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Lepisiota simplex
| Lepisiota simplex | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Tribe: | Plagiolepidini |
| Genus: | Lepisiota |
| Species: | L. simplex |
| Binomial name | |
| Lepisiota simplex (Forel, 1892)
| |
Identification
Sharaf et al. (2016) - Lepisiota simplex differs from Lepisiota capensis by the following characters: pilosity less abundant on body surface, represented by a few pairs scattered over propodeal dorsum and gastral tergites; eyes larger, with approximately 16 ommatidia in the longest row (EL 0.36 × HW, OI 36) and smaller head (HL 0.55, HW 0.50) versus smaller eyes, with about 10 ommatidia in the longest row (EL 0.19 × HW, OI 20) and relatively larger head (HL 0.77, HW 0.66) in L. capensis. In addition, L. simplex has a smooth and shining mesosoma, whereas in L. capensis the mesosoma is irregularly sculptured and dull.
In Collingwood and Agosti (1996), they stated L. simplex had “mesosoma with pale, thin hairs, that are restricted to pronotum”. The type material (CASENT0909878) has several pairs of hairs scattered on the mesosoma including the propodeum.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Wachkoo et al. (2021) - This is an African species that seems unlikely to be found in India. Forel (1894) first reported this species from Orissa based on of its superficial resemblance to the type material from Somalia. Bingham (1903) and subsequent Indian authors followed this view without any further examination of Indian specimens (see Bharti et al. 2016). Based on our examination, Indian material attributed to Lepisiota simplex belong mostly to Lepisiota annandalei and can be distinguished by few setae restricted to pronotum, whereas former has several pairs of setae scattered on the mesosoma including the propodeum.
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 32.6979° to -29.11667°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Kenya, Lesotho, Saudi Arabia, Somalia (type locality), Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe.
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. |
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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
Images from AntWeb
   
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| Syntype of Acantholepis simplex. Worker. Specimen code casent0909878. Photographer Z. Lieberman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- simplex. Acantholepis simplex Forel, 1892a: 43 (diagnosis in key) (w.) SOMALIA.
- Combination in Lepisiota: Bolton, 1995b: 228.
- Forel, 1892e: 351 (m.).
- Subspecies of capensis: Forel, 1907g: 86 (footnote); Arnold, 1920a: 572; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 937; Emery, 1925b: 24; Weber, 1943c: 330.
- Status as species: Forel, 1892e: 350 (redescription); Dalla Torre, 1893: 172; Forel, 1894c: 414; Bingham, 1903: 317; Forel, 1910e: 449; Forel, 1913a: 143; Forel, 1916: 438; Santschi, 1914d: 378; Collingwood, 1985: 295; Bolton, 1995b: 228; Sharaf, Monks, et al. 2016: 11.
Type Material
- Holotype or syntype, worker(s), Somalia, Prof. Keller, Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève.
Taxonomic Notes
A specimen in Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZC #21405) is labelled as a type but was collected by Taylor rather than Keller. It is likely this is not a true type.
Description
References
- Arnold, G. 1920a. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part IV. Myrmicinae. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 14: 403-578 (page 572, Subspecies/race of capensis)
- Bingham, C. T. 1903. The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Hymenoptera, Vol. II. Ants and Cuckoo-wasps. London: Taylor and Francis, 506 pp. (page 317, Status as species)
- Bolton, B. 1995b. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 504 pp. (page 228, Combination in Lepisiota)
- Forel, A. 1892a. Notes myrmécologiques. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 36: 38-43 (page 43, (diagnosis in key) worker described)
- Forel, A. 1892e. Liste der aus dem Somaliland von Hrn. Prof. Dr. Conr. Keller aus der Expedition des Prinzen Ruspoli im August und September 1891 zurückgebrachten Ameisen. Mitt. Schweiz. Entomol. Ges. 8: 349-354 (page 350, queen, male described)
- Forel, A. 1907i. Ameisen von Madagaskar, den Comoren und Ostafrika. Wiss. Ergeb. Reise Ostafr. 2: 75-92 (page 86, Subspecies/race of capensis (footnote))
- Forel, A. 1910f. Note sur quelques fourmis d'Afrique. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 54: 421-458 (page 449, Status as species)
- Forel, A. 1916. Fourmis du Congo et d'autres provenances récoltées par MM. Hermann Kohl, Luja, Mayné, etc. Rev. Suisse Zool. 24: 397-460 (page 438, Status as species)
- Santschi, F. 1914d. Formicides de l'Afrique occidentale et australe du voyage de Mr. le Professeur F. Silvestri. Boll. Lab. Zool. Gen. Agrar. R. Sc. Super. Agric. 8: 309-385 (page 378, Status as species)
- Sharaf, M.R., Aldawood, A.S., Mohamed, A.A. and F. Hita Garcia. 2020. The genus Lepisiota Santschi, 1926 of the Arabian Peninsula with the description of a new species, Lepisiota elbazi sp. nov. from Oman, an updated species identification key, and assessment of zoogeographic affinities. Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 76:127–152. (doi:10.3897/jhr.76.50193).
- Wachkoo, A.A., Bharti, H., Akbar, S.A. 2021. Taxonomic review of the ant genus Lepisiota Santschi, 1926 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) from India. Bonn Zoological Bulletin 70(2): 227–245 (doi:10.20363/BZB-2021.70.2.227).
- Wheeler, W. M. 1922j. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 45: 711-1004 (page 937, Subspecies/race of capensis)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Arnold G. 1920. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part IV. Myrmicinae. Annals of the South African Museum. 14: 403-578.
- Bharti H., B. Guénard, M. Bharti, & E. P. Economo. 2015. An updated checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of India with their specific distributions in Indian states. Zookeys
- Forel A. 1892. Liste der aus dem Somaliland von Hrn. Prof. Dr. Conr. Keller aus der Expedition des Prinzen Ruspoli im August und September 1891 zurückgebrachten Ameisen. Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft 8: 349-354.
- Forel A. 1913. Fourmis de Rhodesia, etc. récoltées par M. G. Arnold, le Dr. H. Brauns et K. Fikendey. Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 57: 108-147.
- Garcia F.H., Wiesel E. and 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(2): 127-222
- IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
- Mathew R., and R. N. Tiwari. 2000. Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Pp. 251-409 in: Director; Zoological Survey of India (ed.) 2000. Fauna of of Meghalaya. Part 7. [State Fauna Series 4.] Insecta 2000. Calcutta: Zoological Survey of India, 621 pp.
- Pajni H. R., and R. K. Suri. 1978. First report on the Formicid fauna (Hymenoptera) of Chandigarh. Res. Bull. (Science) Punjab University 29: 5-12.
- Sharaf M. R., M. S. Abdel-Dayem, H. M. Al Dhafer, and A. S. Aldawood. 2013. The ants (Hymenoptera:formicidae) of Rawdhat Khorim Nature Preserve, Saudi Arabia, with description of a new species of the genus Tetramorium Mayr. Zootaxa 3709(6): 565-580.
- Tiwari R.N., B.G. Kundu, S. Roychowdhury, S.N. Ghosh. 1999. Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Pp. 211-294 in: Director; Zoological Survey of India (ed.) 1999. Fauna of West Bengal. Part 8. Insecta (Trichoptera, Thysanoptera, Neuroptera, Hymenoptera and Anoplura). Calcutta: Zoological Survey of India, iv + 442 pp.
- Weber N. A. 1942. A biocoenose of papyrus heads (Cyperus papyrus). Ecology 23: 115-119.
- Weber N. A. 1943. The ants of the Imatong Mountains, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 93: 263-389.
- Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004