Leptanilla laventa

Leptanilla laventa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Leptanillinae
Tribe:	Leptanillini
Genus:	Leptanilla
Species:	L. laventa
Binomial name
	Leptanilla laventa; (Griebenow, Moradmand & Isaia, 2022)

Leptanilla laventa is known only from the type locality, inhabiting superficial underground compartments (MSS, mesovoid shallow substratum or milieu souterrain superficiel, a network of air-filled underground voids between the rock fragments found in scree (talus) deposits) within a debris flow on the bank of an ephemeral stream adjacent to a salt diapir (Fig. 12). The Khoorab Salt Dome is one of ~130 salt diapirs occurring in southern Iran (Talbot and Alavi 1996). It is therefore possible that Y. laventa occurs across this area, at least in microhabitats resembling those present at the type locality.

At a Glance

• Cave-Subterranean

Griebenow et al. (2022), Fig. 6. Leptanilla laventa, holotype (CASENT0842746). (a) Profile view. (b) Dorsal view. (c) Full-face view. Scale bars: a, b, 0.5 mm; c, 0.1 mm.
Griebenow et al. (2022), Fig. 12. Map of the type locality within Iran, and the spatial relationship of the MSS traps in which Leptanilla laventa was collected relative to each other and to Last Cave. Yellow marks indicate approximate positions of MSS traps, which were located below the surface of the ground. (a) Location of MSS2. (b) Location of MSS4.
Griebenow (2024), Figure 22. Condition of the worker frontoclypeal margin in Protanilla (A) and Leptanilla (B). A, Protanilla beijingensis (CASENT0842639). B, Leptanilla laventa (CASENT0842746). Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A); 0.1 mm (B).

Identification

Three mandibular teeth present (Fig. 5a). Palp formula 2,1 (Fig. 5c). Mesotibia with 2 apical spurs. Petiole much longer than wide in dorsal view (PI ≤ 31) (Fig. 4), without distinct anterior peduncle. Abdominal segment IV constricted anteriorly in dorsal view; total length of abdominal segment IV greater than that of abdominal segments V–VII combined.

Wong & McRae (2024) - In general, the gracile phenotype of L. laventa is distinctive among the genus Leptanilla, except for Leptanilla voldemort, a species described from Australia. Specifically, the elongated antennae and petiole of workers in both L. voldemort (SI = 128–139, PI = 25) and L. laventa (SI = 160–163, PI = 29–32) are not observed in other Leptanilla species (SI<100, PI>31) (Griebenow et al. 2022; Griebenow 2024; Qian et al. 2024). Nonetheless, workers of L. voldemort can be distinguished from those of L. laventa based on several key morphological differences. First, in dorsal view, the shape of the petiole and postpetiole of L. voldemort is distinctly more elongated (PI = 25; PPI = 39) than in L. laventa (PI = 29–32; PPI = 59–64.7). Second, in lateral view, the propodeal declivity of L. voldemort is strongly convex and distinctly angular, whereas that of L. laventa is weakly convex and gently rounded. Third, in full-face view, the axis of the basal mandibular tooth of L. voldemort extends almost perpendicular to the mandibular margin, with the tip of the tooth forming an 80–90° angle with the medial mandibular margin, whereas in L. laventa, the basal tooth is recurved, with the tip of the tooth forming a 60–70° angle with the medial mandibular margin. Finally, L. voldemort (WL = 0.59–0.61 mm) is smaller in size than L. laventa (WL = 0.74–0.85 mm).

Keys including this Species

Keys to Leptanillinae

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Iran (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

Castes

Nomenclature

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

laventa. Yavnella laventa Griebenow, Moradmand & Isaia, in Griebenow et al., 2022: 1126, figs. 4-11 (w.) IRAN.
- Combination in Leptanilla: Griebenow, 2024: 128.

Type Material

Holotype. Iran, Fārs: 1.3 km E Khoorab [in Milieu Souterrain Superficiel], 60 cm [below surface], 28.59843°N, 52.32863°E [±10 m], alt. 620 m, MSS2, 14.II.2019-26.VI.2020, M. Isaia & M. Moradmand leg. (ZMHB CASENT0842746), worker.
Paratypes. Iran, Fārs: 1.3 km E Khoorab [in Milieu Souterrain Superficiel], 60 cm [below surface], 28.59843°N, 52.32863°E [±10 m], alt. 620 m, MSS2, 14.II.2019-26.VI.2020, M. Isaia & M. Moradmand leg., 1 worker (ZMUI CASENT0842745); ibid., 3 workers (ZMUI CASENT0842747, ZMUI CASENT0842795, ZMUI CASENT0842796); ibid., 1 worker (JAZM CASENT0842797); 1.3 km E Khoorab [in Milieu Souterrain Superficiel], 100 cm [below surface], 28.59841°N, 52.32856°E [±10 m], alt. 618 m, MSS4, 14.II.2019-26.VI.2020, M. Isaia & M. Moradmand leg., 1 worker (ZMHB CASENT0842748).

Description

References