Leptogenys quiriguana

Leptogenys quiriguana
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ponerinae
Tribe:	Ponerini
Genus:	Leptogenys
Species group:	quiriguana
Species:	L. quiriguana
Binomial name
Leptogenys quiriguana Wheeler, W.M., 1923 Specimen Label

Nothing is known about the biology of Leptogenys quiriguana.

Identification

Lattke (2011) - Eye diameter covers less than one-fourth lateral cephalic margin; clypeus mostly smooth with sparse longitudinal strigae; width of mesonotum more than 2 × its length, anterior margin convex, posterior margin broadly convex; petiole subquadrate in lateral view; node triangular in dorsal view; anterior margin convex, about half as wide as posterior margin.

A member of the quiriguana species group. Close to Leptogenys consanguinea. There is a small depression posterad of propodeal spiracle, with a distinct ventral ridge in this species but it is not a sulcus.

Keys including this Species

• Key to New World Leptogenys

Distribution

Ranges from southern Mexico to Belize and Guatemala.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 19.20494444° to 8.166667°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Belize, Guatemala (type locality), Mexico.

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 quiriguana 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

Queens and males are unknown.

Nomenclature

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

• quiriguana. Leptogenys (Lobopelta) quiriguana Wheeler, W.M. 1923d: 10, fig. 4 (w.) GUATEMALA. See also: Lattke, 2011: 207.

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

Description

Worker

Lattke (2011) - Metrics, non types (n = 5): HL 1.01 – 1.11; HW 0.68 – 0.76; ML 0.51 – 0.56; EL 0.15 – 0.18; SL 0.91 – 1.06; PW 0.58 – 0.66; WL 1.52 – 1.77; PH 0.61 – 0.68; PL 0.53 – 0.61; DPW 0.40 – 0.46 mm. CI 0.68 – 0.69; MI 0.71 – 0.76; OI 0.20 – 0.25; SI 1.28 – 1.40; LPI 1.08 – 1.19; DPI 0.70 – 0.86.

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

Mesosomal dorsal margin forms relative continuous line in lateral view; promesonotal margin broadly convex; dorsal propodeal margin mostly straight; metanotal groove narrow and shallow; dorsal propodeal margin almost 2 × length of declivitous margin; propodeal dorsal and declivitous margins form blunt, obtuse angle. Mesosoma mostly smooth and shining, some striae may be present on posterolateral metapleuron; width of mesonotum more than twice its length, anterior margin convex, posterior margin broadly convex. Mesometapleural suture well impressed, scrobiculate; metapleural propodeal suture lacking; propodeal spiracle relatively small, oval, posterolaterally facing; mesopleuron with low triangular anterior lobe, anteroventral carina distinct; mesosternum with fine transverse regular striae; propodeum with rounded, blunt tooth at spiracular height; declivity with sparse transverse striae close to petiolar insertion. Cervix with transverse striae; prosternal process rounded in lateral view.

Petiole subquadrate in lateral view, anterior margin straight, anteriorly inclined, shorter than posterior margin, dorsal margin weakly convex, highest posterad; posterior margin straight to very broadly convex; ventral process shaped as triangular lobe; node triangular in dorsal view; anterior margin convex, about half as wide as posterior margin, posterior margin mostly straight, lateral margin straight to weakly convex; postpetiolar anterior margin vertical in lateral view, with rounded 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 dark brown to black; antenna, clypeus, mandibles, legs and apical gastral segments ferruginous to dark brown. Body with sparse short standing hairs, no appressed pilosity.

Type Material

Lattke (2011) - Lectotype workers: Guatemala, Quirigua, 13.i.1912, under log (W.M.Wheeler) (Museum of Comparative Zoology) [examined]. The type series are 3 point-mounted workers on a single pin.

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.
• Wheeler, W. M. 1923e. The occurrence of winged females in the ant genus Leptogenys Roger, with descriptions of new species. American Museum Novitates 90: 1-16 (page 10, fig. 4 worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Castano-Meneses, G., M. Vasquez-Bolanos, J. L. Navarrete-Heredia, G. A. Quiroz-Rocha, and I. Alcala-Martinez. 2015. Avances de Formicidae de Mexico. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.
• Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
• 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
• Mirmecofauna de la reserva ecologica de San Felipe Bacalar