Lepisiota
Lepisiota | |
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Lepisiota capensis | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Formicinae |
Tribe: | Plagiolepidini |
Genus: | Lepisiota Santschi, 1926 |
Type species | |
Plagiolepis rothneyi, now Lepisiota rothneyi | |
Subgenera | |
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Diversity | |
147 species (Species Checklist, Species by Country) | |
Synonyms | |
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Hita Garcia, Wiesel and Fischer (2013) - The genus Lepisiota is distributed in the Old World and is of moderate size (Bolton, 2012). They nest in rotten wood, in the ground, or in standing trees, and can be considered as generalised foragers (Bolton, 1973a; Brown, 2000). They are especially abundant in less forested habitats, such as grasslands, savannahs or woodlands.
The taxonomy of this genus is in an awful condition. Forel (1892) provided a key to a few then known species but the usefulness of this key is limited since it covers only a minor fraction of the current diversity. Later, Wheeler (1922) and then Emery (1925b) published diagnoses and catalogues of the genus, although none of them attempted a full revision. No further taxonomic works have been published since then and a modern revision of Lepisiota would strongly improve the taxonomic understanding of this group.
Identification
Antennae 11-segments, without antennal club; palp formula 6,4; mandibles subtriangular, masticatory margin with 5–6 teeth; eyes with over 100 ommatidia; antennal scrobes absent; pronotal spines absent; mesothorax reduced and slender; metathoracic spiracles in profile raised; propodeal spines dentiform (absent in some species); petiolar spines present or absent; worker monomorphic, a few species are size-variable to weakly polymorphic.
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See images of species within this genus |
Keys to Species in this Genus
Distribution
Old World tropical and subtropical regions (Afrotropical, Palaeartic, Oriental and Indo-Australian) with a diversity peak in the Afrotropics.
Distribution and Richness based on AntMaps
Species by Region
Number of species within biogeographic regions, along with the total number of species for each region.
Afrotropical Region | Australasian Region | Indo-Australian Region | Malagasy Region | Nearctic Region | Neotropical Region | Oriental Region | Palaearctic Region | |
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Species | 91 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 51 |
Total Species | 2841 | 1736 | 3045 | 932 | 835 | 4379 | 1741 | 2862 |
Biology
Association with Other Organisms
Explore: Show all Associate data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
Species Uncertain
- Unknown species are associated with the aphids Aphis nerii, Chaitophorus sp., Lachnus sp. and Thelaxes suberis (Saddiqui et al., 2019 and included references).
- An unspecified species within this genus is a host for the eulophid wasp Pediobius marjoriae (a parasite) (Universal Chalcidoidea Database) (primary host).
- Unknown species of Lepisiota are hosts for the diapriid wasps Adelioneiva rudebecki and Ferrieropria sp. in South Africa (www.diapriid.org).
- An unknown species is a host for the eulophid wasp Pediobius marjorae (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
All Associate Records for Genus
Taxon | Relationship | Associate Type | Associate Taxon | Associate Relationship | Locality | Source | Notes |
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Lepisiota | host | diapriid wasp | Adelioneiva rudebecki | parasite | South Africa | ||
Lepisiota | host | diapriid wasp | Ferrieropria sp. | parasite | South Africa | www.diapriid.org | |
Lepisiota | host | eulophid wasp | Pediobius marjorae | parasitoid | Quevillon, 2018 | multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest | |
Lepisiota | host | eulophid wasp | Pediobius marjoriae | parasite | Universal Chalcidoidea Database | primary host | |
Lepisiota | mutualist | aphid | Aphis nerii | trophobiont | Stary, 1969; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota | mutualist | aphid | Chaitophorus sp. | trophobiont | Stary, 1969; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota | mutualist | aphid | Lachnus sp. | trophobiont | Stary, 1969; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota | mutualist | aphid | Thelaxes suberis | trophobiont | Stary, 1969; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota bipartita | mutualist | aphid | Aphis craccivora | trophobiont | Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota bipartita | mutualist | aphid | Aphis fabae | trophobiont | Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota bipartita | mutualist | aphid | Aphis frangulae | trophobiont | Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota bipartita | mutualist | aphid | Aphis nasturtii | trophobiont | Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota bipartita | mutualist | aphid | Aphis nerii | trophobiont | Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota bipartita | mutualist | aphid | Aphis parietariae | trophobiont | Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota bipartita | mutualist | aphid | Aphis punicae | trophobiont | Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota bipartita | mutualist | aphid | Aphis umbrella | trophobiont | Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota bipartita | mutualist | aphid | Chaitophorus euphraticus | trophobiont | Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota bipartita | mutualist | aphid | Chaitophorus truncates | trophobiont | Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota bipartita | mutualist | aphid | Hyalopterus pruni | trophobiont | Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota bipartita | mutualist | aphid | Myzus persicae | trophobiont | Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota bipartita | mutualist | aphid | Pterochloroides persicae | trophobiont | Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota bipartita | mutualist | aphid | Rhopalosiphum maidis | trophobiont | Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota bipartita | mutualist | aphid | Rhopalosiphum padi | trophobiont | Shiran et al., 2013; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota dolabellae | mutualist | aphid | Acyrthosiphon pisum | trophobiont | Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota dolabellae | mutualist | aphid | Brachycaudus tragopogonis | trophobiont | Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota frauenfeldi | mutualist | aphid | Aphis craccivora | trophobiont | Rakhshan and Ahmad, 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota frauenfeldi | mutualist | aphid | Aphis eugeniae | trophobiont | Pakistan | Gull-E-Fareen et al., 2020 | |
Lepisiota frauenfeldi | mutualist | aphid | Aphis fabae | trophobiont | Pakistan | Gull-E-Fareen et al., 2020 | |
Lepisiota frauenfeldi | mutualist | aphid | Aphis gossypii | trophobiont | Pakistan | Gull-E-Fareen et al., 2020 | |
Lepisiota frauenfeldi | mutualist | aphid | Aphis pomi | trophobiont | Pakistan | Gull-E-Fareen et al., 2020 | |
Lepisiota frauenfeldi | mutualist | aphid | Greenidea (Greenidea) decaspermi | trophobiont | Pakistan | Gull-E-Fareen et al., 2020 | |
Lepisiota frauenfeldi | mutualist | aphid | Greenidea (Greenidea) ficicola | trophobiont | Pakistan | Gull-E-Fareen et al., 2020 | |
Lepisiota frauenfeldi | mutualist | aphid | Greenidea (Trichosiphum) formosana | trophobiont | Pakistan | Gull-E-Fareen et al., 2020 | |
Lepisiota frauenfeldi | mutualist | aphid | Macrosiphoniella sanborni | trophobiont | Pakistan | Gull-E-Fareen et al., 2020 | |
Lepisiota frauenfeldi | mutualist | aphid | Ovatus crataegarius | trophobiont | Pakistan | Gull-E-Fareen et al., 2020 | |
Lepisiota frauenfeldi | mutualist | aphid | Pterochloroides persicae | trophobiont | Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota frauenfeldi | mutualist | aphid | Tinocallis kahawaluokalani | trophobiont | Pakistan | Gull-E-Fareen et al., 2020 | |
Lepisiota frauenfeldi | mutualist | aphid | Tuberolachnus salignus | trophobiont | Pakistan | Gull-E-Fareen et al., 2020 | |
Lepisiota nigra | mutualist | aphid | Aphis fabae | trophobiont | Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota nigra | mutualist | aphid | Aphis gossypii | trophobiont | Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota nigra | mutualist | aphid | Brachycaudus helichrysi | trophobiont | Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota nigra | mutualist | aphid | Brachycaudus tragopogonis | trophobiont | Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota nigra | mutualist | aphid | Chaitophorus israeliticus | trophobiont | Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota nigra | mutualist | aphid | Cinara pini | trophobiont | Latibari et al., 2016; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota nigra | mutualist | aphid | Hyalopterus amygdali | trophobiont | Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota nigra | mutualist | aphid | Macrosiphon rosae | trophobiont | Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota nigra | mutualist | aphid | Periphyllus bulgaricus | trophobiont | Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota nigra | mutualist | aphid | Pterochloroides persicae | trophobiont | Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019 | ||
Lepisiota nigra | mutualist | aphid | Schizaphis nigerrima | trophobiont | Mortazavi et al., 2015; Saddiqui et al., 2019 |
Life History Traits
- Mean colony size: >200-300 workers (Greer et al., 2021)
- Compound colony type: not parasitic (Greer et al., 2021)
- Nest site: hypogaeic; arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)
- Diet class: omnivore (Greer et al., 2021)
- Foraging stratum: subterranean/leaf litter; arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)
Castes
Morphology
Worker Morphology
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• Antennal segment count: 11 • Antennal club: absent • Palp formula: 6,4 • Total dental count: 5-6 • Spur formula: 0,0 • Eyes: >100 ommatidia • Scrobes: absent • Pronotal Spines: absent • Mesonotal Spines: absent • Propodeal Spines: dentiform • Petiolar Spines: absent • Caste: monomorphic, a few species are size-variable to weakly polymorphic • Sting: absent • Metaplural Gland: present • Cocoon: present
Karyotype
Species Uncertain
- Lepisiota sp.1: 2n = 18 (India) (Imai et al., 1984) (near to Lepisiota sericea).
- Lepisiota sp.2: 2n = 18 (India) (Imai et al., 1984) (near to Lepisiota fergusoni).
All Karyotype Records for Genus
- See additional details at the Ant Chromosome Database.
Explore: Show all Karyotype data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
Phylogeny
Formicinae |
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See Phylogeny of Formicinae for details.
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- LEPISIOTA [Formicinae: Plagiolepidini]
- Lepisiota Santschi, 1926a: 15 [as subgenus of Acantholepis]. Type-species: Plagiolepis rothneyi, by original designation.
- Lepisiota is first available replacement name for Acantholepis Mayr, 1861 [junior homonym of Acantholepis Kroyer, 1846: 98 (Pisces)], hence valid name of genus: Bolton, 1995b: 33.
- Lepisiota senior synonym of Baroniurbania (unnecessary replacement name for Acantholepis): Bolton, 1994: 51.
- [Lepisiota incorrectly as junior synonym of Acanthomyrmex: Brown, 1973b: 181; Snelling, R.R. 1981: 397. In both publications Acanthomyrmex is an error for Acantholepis.]
- Subgenera of Lepisiota: nominal plus Baroniurbania: Dietrich, 2004: 324.
- ACANTHOLEPIS [junior homonym, see Lepisiota]
- Acantholepis Mayr, 1861: 42. Type-species: Hypoclinea frauenfeldi, by monotypy. [Junior homonym of Acantholepis Kroyer, 1846: 98 (Pisces)].
- Lepisiota Santschi, 1926a: 15 [previously a subgenus of Acantholepis Mayr], first available replacement name for Acantholepis Mayr: Bolton, 1995b: 33.]
- ACHANTILEPIS [unavailable name]
- Achantilepis Santschi, 1935b: 274, incorrect subsequent spelling of Acantholepis.
- PSEUDACANTHOLEPIS [unavailable name]
- Pseudacantholepis Bernard, 1953b: 256, attributed to Santschi [as subgenus of Acantholepis]. Unavailable name. Proposed without designation of type-species. Species included by Bernard (1953b) are all referable to Lepisiota: Bolton, 1995b: 44.
References
- Hita Garcia, F.; Wiesel, E.; Fischer, G. 2013. The ants of Kenya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)—faunal overview, first species checklist, bibliography, accounts for all genera, and discussion on taxonomy and zoogeography. Journal of East African Natural History 101:127-222.
- Bolton, B. 1994. Identification guide to the ant genera of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 222 pp. (page 51, Lepisiota first available replacement name for Acantholepis Mayr (junior homonym), hence valid name of genus. Lepisiota senior synonym of Baroniurbania (unnecessary replacement name for Acantholepis).)
- Bolton, B. 1995b. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 504 pp. (page 33, Lepisiota first available replacement name for Acantholepis Mayr, 1861 (junior homonym of Acantholepis Kroyer, 1846:98 (Pisces), hence valid name of genus)
- Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 102, Lepisiota in Formicinae, Plagiolepidini)
- Boudinot, B.E., Borowiec, M.L., Prebus, M.M. 2022. Phylogeny, evolution, and classification of the ant genus Lasius, the tribe Lasiini and the subfamily Formicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Systematic Entomology 47, 113-151 (doi:10.1111/syen.12522).
- Brown, W. L., Jr. 1973b. A comparison of the Hylean and Congo-West African rain forest ant faunas. Pp. 161-185 in: Meggers, B. J., Ayensu, E. S., Duckworth, W. D. (eds.) Tropical forest ecosystems in Africa and South America: a comparative review. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, viii + 350 pp. (page 181, (Lepisiota incorrectly as junior synonym of Acanthomyrmex, in error))
- 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).
- Kreider, J.J., Chen, T.W., Hartke, T.R., Buchori, D., Hidayat, P., Nazarreta, R., Scheu, S., Drescher, J. 2021. Rainforest conversion to monocultures favors generalist ants with large colonies. Ecosphere 12 (doi:10.1002/ecs2.3717).
- Lorite, P., Palomeque, T. 2010. Karyotype evolution in ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a review of the known ant chromosome numbers. Myrmecological News 13: 89-102.
- Santschi, F. 1926a. Trois notes myrmécologiques. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Fr. 95: 13-28 (page 15, Lepisiota as subgenus of Acantholepis; first available replacement name for Acantholepis Mayr: Bolton, 1995b: 33.] )
- Snelling, R. R. 1981. Systematics of social Hymenoptera. Pp. 369-453 in: Hermann, H. R. (ed.) Social insects. Volume 2. New York: Academic Press, xiii + 491 pp. (page 397, Lepisiota incorrectly as junior synonym of Acanthomyrmex (in error))
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- Aphid Associate
- Host of Aphis nerii
- Host of Chaitophorus sp.
- Host of Lachnus sp.
- Host of Thelaxes suberis
- Eulophid wasp Associate
- Host of Pediobius marjoriae
- Diapriid wasp Associate
- Host of Adelioneiva rudebecki
- Host of Ferrieropria sp.
- Host of Pediobius marjorae
- Genus with Associate
- Karyotype
- Genus with Karyotype
- Genus
- Extant genus
- Formicidae
- Formicinae
- Plagiolepidini
- Lepisiota
- Formicinae genera
- Plagiolepidini genera
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