Leptogenys binghamii

Leptogenys binghamii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ponerinae
Tribe:	Ponerini
Genus:	Leptogenys
Species:	L. binghamii
Binomial name
	Leptogenys binghamii; Forel, 1900

In Hong Kong, colonies of Leptogenys binghamii have been found within decaying wood and underneath stones, predominantly within Feng Shui Woods, secondary forests and shrubland. Colonies appear relatively small, with one partial colony collection including 23 workers, 1 male, 5 cocoons, 4 larvae, and 2 eggs (MTH collection code MTH163). One ergatoid queen was extracted from a partial colony collection (MTH268). Specimens are known from pitfall traps, leaf litter, and hand collection events. This species is suspected to be a solitary foraging species, with no group hunting yet observed. However, unless nesting sites are located, L. binghamii is rarely observed diurnally and is therefore suspected to be predominately a nocturnal foraging species. A second colony, kept in captive colony consisted of 24 workers and one ergatoid queen. Workers fed upon isopod prey and showed no interest in cockroaches, millipedes, and termites. In Hong Kong, the species reaches the northern limit of its distribution range with all records found under 500 m a.s.l. Further sampling is nonetheless required to confirm if the species can colonize higher and cooler elevations. (Hamer et al., 2024)

At a Glance

• Ergatoid queen

Hamer et al. (2024), Figure 9. Leptogenys binghamii (ANTWEB1010110) and ergatoid (ANTWEB1010225). A, worker in lateral view. B, worker in dorsal view. C, worker in head in full face view. D, ergatoid in lateral view. E, ergatoid in lateral view. F, ergatoid in dorsal view.

Identification

Hamer et al. (2024) - Leptogenys binghamii is a relatively large, highly sculptured species, with distinctly linear mandibles, small anteriorly positioned eyes and highly angulated lateral clypeal lobes which makes it recognisable within the Leptogenys found in Hong Kong.

Within the wider Leptogenys fauna of the Indomalayan region, L. binghamii might be mistaken for Leptogenys punctiventris and Leptogenys yandii. Leptogenys binghamii is distinguishable from L. yandii by antennal flagellomere I longer than antennal flagellomere II, the longer scape, and larger overall size (5.2–5.7 vs 9–10 mm total length for L. yandii and L. binghamii, respectively; Xu and He 2015).

Leptogenys binghamii can be differentiated from L. punctiventris by the smaller eyes, the first gastral tergite being highly punctate, lacking any smooth and shiny regions as well as total size (5–6 vs 9–10 mm total size for L. punctiventris and L. binghamii, respectively; Xu and He 2015).

Both L. punctiventris and L. yandii are not recorded from Hong Kong. With these species presenting more meridional and occidental distributions within Asia, respectively.

Hamer et al. (2024), Figure 5. Clypeus lobes of Leptogenys binghamii and L. diminuta, as well as tergite sculpture differences between the same species. A, L. binghamii (RHL01659). B, L. diminuta (GYOT070). C, L. binghamii (ANTWEB1010113). D, L. diminuta (ANTWEB1010183).

Keys including this Species

Distribution

This species is known from Myanmar (type locality), India (Assam and Meghalaya), China (Guangxi, Yunnan, and Hong Kong), and Vietnam (Janicki et al. 2016; Guénard et al. 2017). There are no records from Guangdong, Hainan, or Macao, but its presence is expected in the first two Chinese provinces with more sampling efforts. Its presence in Macao is less likely due to the level of urbanisation and isolation of natural areas for this species to occur. The first record of L. binghamii in Hong Kong was Fellowes (1996), here we provide additional new records across the eastern limits of its range. (Hamer et al., 2024)

Hamer et al. (2024), Figure 20. Distribution maps of Leptogenys species recorded from Hong Kong. A, L. binghamii. B, L. diminuta. C, L. grohli. D, L. kitteli. The base map displayed shows tree canopy cover with the darker green areas indicating greater tree cover.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: India, Myanmar (type locality), Vietnam.
Palaearctic Region: China.

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.

binghamii. Leptogenys (Lobopelta) binghamii Forel, 1900d: 310 (w.) MYANMAR. Combination in Lobopelta: Bingham, 1903: 58; in Leptogenys (Lobopelta): Emery, 1911d: 102.

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

Description

Forel 1900f. Page 310.

References

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 58, Combination in Lobopelta)
Chen, C., Chen, Z., Xu, Z., Fu, Q., Fu, L. 2024. Two new ant species of the genus Leptogenys (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Hainan, China, with a key to the known Chinese species. ZooKeys, 1195, 199–217 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.1195.115889).
Emery, C. 1911e. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Ponerinae. Genera Insectorum 118: 1-125 (page 102, Combination in Leptogenys (Lobopelta))
Forel, A. 1900f. Les Formicides de l'Empire des Indes et de Ceylan. Part VII. The Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 13:303-332. (page 310, worker described)
Hamer, M.T., Lee, J.H.C., Tse, C.Y.L., Silva, T.S.R., Guénard, B. 2024. The Leptogenys Roger, 1861 (Formicidae, Ponerinae) of Hong Kong SAR with additional records from Guangdong, China. ZooKeys 1202, 169–211 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.1202.120214).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
Emery C. 1911. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Ponerinae. Genera Insectorum 118: 1-125.
Forel A. 1900. Les Formicides de l'Empire des Indes et de Ceylan. Part VII. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 303-332.
Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, 2002. Report of a Rapid Biodiversity Assessment at Xidamingshan Headwater Forest Nature Reserve, Southwest Guangxi, China, 15-17 October 1998. South China Forest Biodiversity Survey Report Series (Online Simplified Version): No. 20. KFBG, Hong Kong SAR, ii + 16 pp.
Xu Z. H., and Q. J. He. 2015. Taxonomic review of the ponerine ant genus Leptogenys ROGER, 1861 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with a key to the Oriental species. Myrmecological News 21: 137-161.
Xu Z. 1998. A report of fourty-one ant species newly recorded in China from Xishuangbanna District of Yunnan Province (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zhongguo Xue Shu Qi Kan Wen Zhai 4: 1119-1121.
Zhou S., Y. Chen, Z. Chen, P. Zhou, D. Ban, and M. Huang. 2012. Two new species of the genus Leptogenys from Guangxi, China (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 59: 885-892.