the species of Gnamptogenys Roger in the Americas (pp. 254-270). In Snelling, R.R., Fisher, B.L. & Ward, P.S. (eds). Advances in ant systematics: homage to E.O. Wilson – 50 years of contributions. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80: 690 pp.
• Lattke, J. E. 1995. Revision of the ant genus Gnamptogenys in the New World (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Hym. Res. 4: 137-193. PDF(page 191, figs. 64, 65 worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Fernández F., and T. M. Arias-Penna. 2008. Las hormigas cazadoras en la región Neotropical. Pp. 3-39 in: Jiménez, E.; Fernández, F.; Arias, T.M.; Lozano-Zambrano, F. H. (eds.) 2008. Sistemática, biogeografía y conservación de las hormigas cazadoras de Colombia. Bogotá: Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, xiv + 609 pp.
• Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.
• Longino J. T., and R. K. Colwell. 2011. Density compensation, species composition, and richness of ants on a neotropical elevational gradient. Ecosphere 2(3): 16pp.
• Longino J. et al. ADMAC project. Accessed on March 24th 2017 at https://sites.google.com/site/admacsite/