Leptogenys strena

Leptogenys strena
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ponerinae
Tribe:	Ponerini
Genus:	Leptogenys
Species:	L. strena
Binomial name
	Leptogenys strena; Zhou, 2001

Next to nothing is known about the ecology of Leptogenys strena. Specimens from Hong Kong are known only from Sunset Peak, Lantau Island. One collection was by J. R. Fellowes in 1992, and another in 2023 by A. Reshchikov using a ground SLAM trap, which was positioned in a tiny fragment of forest near the top of the mountain which yielded one further specimen. Further sampling efforts by members of Insect Biodiversity and Biogeography Laboratory have yet to collect additional specimens from this locality and from Hong Kong at large. The species’ small eyes might suggest leaf litter and/or nocturnal foraging. (Hamer et al., 2024)

Identification

Zhou (2001) - Resembles Leptogenys lucidula but can distinguish from the latter by mandible with 5 teeth (the latter with 8~10 teeth); anterior clypeal border rounded, not angular; propodeal declivity longitudinally concave in meian surface, not truncate. Besides, the new species separated from the latter by much more hairs and much larger in size.

Hamer et al. (2024) - Leptogenys strena is immediately recognisable within the Leptogenys of Hong Kong by the combined characters of small anteriorly positioned eyes, a subquadrate head, triangular mandibles with 3–5 teeth on the masticatory margin, and a distinctly red body colouration.

Within the wider Leptogenys fauna of China, L. strena is most similar to Leptogenys lucidula and can be differentiated by the rounded posteroventral corner of the subpetiolar process, fewer teeth on the masticatory margin and the species overall larger size.

Hamer et al. (2024), Figure 4. Mandibular masticatory margin differences. A, Leptogenys strena (ANTWEB1010114). B, L. diminuta (GYOT070).

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Hamer et al. (2024) - This species is so far only known from China, including Guangxi (type locality), Hunan, and Guangdong, and Hong Kong SAR (Zhou et al. 2012; Xu and He 2015). Absence from other southern Chinese provinces is likely attributable to sampling effort.

Hamer et al. (2024), Figure 21. Further distribution maps of Leptogenys species recorded from Hong Kong. A, L. kraepelini. B, L. laeviterga. C, L. peuqueti. D, L. rufida. E, L. strena. The base map displayed shows tree canopy cover with the darker green areas indicating greater tree cover.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: China (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

Hamer et al. (2024), Figure 19. Leptogenys strena (ANTWEB1010114). A, lateral view. B, dorsal view. C, head in full face view.

Nomenclature

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

strena. Leptogenys strena Zhou, 2001b: 40, 229, figs. 39, 40 (w.) CHINA.

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

Description

Worker

Holotype worker: TL 6.4, HL 1.36, HW 1.17, CI 86, SL 1.10, SI 94, PW 0.86, AL 2.35, ED 0.22, PH 0.88, PNL 0.81, DPW 0.84.

Paratypes: TL 6.3~6.4, HL 1.35~1.41, HW 1.17~1.20, CI 85~88, SL 1.06~1.13, SI 89~94, PW 0.84~0.88, AL 2.20~2.38, ED 0.20~0.22, PH 0.88~1.00, PNL 0.53~0.84, DPW 0.84~0. 88.

Head longer than broad, with straight sides and slightly concave occipital border. Mandible narrowly triangular, masticatory margin with 5 large teeth, with an interval between the 4th and the basal tooth. Median clypeus convex, with stout median carina. Antennal scape slightly extending beyond the occipital border. Eyes relatively small, situated in front of the midlength of the sides of head. Alitrunk stout, promesonotum slightly convex, promesonotal suture distinct; mesopropodeal suture slightly incised. Basal face of propodeum as long as the declivity which slightly concave in the median surface, conjunction of them rounded. Petiolar node thick, anterior face slightly convex, posterior face straight, dorsal border blunt rounded. Subpetiolar process semicircular. Constriction between basal two gastral segments distinct.

Mandibles with longitudinal striations; lateral of clypeus with fine transverse striations; head, alitrunk, petiole and gaster smooth and shining.

Erect and suberect hairs abundant on the entire body.

Color reddish brown; antennae and legs lighter.

Type Material

Holotype worker/ Fuchuan County, Guangxi, 18.VI.1998, Shanyi Zhou leg. Paratypes 2 workers, data as holotype.

References

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).
Esteves, F.A., Fisher, B.L. 2021. Corrieopone nouragues gen. nov., sp. nov., a new Ponerinae from French Guiana (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 1074, 83–173 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.1074.75551).
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).
Xu, Z.-H., He and Q.-J. 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.
Zhou, S. 2001. Ants of Guangxi. Guilin, China: Guangxi Normal University Press. 255 pp. (page 40, 229, figs. 39, 40 worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
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.
Zhou S.-Y. 2001. Ants of Guangxi. Guangxi Normal University Press, Guilin, China, Guilin, China. 255 pp.