Linepithema hirsutum

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Linepithema hirsutum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dolichoderinae
Tribe: Leptomyrmecini
Genus: Linepithema
Species: L. hirsutum
Binomial name
Linepithema hirsutum
Escarraga & Guerrero, 2016

Linepithema hirsutum casent0179544 p 1 high.jpg

Linepithema hirsutum casent0179544 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Specimens of L. hirsutum were collected at 640–671 m with pitfall traps, Winkler traps, and hand collection in a tropical rainforest in the Reserva Natural El Pangán, Colombia. The yearly temperature range of Pangán is between 12–24°C.

Identification

Escarraga and Guerrero (2016) - Many erect setae on body; pronotum with more than 10 erect setae; surface anterior to the metapleural gland orifice lacking pubescence; body color yellow.

Linepithema hirsutum is the only species of Linepithema with numerous erect setae throughout the body surface. Linepithema tsachila has no more than eight erect setae on the pronotum, while L. hirsutum has 12–24. Variation in the number of erect setae was found; larger specimens had more and longer setae, and smaller specimens had shorter and fewer setae. We propose that this species is in the L. fuscum-group, on account of the lack of metapleural pubescence and the presence of a well-developed clypeal groove.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 1.363611° to 1.363611°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Colombia (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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.
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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.
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Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • hirsutum. Linepithema hirsutum Escarraga & Guerrero, 2016: 450, figs. 1A, 1B, 3 (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

Holotype. HL 0.70, HW 0.66, MFC 0.16, SL 0.64, FL 0.62, LHT 0.64, ES 1.4, PW 0.44, CI 94, SI 91, CDI 24, IO 20.

Worker. (n= 31) HL 0.56–0.70, HW 0.40–0.68, MCF 0.12–0.16, SL 0.54–0.70, FL 0.50–0.62, LHT 0.46–0.70, ES 0.96–1.68, PW 0.36–0.48, CI 67–97, SI 91–107, CDI 21–36, IO 15–25.

Head longer than wide (CI 67–97), lateral margins of head convex, posterior margin almost straight to slightly concave (Fig. 1A). In full-face view, head reaches widest point behind compound eyes level. Compound eye size small to moderate (OI 15–25), with 38–40 ommatidia. Antennal scape short to moderately long (SI 91–107), exceeding posterior margin of the head by almost 1/4 its scape length. Frontal carinae narrowly to broadly separated (CDI 21–36). Maxillary palps of moderate length, below ½ HL, segment 6 shorter to somewhat same length than segment 2. Pronotum and anterior portion of mesonotum form continuous convexity. Mesonotal dorsum usually with slight medial impression. Metanotal groove moderately impressed. In lateral view, propodeum frequently high, with dorsal face rounded to straight (Fig. 1B). Petiolar scale sharp and anteriorly inclined. Head with numerous erect setae on the lateral and posterior margins; more than 10 erect setae on head dorsum, excluding those on clypeus. Pronotum with 12–24 erect setae, usually 2–4 setae are longer than rest of pronotal setae. Dorsum of the mesonotum and propodeum with 10–20 short erect setae. Petiolar scale with 4–8 erect setae. Gastral tergites with numerous erect setae shorter than those on the mesosoma. Legs and antennal scape with numerous short erect setae. Dorsal surface of head and mesosoma dull to moderately shining; sculpture on scapes shagreened or granular. Pubescence dense on head, mesosomal dorsum, anterior face of petiolar scale, and gastric tergites 1–4. Meso- and metapleura smooth and shiny, lacking pubescence.

Type Material

Holotype worker. Narino: Barbacoas, Reserva Natural El Pangán, 1º21’49”N 78º4’45”W, 640 m, manual collection, 28.vii.2006, A. Miranda and O. Reyes, deposited in Humboldt Institute (IAvH-E 95404). Paratypes. Same data as holotype, deposited in CCBUMAG (1w, CBUMAG 06968), IAvH (35w), and the California Academy of Sciences (1w, CASENT0179544).

Etymology

From Latin hirsutus because of the many erect hairs on the body surface. This name is a neutral noun.

References