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Nesomyrmex iku
| Nesomyrmex iku | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Nesomyrmex |
| Species: | N. iku |
| Binomial name | |
| Nesomyrmex iku Arredondo & Guerrero, 2025 | |
This species is only known from the type material, collected in Magdalena, Colombia. Nothing is known concerning its biology.
Photo Gallery
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Identification
Mesosomal dorsum straight. Lateral margins of pronotum rounded, converging towards mesonotum. Lateral margins of mesonotum and dorsopropodeum with slightly angled lateral projections. Lateral dorsopropodeal processes short, not covering spiracle in dorsal view.
Nesomyrmex ikuis easily recognized by the shape of the straight mesosomal profile and by the lateral dorsopropodeal processes short, not covering spiracle in dorsal view.
Morphologically, the closest species is Nesomyrmex xerophilus, but they can be differentiated mainly by the lateral projection of the frontal lobes, the latter being wider posterior to the torulus, whereas N. iku does not have such a projection on the frontal lobes. On the other hand, in N. xerophilus the propodeal spiracles are not visible in dorsal view, since the lateral portion of the dorsopropodeal projects above them, whereas in N. iku the propodeal spiracles are visible in dorsal view.
Another species with similar morphology is Nesomyrmex brasiliensis. When comparing the type workers of N. iku (IAvH-E-75014, IAvH-E-75007) with the type ones of N. brasiliensis (MZSP87370, MZSP87374) we found that both species share a straight mesosomal profile, petioles and postpetioles lacking tubercles and body concolorous yellow. However, they differ in several features:
- the antennal flagellum of N. iku has 12 antennomeres, while N. brasiliensis has 11
- the sculpture of the frontal area in N. brasiliensis is foveated in contrast to the frontal area striated in N. iku.
Other distinguishing characteristics include the length of the propodeal spines, and the size and shape of the antennal scapes.
A more extensive discussion on the similarity of N. brasiliensis, N. iku, and N. xerophilus will be possible when more material can be analyzed.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
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Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 10.8° to 10.8°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: Arredondo & Guerrero, 2025
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia (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. |
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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.
- iku. Nesomyrmex iku Arredondo & Guerrero, 2025: 151, figs. 22, 29 (w.) COLOMBIA.
Type Material
- Holotype. Colombia • 1 worker; Magdalena, Santa Marta, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta; 10.816667°N, 73.650000°W; IAvH-E-75014 [IAvH].
- Paratype (n = 1). 1 worker; same data as holotype; IAvH-E-75007 (CBUMAG).