Neivamyrmex harrisii

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Neivamyrmex harrisii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dorylinae
Genus: Neivamyrmex
Species: N. harrisii
Binomial name
Neivamyrmex harrisii
(Haldeman, 1852)

Neivamyrmex harrisii casent0102765 profile 1.jpg Neivamyrmex harrisii casent0102765 dorsal 1.jpg Specimen labels

Synonyms

This species raids nests of Pheidole xerophila. Males were collected at lights from June to the first part of October. They were especially abundant in late July. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Photo Gallery

  • Neivamyrmex harrisi. Male army ants are sometimes called "sausage flies" for their distinctive appearance. Pima County, Arizona, USA. Photo by Alex Wild.
  • Neivamyrmex harrisi. Close-up of a male army ant. Pima County, Arizona, USA. Photo by Alex Wild.
  • Neivamyrmex harrisi. Male army ants are highly specialized creatures. Their large eyes help them navigate as they try to locate colonies where they may find potential mates, and their elongate mandibles are used to grasp queens during mating. Pima County, Arizona, USA. Photo by Alex Wild.
  • Neivamyrmex harrisi is one of the most commonly seen army ant males that fly to lights at night in Arizona. Although the workers of this species are known, they are not often seen as they are largely subterranean. Many army ant species are only known from either males or from workers, leading to a confusing double taxonomy where the same biological species has a male and a female name. Pima County, Arizona, USA. Photo by Alex Wild.

Identification

Males of this common species are regularly collected at lights. They are superficially similar to those of Neivamyrmex andrei but the mandibular shape and the large ocelli will serve to separate them from that species. (Snelling and Snelling 2007)

Keys including this Species

Distribution

United States: AZ, TX, OK and NM. Mexico: border states south at least to Colima in the east and Nayarit in the west.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 40.754097° to 19.05°.

     
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Nearctic Region: United States (type locality).
Neotropical Region: Mexico.

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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Habitat

Creosotebush scrub up to foothills thorn scrub.

Biology

Castes

Worker

Neivamyrmex-harrisii-a.jpgNeivamyrmex-harrisii-b.jpgNeivamyrmex-harrisii-c.jpgNeivamyrmex-harrisii-d.jpgNeivamyrmex-harrisii-e.jpg
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Nomenclature

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

  • harrisii. Labidus harrisii Haldeman, 1852: 367, pl. 9, figs. 4-6 (m.) U.S.A. (Texas).
    • Type-material: holotype male.
    • Type-locality: U.S.A.: Texas, Fort Gates (H. Haldemann).
    • Type-depository: unknown (no type-material known to exist (Snelling, G.C. & Snelling, 2007: 473)).
    • Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1984: 273 (l.).
    • Combination in Eciton (Labidus): Mayr, 1886d: 441;
    • combination in E. (Acamatus): Emery, 1900a: 187;
    • combination in E. (Neivamyrmex): Smith, M.R. 1942c: 572;
    • combination in Neivamyrmex: Borgmeier, 1955: 522.
    • Status as species: Roger, 1863b: 42; Mayr, 1863: 424; Cresson, 1872: 194; Mayr, 1886d: 441; Cresson, 1887: 259; Dalla Torre, 1893: 3; Emery, 1895c: 261, Forel, 1899c: 28; Emery, 1900a: 177 (in key); Wheeler, W.M. 1908e: 413; Emery, 1910b: 26; Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 562; Essig, 1926: 869; Cole, 1937a: 98; Smith, M.R. 1938b: 158; Smith, M.R. 1942c: 572 (redescription); Creighton, 1950a: 72; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 780; Borgmeier, 1955: 522 (redescription); Forbes & Do-Van-Quy, 1965: 95; Smith, M.R. 1967: 345; Watkins, 1968: 275; Watkins, 1971: 94 (in key); Kempf, 1972a: 155; Watkins, 1972: 350 (in key); Hunt & Snelling, 1975: 21; Watkins, 1976: 16 (in key); Smith, D.R. 1979: 1330; Watkins, 1982: 210 (in key); Watkins, 1985: 483 (in key); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1986g: 19 (in key); Bolton, 1995b: 289; Mackay & Mackay, 2002: 57; Snelling, G.C. & Snelling, 2007: 473.
    • Senior synonym of dubia: Watkins, 1968: 275; Kempf, 1972a: 155; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1330; Bolton, 1995b: 289; Snelling, G.C. & Snelling, 2007: 473.
    • Senior synonym of wheeleri: Watkins, 1968: 275; Kempf, 1972a: 155; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1330; Bolton, 1995b: 289; Snelling, G.C. & Snelling, 2007: 473.
    • Distribution: Mexico, U.S.A.
  • dubia. Eciton (Acamatus) wheeleri subsp. dubia Creighton, 1932: 75, pl. 3, figs. 1-3 (w.q.) U.S.A. (Texas).
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated, “numerous”), 1 syntype ergatoid queen.
    • Type-locality: U.S.A.: Texas, 5 mi. W Fort Worth (H. Ruckes).
    • Type-depositories: LACM, MCZC (perhaps also AMNH (Snelling, G.C. & Snelling, 2007: 472)).
    • Subspecies of wheeleri: Smith, M.R. 1938b: 158.
    • Junior synonym of wheeleri: Smith, M.R. 1942c: 561; Creighton, 1950a: 76; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 781; Borgmeier, 1955: 511.
    • Junior synonym of harrisii: Watkins, 1968: 275; Kempf, 1972a: 155; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1330; Bolton, 1995b: 289; Snelling, G.C. & Snelling, 2007: 473.
  • wheeleri. Eciton wheeleri Emery, 1901d: 55, fig. 8 (w.) U.S.A. (Texas).
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-locality: U.S.A.: Texas, Itays (= Hays) County (W.M. Wheeler).
    • Type-depository: MCZC, MHNG, MSNG.
    • Smith, M.R. 1942c: 562 (q.).
    • Combination in E. (Acamatus): Wheeler, W.M. 1908e: 412;
    • combination in E. (Neivamyrmex): Smith, M.R. 1942c: 561;
    • combination in Neivamyrmex: Borgmeier, 1953: 6.
    • Status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1908e: 412 (redescription); Emery, 1910b: 25; Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 562; Smith, M.R. 1938b: 158; Smith, M.R. 1942c: 561 (redescription); Creighton, 1950a: 76; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 781; Borgmeier, 1955: 511 (redescription); Smith, M.R. 1967: 345.
    • Junior synonym of harrisii: Watkins, 1968: 275; Kempf, 1972a: 155; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1330; Bolton, 1995b: 292; Snelling, G.C. & Snelling, 2007: 473.

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

Description

Male

Smith (1942) - Length 10.5 mm.

Head approximately one and three-fourths times as broad as long. Eye remarkably large, convex, protuberant. Ocelli large, placed on protuberance well elevated above general surface of head. Frontal carinae subparallel medianally, usually with a weak groove between them. Ridge above antennal socket prominent, most distinct from above. Antennal scape approximately as long as combined length of first 3 funicular segments; funiculus broadest near base, gradually narrowing toward apex. Mandible robust, with convex inferior and somewhat straight superior border, the two borders subparallel in basal half and tapering in apical half to form a blunt point. The large, protuberant eye, in profile, occupies all of the side of the head except a very narrow area above the base of the mandible, and a larger space posterodorsad of the eye. Thorax slender. Anterior surface of prothorax, in profile, with a transverse impression. Epinotum subtruncate or weakly concave. Tarsal claws feebly or nontoothed. Petiole small; about one and one-half times as broad as long, with rounded, weakly defined posterior corners. Gaster slender, with distinct but not very strong constrictions between segments. Intermediate tooth of seventh gastric sternum short but distinct. A weak transverse impression near base of sixth gastric tergum. Lower part of aedeagus terminating in a pair of processes, which when viewed from a posterior direction resemble very much a hand with only the index finger extended.

Mandibles, head, and thorax with small but distinct punctures, well scattered on side of thorax, more dense on dorsum. Anterior border of each gastric segment smooth. Body and appendages, except funiculi, shining in some lights.

Pilosity yellowish, rather abundant; longest on mandibles, antennal scapes, head, legs, sides and venter of thorax, venter of petiole, and gaster; more appressed elsewhere. Seventh gastric sternum rather densely pilose.

Light to dark brown, with dorsal surfaces of head, thorax, and petiole darker. Wings pale, with weak grayish or yellowish cast; veins and stigma light brown to dark brown.

Type Material

Smith (1942) - Type apparently lost. Fort Gates, Coryell County, Tex., Lieut. Horace Haldeman (see type material comments for Neivamyrmex melshaemeri).

References

  • Alatorre-Bracamontes, C.E., Vásquez-Bolaños, M. 2010. Lista comentada de las hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) del norte de México. Dugesiana 17(1): 9-36.
  • Borgmeier, T. 1955. Die Wanderameisen der neotropischen Region. Stud. Entomol. 3: 1-720 (page 522, Combination in Neivamyrmex)
  • Creighton, W. S. 1932. A new female of Acamatus from Texas. Psyche (Camb.) 39: 73-78.
  • Emery, C. 1900e. Nuovi studi sul genere Eciton. Mem. R. Accad. Sci. Ist. Bologna (5)8:173-188 (page 187, Combination in E. (Acamatus))
  • Forbes, J.; Do-Van-Quy, D. 1965. The anatomy and histology of the male reproductive system of the legionary ant, Neivamyrmex harrisi (Haldeman) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 73: 95-111 (page 95, see also)
  • Haldeman, S. S. 1852. Appendix C. - Insects. Pp. 366-378 in: Stansbury, H. An expedition to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake of Utah; including a description of its geography, natural history, and minerals, and an analysis of its waters. London: Sampson Low, Son & Co., 487 pp. (page 367, pl.9, figs. 4-6 male described)
  • Hermann, H. R.; Blum, M. S.; Wheeler, J. W.; Overal, W. L.; Schmidt, J. O.; Chao, J. 1984. Comparative anatomy and chemistry of the venom apparatus and mandibular glands in Dinoponera grandis (Guérin) and Paraponera clavata (F.) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 77: 272-279 (page 273, larva described)
  • Mackay, W.P. & Mackay, E.E. 2002. The Ants of New Mexico: 400 pp. Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston, N.Y.
  • Mayr, G. 1886d. Die Formiciden der Vereinigten Staaten von Nordamerika. Verh. K-K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 36: 419-464 (page 441, Combination in Eciton (Labidus))
  • Snelling, G. C.; Snelling, R. R. 2007. New synonymy, new species, new keys to Neivamyrmex army ants of the United States. In Snelling, R. R., B. L. Fisher, and P. S. Ward (eds). Advances in ant systematics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): homage to E. O. Wilson - 50 years of contributions. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80:459-550. PDF
  • Smith, M. R. 1942c. The legionary ants of the United States belonging to Eciton subgenus Neivamyrmex Borgmeier. Am. Midl. Nat. 27: 537-590 (page 572, Combination in E. (Neivamyrmex))
  • Watkins, J. F., II. 1968. The rearing of the army ant male, Neivamyrmex harrisi (Haldeman) from larvae collected from a nest of N. wheeleri (Emery). Am. Midl. Nat. 80: 273-276 (page 275, Senior synonym of wheeleri (and its junior synonym dubia))

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Borgmeier T. 1955. Die Wanderameisen der neotropischen Region. Studia Entomologica 3: 1-720.
  • Cokendolpher J. C., and O. F. Francke. 1990. The ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of western Texas. Part II. Subfamilies Ecitoninae, Ponerinae, Pseudomyrmecinae, Dolichoderinae, and Formicinae. Special Publications, the Museum. Texas Tech University 30:1-76.
  • Cover S. P., and R. A. Johnson. 20011. Checklist of Arizona Ants. Downloaded on January 7th at http://www.asu.edu/clas/sirgtools/AZants-2011%20updatev2.pdf
  • Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
  • Feitosa, R.M., R.R. Hora, J.H.C. Delabie, J. Valenzuela and D. Fresneau. 2008. A new social parasite in the ant genus Ectatomma F. Smith (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Ectatomminae). Zootaxa 1713:47-52.
  • Fernandes, P.R. XXXX. Los hormigas del suelo en Mexico: Diversidad, distribucion e importancia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).
  • Forbes J., and D. Do-Van-Quy. 1965. The anatomy and histology of the male reproductive system of the legionary ant, Neivamyrmex harrisi (Haldeman) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 73: 95-111.
  • Johnson R. Personnal Database. Accessed on February 5th 2014 at http://www.asu.edu/clas/sirgtools/resources.htm
  • Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
  • Mackay W. P., and E. E. Mackay. 2002. The ants of New Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 400 pp.
  • Mercado Uribe I. 1994. La comunidad de hormigas del suelo, del bosque tropical caducifolio de la region de Chamela, Jalisco. Thesis profesional de la Facultad de ciencias Biologicas, Universidad de Guadalajara, 49 pages.
  • Mirmecofauna de la reserva ecologica de San Felipe Bacalar
  • O'Keefe S. T., J. L. Cook, T. Dudek, D. F. Wunneburger, M. D. Guzman, R. N. Coulson, and S. B. Vinson. 2000. The Distribution of Texas Ants. The Southwestern Entomologist 22: 1-92.
  • Smith M. R. 1936. A list of the ants of Texas. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 44: 155-170.
  • Smith M. R. 1942. The legionary ants of the United States belonging to Eciton subgenus Neivamyrmex Borgmeier. American Midland Naturalist 27: 537-590.
  • Snelling G. C. and R. R. Snelling. 2007. New synonymy, new species, new keys to Neivamyrmex army ants of the United States. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80: 459-550
  • Van Pelt, A. 1983. Ants of the Chisos Mountains, Texas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) . Southwestern Naturalist 28:137-142.
  • Vasquez-Bolanos M. 2011. Checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Mexico. Dugesiana 18(1): 95-133.
  • Vasquez-Bolanos M., and J. L. Navarrete-Heredia. 2004. Checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Jalisco State, Mexico. Sociobiology 43(2): 351-365
  • Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133
  • Watkins II, J.F. 1982.The army ants of Mexico (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ecitoninae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 55(2): 197-247.
  • Watkins J. F., II 1976. The identification and distribution of New World army ants (Dorylinae: Formicidae). Waco, Texas: Baylor University Press, 102 pp
  • Watkins J. F., II. 1968. The rearing of the army ant male, Neivamyrmex harrisi (Haldeman) from larvae collected from a nest of N. wheeleri (Emery). American Midland Naturalist 80: 273-276.
  • Wheeler G. C., and J. Wheeler J. 1989. A checklist of the ants of Oklahoma. Prairie Naturalist 21: 203-210.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1908. The ants of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. (Part I.). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 24: 399-485.
  • Wheeler W. M., and W. H. Long. 1901. The males of some Texan Ecitons. American Naturalist. 35: 157-173.
  • Wheeler, G.C. and J. Wheeler. 1985. A checklist of Texas ants. Prairie Naturalist 17:49-64.
  • Young J., and D. E. Howell. 1964. Ants of Oklahoma. Miscellaneous Publication. Oklahoma Agricultural Experimental Station 71: 1-42.
  • Young, J. and D.E. Howell. 1964. Ants of Oklahoma. Miscellaneous Publications of Oklahoma State University MP-71
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