Holcoponera andina

Holcoponera andina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ectatomminae
Tribe:	Ectatommini
Genus:	Holcoponera
Species:	H. andina
Binomial name
Holcoponera andina (Lattke, 1995) Specimen Labels

Nothing is known about the biology of Holcoponera andina.

Identification

A member of the strigata complex (in the strigata subgroup of the striatula species group). This species is near Holcoponera strigata and though the differences are not striking, they seem consistent enough to define a species. H. strigata is smaller (HW 0.74-0.80); WL 1.20-1.34 mm), with relatively larger eyes (OI 0.17-0.20) and shorter scapes (0.70-0.78 mm) and dorsal propodeal face in lateral view is usually depressed below the rest of the mesosomal dorsum. It is probably sympatric with Holcoponera andina in part of its range, having been found only 51 km away from the H. andina type locality. The male of H. strigata has a median area of rugosity on the mesonotum and totally rugulose propodeum. Individuals of the Ecuadorean sample are slightly larger than the Colombian specimens.(Lattke 1995)

Keys including this Species

• Key to New World Gnamptogenys workers

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 5.133333333° to -4.1058°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Colombia (type locality), Ecuador.

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.

Castes

Queens have not been collected.

Nomenclature

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

• andina. Gnamptogenys andina Lattke, 1995: 156, figs. 39, 40 (w.m.) COLOMBIA, ECUADOR.
  • Type-material: holotype worker, 67 paratype workers.
  • Type-locality: holotype Colombia: Valle, Parque Farallones de Cali, El Topacio, 20 km. NW Cali, 76°37’N, 2°30’W, 1550 m., 31.xii.1981, no. 220 (J. Lattke); paratypes: 22 workers with same data, 21 workers with same data but nos 214, 218, 18 workers Colombia: Valle, Cali-Buenaventura road, km. 21, 15 km. NE Cali, 1300-200 [sic] m., 1.x.1975 (J. Lattke), 6 workers Valle, CVC station nr Pance, 15 km. W Cali, 1700 m., 12.xii.1975 (J. Lattke).
  • Type-depositories: MIZA (holotype); BMNH, CASC, LACM, MCZC, MIZA, MZSP (paratypes).
  • Combination in Holcoponera: Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 11.
  • Status as species: Lattke, et al. 2004: 342; Lattke, et al. 2007: 259 (in key); Lattke, et al. 2008: 79; Feitosa & Prada-Achiardi, 2019: 671; Camacho, et al. 2020: 456; Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 11.
  • Distribution: Colombia, Ecuador.

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

Description

Worker

Holotype (Paratypes) measurements: HL 1.04 (1.02-1.08); ML 0.40 (0.26-0.36); HW 0.88 (0.82-0.94); SL 0.86 (0.86-0.92); ED 0.12 (0.10-0.14); WL 1.36 (1.36-1.60) mm; CI 0.85 (0.83-0.90); SI 0.98 (0.93-1.10); OI 0.14 (0.11-0.17) n = 7.

Typical striatula group member: Roughly costulate sculpture. Vertexal margin concave in frontal view; clypeal costulae extend slightly onto anterior lamella; mandibles triangular and mostly striate except for smooth and shining lamellate basal corner and margin of chewing border; compound eyes relatively small; in lateral view dorsal propodeal margin not notably depressed below rest of mesosomal dorsum; propodeal spiracle slightly elevated above rest of sculpture and at edge of declivitous surface; petiolar node posteriorly inclined; subpetiolar process subquadrate, typical of strigata subgroup. Longitudinal costulae present on declivitous postpetiolar face. Weak transverse costuiae on postpetiolar ventrum.

Fairly abundant standing hairs on body, but very sparse appressed pubescence. Legs smooth and shining, except for numerous piligerous punctures. Metacoxal dorsum with a well-developed denticle. Body dark brown to black with yellowish legs.

Male

Longitudinal costulae on cephalic dorsum; mandibles triangular and costulate; pronotum smooth and shining with piligerous punctures; pronotum with piligerous punctures; mesonotum mostly smooth and shining except for narrow anterior band of transverse striae; declivitous propodeal face with longitudinal rugulae that do not reach anterior dorsal face; gaster smooth and shining.

Type Material

Holotype worker. Colombia, Valle: Parque Farallones de Cali, El Topacio, 20 km NW Cali, 76°37'N 2 °30'W, 1550 m, 31-XII-1981, J. Lattke No. 220. Deposited in Instituto de Zoologia Agricola. Paratypes (all from Colombia, Valle): (1). 22 workers from tye same nest series as the holotype. (2) 21 workers, same data as holotype except collection numbers 220, 214, 218. (3). 18 workers, Cali-Buenaventura road, km 21 , 15 km NE Cali, 1300-2000 m, 1-X-1975, J. Lattke, leg. (4). 6 workers, CVC station near Pance, 15 km W Cali, 1700 m, 12-XII-1975, J. Lattke, leg.

Etymology

The name alludes to the Andes, a portion of which is inhabited by this species.

References

• Camacho, G.P., Franco, W., Branstetter, M.G., Pie, M.R., Longino, J.T., Schultz, T.R., Feitosa, R.M. 2022. UCE phylogenomics resolves major relationships among Ectaheteromorph ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ectatomminae, Heteroponerinae): A new classification for the subfamilies and the description of a new genus. Insect Systematics and Diversity 6(1): 5; 1–20 (doi:10.1093/isd/ixab026).
• Lattke, J. E. 1995. Revision of the ant genus Gnamptogenys in the New World (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Hym. Res. 4: 137-193. (page 156, figs. 39, 40 worker, male described)
• 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.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Arias-Penna T. M. 2008. Subfamilia Ectatomminae. Pp. 53-107 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.
• Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
• Jacquemin J., T. Drouet, T. Delsinne, Y. Roisin, and M. Leponce. 2012. Soil properties only weakly affect subterranean ant distribution at small spatial scales. Applied Soil Ecology 62: 163-169.
• Lattke J. E. 1995. Revision of the ant genus Gnamptogenys in the New World (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 4: 137-193
• Lattke J. E., F. Fernández, E. E. Palacio. 2004. Una nueva especie de Gnamptogenys (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) y comentarios sobre las especies del género en Colombia y Ecuador. Iheringia. Série Zoologia 94: 341-349.
• Lattke J. E., F. Fernández, T. M. Arias-Penna, E. E. Palacio, W. Mackay, and E. MacKay. 2008. Género Gnamptogenys Roger. Pp. 66-100 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.