Lordomyrma levifrons

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Lordomyrma levifrons
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Lordomyrma
Species: L. levifrons
Binomial name
Lordomyrma levifrons
(Mann, 1921)

Lordomyrma levifrons casent0171004 p 1 high.jpg

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Specimen Labels

Collected from the mountains of Viti Levu, little is known about the biology of L. levifrons. This large, robust, long-spined ant is known only from Mann’s collections and is the only species of Lordomyrma he described that has not been rediscoverd since. (Sarnat 2016)

Identification

Sarnat (2016) - Although the promesonotum is strongly produced in this species, and the petiole has a steep anterior face, it can be differentiated from Lordomyrma desupra, Lordomyrma stoneri, Lordomyrma tortuosa, and Lordomyrma vuda by the transverse carina posterior to the metanotal groove. Lordomyrma levifrons is distinguished from the other species with long propodeal spines, Lordomyrma polita, by the long, fine-tipped hairs present on its face, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -17.566667° to -17.8°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Fiji (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.

  • levifrons. Rogeria (Irogera) tortuosa subsp. levifrons Mann, 1921: 453 (w.) FIJI IS. Combination in Lordomyrma: Kugler, C. 1994: 26. Raised to species: Sarnat, 2006: 20.

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

Description

Worker

Sarnat (2016) - TL 4.31, HL 0.99, HW 0.89, CI 0.90, SI 0.73, REL 0.21, PSLI 1.31, MFLI 1.01, DPWI 0.90 (1 measured).

A large reddish brown species with long straight spines and reduced sculpturing. In full face view, posterior margin of head evenly convex with rounded corners. Clypeus smooth and shining, only light traces of a pair of weak carinae terminating before reaching anterior border. Frontal carinae weakly carinate, terminating just after posterior level of eye. Antennal scrobe weakly impressed. Eyes of moderate size. In lateral view promesonotum large, moderately convex. Propodeal spines acute and straight, one and one third as long as width of procoxa in lateral view. Propodeal lobes strong, long and upturned. Petiole robustly built; in lateral view anterior face of node nearly vertical, posterior face more gently sloped, apex at anterior angle. Postpetiole with anterior and dorsal faces evenly convex, apex occurring at midline. Mandibles smooth and shining with sparse, setigerous foveolae. Middorsum of head smooth and shining with scattered setigerous foveolae; no carinae mesad of frontal carinae. Frontal lobes with one pair of strong carinae in addition to the frontal carinae. Arcuate carinae above and below eye, mostly smooth behind eye, longitudinal carinae between eye and mandiblular insertion; posterior corners of head smooth and shining with a few punctures margined by elevated sides; carinae absent. Promesonotum smooth and shining with a few weak carinae on sides and a few striations on dorsum. In dorsal view, propodeum smooth and shining, with a distinct transverse carina proximal to the metanotal groove; declivitous face smooth and shining. Petiole and postpetiole coarsely rugoreticulate. Gaster smooth and shining. All dorsal surfaces with an abundance of suberect to erect acuminate yellowish hairs, the longest of which equal or exceed the length of the eye. Head and mesosoma reddish brown, gaster and appendages lighter.

Type Material

Sarnat (2016) - Syntype, worker, Nadarivatu, Fiji (W.M. Mann) (National Museum of Natural History) (examined).

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Lucky A., and E. M. Sarnat. 2008. New species of Lordomyrma (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Southeast Asia and Fiji. Zootaxa 1681: 37-46.
  • Mann W. M. 1921. The ants of the Fiji Islands. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 64: 401-499.
  • Sarnat Eli M. 2009. The Ants [Hymenoptera: Formicdiae] of Fiji: Systematics, Biogeography and Conservation of an Island Arc Fauna. 80-252
  • Sarnat, Eli M. 2006. Lordomyrma (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Fiji Islands. Fiji Arthropods VI. 9-42.
  • Wheeler W.M. 1935. Check list of the ants of Oceania. Occasional Papers of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum 11(11):1-56.
  • Wheeler, William Morton.1935.Checklist of the Ants of Oceania.Occasional Papers 11(11): 3-56