Leptogenys antillana

Leptogenys antillana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ponerinae
Tribe:	Ponerini
Genus:	Leptogenys
Species group:	antillana
Species:	L. antillana
Binomial name
Leptogenys antillana Wheeler, W.M. & Mann, 1914 Specimen labels

This species is endemic to Hispaniola, and probably restricted to the Dominican Republic as suitable forest on the Haitian side is quite diminished (Lattke 2012). Bill Brown collected specimens in the Dominican Republic from under a rock in a disturbed area (coffee).

Identification

A member of the antillana species group. L. antillana is perhaps mostly closely related to Leptogenys reggae, another Caribbean endemic (Jamaica), on account of similarities in head shape, eye shape and its position on the head, and broad median clypeal lobe with a setae at the apex. The clypeal setae may be absent in some specimens.

Keys including this Species

• Key to New World Leptogenys

Distribution

A Hispaniola endemic.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 18.51° to 17.9287°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Dominican Republic, Greater Antilles, Haiti (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

Expand Explore Overview of Leptogenys biology  The biology of Leptogenys antillana 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

Queen and male are unknown.

Nomenclature

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

• antillana. Leptogenys (Lobopelta) antillana Wheeler, W.M. & Mann, 1914: 14, fig. 5 (w.) HAITI. See also: Lattke, 2011: 146.

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

Lattke (2011) - Head subquadrate in full-face view, median clypeal lobe broadly triangular, apex bluntly pointed with median seta; compound eye weakly convex, its length close to one-fourth that of lateral cephalic margin, eye laterally placed in cephalic mid-distance; mesonotum arched, 5 x wider than long; petiole subquadrate in lateral view, anterior margin vertical, shorter than posterior margin.

Description

Worker

Length 4.5-5.5 mm.

Body slender. Head about one and one-third times as long as broad, a little broader in front than behind, with rather straight sides and posterior border. Eyes small, shorter than their distance from the anterior corners of the head. Mandibles narrow but with distinct apical and basal borders. Clypeus very strongly carinate, with an anterior, median, beak-like point, filling the space between the mandibles when they are closed. Antennae slender; scapes extending a little more than their greatest diameter beyond the posterior border of the head; funicular joints 1-5 decidedly longer than broad, the second longest, joints 6-10 only slightly longer than broad. Thorax in front as broad as the head, pronotum as broad as long, meso- and epinotum together longer than the pronotum, in profile with straight dorsal surface about twice as long as the declivity which is feebly convex. Petiole from above 1.5 times as long as broad, twice as broad behind as in front, the node laterally compressed, in profile as high as long, as high in front as behind, evenly rounded above, with short, abrupt, rounded anterior and posterior declivities. Gaster and legs slender.

Smooth and shining. Mandibles with a few coarse punctures along their internal borders.

Hairs whitish, short, suberect or reclinate, not very abundant on the body, more abundant and shorter on the scapes and legs.

Black; mandibles, funiculi, bases and tips of scapes, tarsi, knees, tips of tibiae and tip of gaster red or reddish brown.

Lattke (2012) provided a more expansive description: Metrics (n = 3): HL 0.65-0.68; HW 0.67-0.70; ML 0.43-0.48; EL 0.17-0.18; SL 0.84-0.89; PW 0.57-0.60; WL 1.42-1.47; PH 0.52-0.57; PL 0.57-0.58; DPW 0.37-0.42 mm. CI 1.00-1.03; MI 0.64-0.71; OI 0.24-0.26; SI 1.25-1.29; LPI 0.91-0.97; DPI 0.65-0.71.

Head subquadrate in full-face view, slightly wider anterad than posterad, posterior and lateral margins weakly convex; median clypeal lobe broadly triangular, apex bluntly pointed, median seta present or absent; lateral clypeal lobe lamellate, little expanded, convex towards median lobe. Compound eye weakly convex, its length close to one-fourth that of lateral cephalic margin, eye laterally placed in cephalic mid-distance; mandible elongate, basal and external margins mostly parallel, weakly widening apicad, basal margin convex with 3 – 5 thickened hairs basad, basal tooth developed as distinct denticle, masticatory margin edentate, concave; dorsal surface mostly smooth and shining with sparse punctate; PF: 4,3. Cephalic dorsum mostly smooth and shining with scattered piligerous punctulae; clypeus with weak rugulae and oblique striae mostly mesad, smoother close to median lobe and laterad. Scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by under one-fourth its length; third antennal segment 2 x longer than apical width; antennal segments II and IV each longer than half length of segment III. Scape mostly smooth and shining with abundant piligerous punctulae.

Mesosoma with promesonotum forming single broad convexity in lateral view, metanotal groove modestly impressed, dorsal propodeal margin broadly convex, twice longer than declivitous margin; declivity broadly convex, unarmed, without lobe or denticle. Mesosoma mostly smooth and shining with sparse piligerous punctae; mesometapleural suture well impressed, rugulose; mesopleuron elongate, rectangular; metapleuron with sparse striae posteroventrad; propodeal spiracle oval, posterolaterally facing; propodeal declivity wider than long, convex and curving continuously onto lateral and dorsal propodeal faces; declivity weakly colliculate with few transverse striae posterad. Mesonotum arched, 5 x wider than long; metanotal groove smooth; metapleural-propodeal suture absent.

Petiole subquadrate in lateral view, anterior margin vertical, shorter than posterior margin, anterodorsal margin convex, node highest posterad, posterior margin broadly convex. Node elongate and triangular in dorsal view, lateral margin broadly concave, width of anterior margin less than half width of posterior margin, anterior margin convex, posterior margin weakly convex to straight. Subpetiolar process shaped as posteroventrally bent lobe. Node mostly smooth and shining with some rugulae between petiolar spiracle and ventral process. Anterior margin of third abdominal segment mostly straight and posteriorly inclined, dorsal margin mostly straight with posterior convexity; constriction between abdominal segments III and IV moderate; gaster smooth and shining with sparse piligerous punctulae. Coxae and rest of legs mostly smooth and shining; mesotibial apex with single external seta, pro- and metatibia without setae; body with sparse subdecumbent to erect hairs, no appressed pubescence. Mandible, antenna, apex of median clypeal lobe, legs, and gaster ferruginous brown; rest of body dark brown.

Type Material

Described from seven specimens taken at Milot, Diquini and Petionville.

The Museum of Comparative Zoology type series consists of 4 workers on a single pin with two cardboards, each with two workers glued to it.

References

• Lattke, J.E. 2011. Revision of the New World species of the genus Leptogenys Roger (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny. 69:127-264.
• Lubertazzi, D. 2019. The ants of Hispaniola. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 162(2), 59-210 (doi:10.3099/mcz-43.1).
• Wheeler, W. M.; Mann, W. M. 1914. The ants of Haiti. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 33: 1-61 (page 14, fig. 5 worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
• Lattke J. E. 2011. Revision of the New World species of the genus Leptogenys Roger (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny 69: 127-264
• Perez-Gelabert D. E. 2008. Arthropods of Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti): A checklist and bibliography. Zootaxa 1831:1-530.
• Wheeler W. M., and W. M. Mann. 1914. The ants of Haiti. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 33: 1-61.
• Wheeler, William Morton. 1936. Ants From Hispaniola and Mona Island. Bulletin: Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College. 80(2):192-211.