Leptogenys amu

Leptogenys amu
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ponerinae
Tribe:	Ponerini
Genus:	Leptogenys
Species group:	quiriguana
Species:	L. amu
Binomial name
	Leptogenys amu; Lattke, 2011 Specimen Label

Nothing is known about the biology of Leptogenys amu.

Identification

Lattke (2011) - Head longer than wide in full-face view; widest at mid-length; scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by less than two apical widths; mesosomal dorsal margin forms continuous line in lateral view; petiole subrectangular in lateral view, higher than long; node subquadrate in dorsal view; wider posterad than anterad.

This species, along with Leptogenys quiriguana are the smallest of the quiriguana species group. L. amu is easily separated from the other species by lacking a distinctly transverse mesonotum and has the southernmost distribution, the other species being found from Central America to the Coastal Cordillera of northern South America.

Keys including this Species

Key to New World Leptogenys

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 0.213333333° to 0.213333333°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Colombia (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 Leptogenys biology

The biology of Leptogenys amu is poorly known.

The Leptogenys genus page has more details about the general biology of ants in this genus, some of which is summarized in what follows. New World species have relatively small ranges, generally occur in humid forests and prey on isopods. Colonies may occur in high densities on a local scale, with up to 5 or 6 species present. Nest size tends to be small with just 20 or 30 individuals in a mature colony. Nests of most species may be found in rotten wood on the ground, usually within cavities in logs or large branches, and also beneath bark. Wood-soil and rock-soil interfaces are another common nesting location, as well as rock crevices, and a few species may nest directly in the soil. Reproduction is most commonly via ergatoid females and, in many species, may include egg-laying workers. ‎

Castes

The queen and male are unknown.

Nomenclature

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

amu. Leptogenys amu Lattke, 2011: 200, fig. 55 (w.) COLOMBIA.

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

Description

Worker

Metrics, holotype (paratype): HL 0.95 (0.94); HW 0.63 (0.62); ML 0.43 (0.45); EL 0.15 (0.13); SL 0.82 (0.82); PW 0.58 (0.57); WL 1.49 (1.50); PH 0.57 (0.57); PL 0.45 (0.45); DPW 0.38 (0.40) mm. CI 0.67 (0.66); MI 0.68 (0.73); OI 0.24 (0.22); SI 1.29 (1.32); LPI 1.26 (1.26); DPI 0.85 (0.89).

Head longer than wide in full-face view; widest at mid-length; lateral margin broadly convex, posterior margin weakly concave to straight; vertexal carinae narrow, visible throughout most of posterior cephalic margin; eye mostly laterally placed with slightly dorsal extension, relatively flattened, separated from mandibular insertion by more than one diameter; median clypeal process triangular with pointed apex; lateral clypeal lobe narrow; clypeus with longitudinal strigae. Head mostly smooth and shining, with scattered piligerous punctulae. Scape smooth with sparse piligerous punctulae, decumbent pilosity and scattered subdecumbent to suberect hairs, scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by less than two apical widths; second and third antennal segments approximately same length; fourth antennal segment shorter than second and third antennal segments. Mandible shuts tight against clypeus, elongate, mostly parallel-sided, weakly widening apicad, basal margin mostly convex, with 3 – 4 hairs; mandibular dorsum smooth and shining, sparsely punctate; cephalic ventral face shining with weak longitudinal striae and sparse piligerous punctulae.

Mesosomal dorsal margin forms continuous line in lateral view; promesonotal margin broadly convex; dorsal propodeal margin mostly straight; dorsal propodeal margin almost 2 × length of declivitous margin. Mesosoma mostly smooth and shining; mesonotum wider than long, anterior margin convex, posterior margin broadly convex, metanotal groove distinctly impressed. Mesometapleural suture well impressed, scrobiculate; propodeal spiracle small, rounded to oval, laterally to posterolaterally facing; mesopleuron with triangular anterior lobe, anteroventral carinae distinct; propodeum with low, blunt tooth at spiracular height; declivity transversely striate. Cervix with transverse striae; prosternal process with posterior minute denticle in lateral view.

Petiole subrectangular in lateral view, higher than long; dorsal margin broadly convex, highest posterad; posterior margin straight to very broadly convex; triangular ventral tooth present; node subquadrate in dorsal view; wider posterad than anterad, anterior margin convex, more than half as wide as posterior margin, posterior margin mostly straight, lateral margin straight to weakly convex; postpetiolar anterior margin vertical in lateral view, with distinct blunt angle separating broadly convex dorsal margin. Node and gaster smooth and shining; procoxa smooth and shining in lateral view; head, thorax, and most of abdomen brown; antenna, clypeus, mandibles, legs and apical gastral segments ferruginous. Body with sparse short standing hairs, no appressed pilosity; apex of pro- and metatibiae lacking setae, mesotibial apex with single seta.

Type Material

Holotype worker. Colombia, Caqueta´, Puerto Solano, P.N.N. La Serrani´a de Chiribiquete, Ri´o Cun~are´ – [Ri´o] Amu, 0°12'48N 72°25'3.2W, 250 m, 19.–22.ii.2001, M. Ospina, E. Gonza´lez, deposited in IAvH (No. 35074). – Paratype. One worker with same locality data as holotype, deposited in IAvH (No. 35081). The paratype specimen lacks its gaster.

Etymology

The species name is derived from the name of the locality where the specimens were collected.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Franco W., N. Ladino, J. H. C. Delabie, A. Dejean, J. Orivel, M. Fichaux, S. Groc, M. Leponce, and R. M. Feitosa. 2019. First checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of French Guiana. Zootaxa 4674(5): 509-543.