Lophomyrmex taivanae

Lophomyrmex taivanae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Lophomyrmex
Species:	L. taivanae
Binomial name
Lophomyrmex taivanae Forel, 1912 Specimen Labels

The species seems to be a Taiwan endemic and is the sole Lophomyrmex known from the island. Nothing is known about the biology of Lophomyrmex taivanae.

Identification

A member of the Lophomymrex quadrispinosus group.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Lophomyrmex of South China, Indo-China and Thailand
• Key to Lophomyrmex species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Taiwan (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.

Nomenclature

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

• taivanae. Lophomyrmex quadrispinosus r. taivanae Forel, 1912a: 55 (w.) TAIWAN. Raised to species: Ettershank, 1966: 134; Rigato, 1994a: 60.

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

Description

Worker

Rigato (1994) - TL 2.4-3.1, HL 0.63-0.79, HW 0.56-0.71, CI 88-94, SL 0.49-0.61, SI 84-91, PW 0.38-0.49, AL 0.69-0.88, SpL 0.14-0.23, HTL 0.48-0.61, TI 84-91 (32 measured).

With the characters given in the key and the following: Mesonotum in profile with a well-developed prominence and without a distinct posterior step. Metanotal groove quite notched in profile. Propodeal spines in profile very straight, sharp and not very long. Petiole and postpetiole appearing robust in profile. Petiolar node usually obliquely truncate with a quite distinct angle between its anterior and superior faces.

Clypeus subopaque, except for its posteriormost median portion which is shining. Frontal triangle quite dull. Head rather shining, above all on the frons and vertex; in full-face view the portions contained between the level of the inner eye margin and the frontal lobes appear shagreened and usually a little less shining than the frons. Genae and frontal lobes with fine longitudinal rugulae. Pronotum shining with at most only very superficial reticulation on the dorsum. Mesonotum behind the median prominence, mesopleuron and propodeum, excluding the declivity and part of the dorsum, reticulate and sublucid. Petiole and postpetiole finely reticulate and subopaque on the sides; top of the nodes chiefly smooth and sublucid. Gaster glassy smooth, shining.

Colour from pale yellow or pale brownish yellow to bright brownish yellow; sometimes the head with a more orange tinge and the gaster brown.

Type Material

Rigato (1994) - Syntype workers, Taiwan: Kosempo, Taihorin (H. Sauter) (The Natural History Museum, Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève) [examined].

Determination Clarifications

Rigato (1994) - A worker of taivanae labelled 'Palestine' (Svinsky) is present in DZTAU. As the distribution of many Lophomyrmex species is usually limited, I consider that this specimen is either mislabelled or represents an isolated introduction by man. It should not be included as part of the eastern Mediterranean ant fauna.

References

• Ettershank, G. 1966. A generic revision of the world Myrmicinae related to Solenopsis and Pheidologeton (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Aust. J. Zool. 14: 73-171 (page 134, Raised to species)
• Forel, A. 1912a. H. Sauter's Formosa-Ausbeute. Formicidae (Hym.). Entomol. Mitt. 1: 45-61 (page 55, worker described)
• Rigato, F. 1994b. Revision of the myrmicine ant genus Lophomyrmex, with a review of its taxonomic position (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Systematic Entomology. 19:47-60. (page 60, Raised to species)
• Yamane, S. & Hosoishi, S. 2014. Second Vietnamese species of the myrmicine genus Lophomyrmex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Halteres, 5:64-68.

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
• Ettershank G. 1966. A generic revision of the world Myrmicinae related to Solenopsis and Pheidologeton (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Aust. J. Zool. 14: 73-171.
• Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
• Hua Li-zhong. 2006. List of Chinese insects Vol. IV. Pages 262-273. Sun Yat-sen university Press, Guangzhou. 539 pages.
• Lin S. Y., B. Di Giusto, A. Bain, and L. S. Chou. 2016. Variation of ant community structure on Ficus benguetensis. Taiwania 61(1): 49-57.
• Rigato F. 1994. Revision of the myrmicine ant genus Lophomyrmex, with a review of its taxonomic position (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Systematic Entomology 19: 47-60.
• 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.
• Terayama M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University. Liberal Arts 17:81-266.
• Terayama Mamoru. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta, Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
• Terayama, M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta; Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
• Terayama. M. and Inoue. N. 1988. Ants collected by the members of the Soil Zoological Expedition to Taiwan. ARI Reports of the Myrmecologists Society (Japan) 18: 25-28
• Wheeler W. M. 1929. Ants collected by Professor F. Silvestri in Formosa, the Malay Peninsula and the Philippines. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della Reale Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura. Portici 24: 27-64.
• Wheeler W. M. 1930. Formosan ants collected by Dr. R. Takahashi. Proceedings of the New England Zoological Club 11: 93-106.