Myrmoteras donisthorpei

Myrmoteras donisthorpei
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Myrmoteratini
Genus:	Myrmoteras
Species:	M. donisthorpei
Binomial name
	Myrmoteras donisthorpei; Wheeler, W.M., 1916 Specimen Labels

Specimens have been collected from various forest habitats.

Identification

Moffett (1985) - With the distinguishing characteristics of the donisthorpei group and a smooth and shining gaster, and with summit of propodeum not higher than the mesonotum.

Keys including this Species

Key to Myrmoteras

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 5.016666667° to 4.95°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Borneo (type locality), Indonesia, Malaysia.

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

Nomenclature

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

donisthorpei. Myrmoteras donisthorpei Wheeler, W.M. 1916b: 14, fig. 3 (q.) BORNEO. Moffett, 1985b: 42 (w.m.). Combination in M. (Myagroteras): Moffett, 1985b: 42.

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

Moffett (1985):

Description

Worker

Described for the first time from several series from Borneo. TL 4.5 to 4.8, HW 0.83 to 0.90, HL 0.82 to 0.91 (CI 97 to 101), ML 1.20 to 1.38 (Ml 146 to 154), SL 0.84 to 0.98 (SI 102 to 109), EL 0.56 to 0.61, HFL 0.83 to 0.95 (TWI 24 to 27), WL 1.19 to 1.28 mm. Frontal sulcus a narrow groove; orbital furrow moderately conspicuous. Frontal area present but poorly demarcated. Palpal segmentation 5,4 in two workers from Sarawak and 5,3 in the worker from Sabah. Workers from Sarawak and Sabah with 12 to 13 teeth and 2 to 4 preapical denticles (usually 2 to 3); single worker from Kalimantan with 10 teeth and 3 preapical denticles on both mandibles. Apical denticle pair small in size, the smallest very tiny and closely applied to the slender, more apical denticle.

Trunk as described for Myrmoteras chondrogastrum except in side view with a wide, shallow concavity between metathoracic tubercles and propodeum (but metanotal groove not visible as a conspicuously impressed notch in profile). Petiole also very similar, but with anterior face of node closer to vertical; summit broader. Tibiae strongly dilated.

Head (including frontal area and clypeus) longitudinally granulo-rugose, with sculpture extending back to about as far as median ocellus, rugae ca. 0.01 mm across; smooth on occiput, laterally beneath eyes (except for feeble vertical rugae near eyes) and under head. Pronotum transversely granulo-rugose, sculptured more feebly on sides; mesothorax longitudinally granulo-rugose dorsad, laterally with three to five narrow longitudinal rugae on smooth surface; propodeum feebly granulate, declivity very feebly transversely granulo-rugose to smooth. Hair density moderate, with 17 to 26 hairs breaking dorsal margin of trunk when viewed in profile. Hairs short, rising 0.06 to 0.08 mm on head and 0.10 mm on trunk and gaster; two to three hairs on or near each metathoracic tubercle and five to seven on node of petiole. Mostly orange red to reddish orange, with head slightly lighter colored and legs reddish orange with femora, trochanters, and sometimes the coxae virtually white; antennae and mandibles orange yellow. Sabah specimen very dark orange red, including legs.

Queen

Holotype: TL 4.5, HW 0.85, HL 0.88 (CI 97), ML 1.26 (MI 144), SL 0.91 (SI 107), EL 0.58, HFL 0.88 (TWI 24), WL 1.20 mm. Both mandibles with 12 teeth and two preapical denticles (Sarawak queen with 11 to 12 teeth). Less strongly sculptured than described for Sarawak workers, with sculpture on head rugulose, rugae ca. 0.01 mm in width; clypeus more feebly and irregularly rugulose; trunk virtually smooth, very feebly granulate on mesonotum; propodeum transversely rugose dorsally (rugae 0.02 to 0.03 mm apart), obliquely rugose on sides, and with declivity virtually smooth. Coloration similar to workers but femora not as pale.

Male

Described for the first time from a Sarawak specimen: HW 0.59, HL 0.65 (CI 91), SL 0.78 (SI 132), EL 0.34, WL 0.98 mm. Frontal sulcus a feebly impressed medial line. Papal segmentation 6,4. Head smooth except for a trace of granulate sculpture low on face; clypeus feebly granulate. Trunk granulate; propodeum with a denser network of rugae than in Myrmoteras williamsi; these continue onto declivity. Traces of granulate sculpture on petiole.

Type Material

Borneo: West Sarawak: Mt. Matang, 16.1.1914, 1 alate queen, G. E. Bryant, Museum of Comparative Zoology [examined].

References

Moffett, M.W. 1985b. Revision of the genus Myrmoteras (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 151:1-53. (page 42, worker, male described, Combination in M. (Myagroteras))
Wheeler, W. M. 1916b. Four new and interesting ants from the mountains of Borneo and Luzon. Proc. N. Engl. Zool. Club 6: 9-18 (page 14, fig. 3 queen described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Agosti D. 1992. Revision of the ant genus Myrmoteras of the Malay Archipelago (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Rev. Suisse Zool. 99: 405-429.
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
Creighton W. S. 1930. A review of the genus Myrmoteras (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Journal of the New York Entomological Society 38: 177-192.
Fayle T. M., E. C. Turner, J. L. Snaddon, V. Khen Chey, A. Y. C. Chung, P. Eggleton, and W. A. Foster. 2010. Oil palm expansion into rain forest greatly reduces ant biodiversity in canopy, epiphytes and leaf-litter. Basic and Applied Ecology 11: 337345.
Gregg R. E. 1954. Geographical distribution of the genus Myrmoteras, including the description of a new species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Psyche (Cambridge) 61: 20-30.
Huong N. T. T., P. V. Sang, and B. T. Viet. 2015. A preliminary study on diversity of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) at Hon Ba Nature Reserve. Environmental Scientific Conference 7: 614-620.
Moffett M.W. 1985. Revision of the genus Myrmoteras. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 151: 1-53.
Pfeiffer M., D. Mezger, and J. Dyckmans. 2013. Trophic ecology of tropical leaf litter ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) - a stable isotope study in four types of Bornean rain forest. Myrmecological News 19: 31-41.
Pfeiffer M., and D. Mezger. 2012. Biodiversity Assessment in Incomplete Inventories: Leaf Litter Ant Communities in Several Types of Bornean Rain Forest. PLoS ONE 7(7): e40729. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0040738
Pfeiffer M., and D. Mezger. 2012. Biodiversity Assessment in Incomplete Inventories: Leaf Litter Ant Communities in Several Types of Bornean Rain Forest. PLoS ONE 7(7): e40729. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0040931
Pfeiffer M., and D. Mezger. 2012. Biodiversity Assessment in Incomplete Inventories: Leaf Litter Ant Communities in Several Types of Bornean Rain Forest. PLoS ONE 7(7): e40729. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0041098
Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58
Philpott S.M., P. Bichier, R.A. Rice, and R. Greenberg. 2008. Biodiversity conservation, yield, and alternative products in coffee agroecosystems in Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodivers. Conserv. 17: 1805-1820. Data obtained from Stacy Philpott
Wheeler W. M. 1916. Four new and interesting ants from the mountains of Borneo and Luzon. Proceedings of the New England Zoological Club 6: 9-18.
Woodcock P., D. P. Edwards, R. J. Newton, C. Vun Khen, S. H. Bottrell, and K. C. Hamer. 2013. Impacts of Intensive Logging on the Trophic Organisation of Ant Communities in a Biodiversity Hotspot. PLoS ONE 8(4): e60756. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0060756
Woodcock P., D. P. Edwards, T. M. Fayle, R. J. Newton, C. Vun Khen, S. H. Bottrell, and K. C. Hamer. 2011. The conservation value of South East Asia's highly degraded forests: evidence from leaf-litter ants. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B. 366: 3256-3264.
Zettel H., and Sorger, D. M. 2011. New Myrmoteras ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the southeastern Philippines. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 59:61-67.