Lophomyrmex striatulus

Lophomyrmex striatulus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Lophomyrmex
Species:	L. striatulus
Binomial name
	Lophomyrmex striatulus; Rigato, 1994 Specimen Labels

Nothing is known about the biology of Lophomyrmex striatulus.

Identification

A member of the Lophomymrex bedoti group.

Rigato (1994) - Its closest relative appears to be Lophomyrmex ambiguus. L. striatulus always has one or two longitudinal short rugulae running backward from the insertion of the humeral hair; these rugulae are always lacking in L. ambiguus. The rugulation of the pronotum in L. striatulus is always more developed than in L. ambiguus. Also. L. striatulus has the eye slightly larger and nearer to the mandibular insertion, a shallower metanotal groove, a thinner petiolar node, and its average size is smaller.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Thailand (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

Worker

Images from AntWeb


Paratype of Lophomyrmex striatulus. Worker. Specimen code casent0901268. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by NHMUK, London, UK.

Nomenclature

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

striatulus. Lophomyrmex striatulus Rigato, 1994a: 56, figs. 16, 17 (w.) THAILAND.

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

Description

Worker

Holotype: TL 2.8, HL 0.73, HW 0.69, CI 95, SL 0.61, SI 88, PW 0.45, AL 0.83, SpL 0.24, HTL 0.60, TI, 87.

In lateral view the distance between the mandibular insertion and the anterior point of the eye is about 1.3 times the maximum eye length. Mesonotum in profile with a low prominence and a faint posterior step. Metanotal groove very shallow in profile. Propodeal spines in profile rather straight and sharp; their superior border weakly convex in the basal half. Petiolar node in profile very briefly sub truncate and with a rounded angle between its anterior and dorsal faces; posterior slope distinct. Postpetiole not massive and shorter than the petiole.

Clypeus feebly shagreened and sublucid, except for its posteriormost median portion which is smooth. Frontal triangle weakly sculptured and sublucid. Head distinctly reticulate throughout, subopaque; frons and vertex more superficially sculptured and sublucid. Genae and frontal lobes with weak longitudinal rugulae. Ventral head surface with anteriorly convergent rugulae. Anterior pronotal slope clearly reticulate, with some short transverse rugulae on the sides. Pronotal dorsum with a weak longitudinal median carina and some irregular short rugae on the rest of the surface (more visible in oblique view). Pronotal sides faintly longitudinally striolate. Two weak short rugulae rise backward from the insertion of the humeral hair. Mesonotum, mesopleuron and propodeum, excluding its smooth declivity, clearly reticulate and quite dull; mesonotum slightly more superficially sculptured. Petiole and postpetiole wholly reticulate and mostly subopaque. Gaster very faintly reticulate and shining.

Pilosity and pubescence as usual in the genus.

Colour light yellowish brown, the whole dorsum slightly darker.

Paratype workers: TL 2.6-3.1, HL 0.65-0.77, HW 0.59-0.73, CI 91-96, SL 0.55-0.62, SI 85-93, PW 0.40-0.48, AL 0.75-0.89, SpL 0.22-0.26, HTL 0.54-0.63, TI 84-92 (29 measured).

As the holotype but varying as follows: Eye distance from the mandibular insertion ranges from about 1.2 to 1.3 times the maximum eye length. Propodeal spines, mesonotum and alitrunk rather constant in shape.

Smallest specimens are more superficially sculptured with clearly shining frons and vertex, although still distinctly reticulate. Some rugulae always occur on the pronotum. In largest specimens rugulae are often more numerous and developed on the pronotum.

Colour from brownish yellow to yellowish brown.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Thailand: Khao Sabap Nat. Park 24.ix.1985 (I. Lobi and D. Burckhardt) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève). Paratype worker, 29 specimens with the same data as the holotype (The Natural History Museum; Museum of Comparative Zoology; MHNG).

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Sheela S., and S. N. Ghosh. 2009. A new species of Lophomyrmex Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from India with a key to Indian species. Biosystematica 2(2): 17-20.