.jpg){kind=logo}
Nylanderia scintilla
| Nylanderia scintilla | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Tribe: | Lasiini |
| Genus: | Nylanderia |
| Species: | N. scintilla |
| Binomial name | |
| Nylanderia scintilla LaPolla & Fisher, 2011
| |
Nothing is known about the biology of Nylanderia scintilla.
Identification
LaPolla et al. (2011) - Head width less than 0.51 mm; brownish-yellow species, with very short, angular propodeal dorsal face; all coxae the same color.
Compare with: Nylanderia boltoni and Nylanderia umbella
This species is most likely to be confused with N. boltoni, however there are several diagnostic morphological features that can be used to separate the two species. In N. scintilla the coxae are all the same color (not with lighter meso/metacoxae), and the head is more quadrate than in N. boltoni. Nylanderia boltoni, N. scintilla, and N. umbella appear to be closely related based on overall worker morphology.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -8.21101° to -8.21101°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Ivory Coast (type locality), Nigeria.
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
Images from AntWeb
   
| |
| Holotype of Nylanderia scintilla. Worker. Specimen code casent0903122. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by NHMUK, London, UK. |
The queen and male castes are currently unknown for this species.
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- scintilla. Nylanderia scintilla LaPolla & Fisher, in LaPolla, Hawkes & Fisher, 2011: 22, figs. 46-48, 83 (w.) IVORY COAST.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Measurements (n = 4): TL: 1.8–2.0; HW: 0.4–0.45; HL: 0.51–0.55; EL: 0.11–0.13; SL: 0.54–0.59; PW: 0.3–0.33; WL: 0.54–0.62; GL: 0.74–0.92
Indices: CI: 78–82; REL: 22–24; SI: 125–135
Overall brownish-yellow, often with slightly darker head and gaster, and always with distinctly lighter antennae and legs; coxae all the same color; cuticle smooth and shining. Head with dense layer of short pubescence; scapes surpass posterior margin by about length of first 2–3 funicular segments; scapes with scattered erect macrosetae (SMC = 13–20); head roughly quadrate in appearance with more angular-shaped posterolateral cornors present; posterior margin slightly emarginate medially. Mesosoma with macrosetae of varying lengths on pronotum (PMC = 2–5; MMC = 2); pubescence sparse with small patches on dorsum of mesonotum and propodeum; metanotal area compact; dorsal face of propodeum short and angular, slightly lower than mesonotum; declivitous face distinctly longer than dorsal face. Gaster with scattered erect macrosetae and dense layer of short pubescence giving gaster a somewhat silky appearance.
Type Material
Holotype worker, IVORY COAST: Palmeraie Lame, no. 86, 13.ii.1976 (T. Diomande) (BMNH); 9 paratype workers same label data as holotype; 3 paratype workers, IVORY COAST: Palmeraie Lame, no. 87; 5.iii.1976 (T. Diomande) (The Natural History Museum, National Museum of Natural History).
Etymology
The specific epithet scintilla (L. = spark) is in reference to the yellow color, shiny pubescence and small size of this species.
References
- LaPolla, J.S., Hawkes, P.G. & Fisher, B.L. (2011) Monograph of Nylanderia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the World, Part I: Nylanderia in the Afrotropics. Zootaxa 3110: 10–36.
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Kouakou L. M. M., K. Yeo, K. Ouattara, W. Dekoninck, T. Delsinne, and S. Konate. 2018. Investigating urban ant community (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in port cities and in major towns along the border in Côte d’Ivoire: a rapid assessment to detect potential introduced invasive ant species. Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences 36(1): 5793-5811.
- LaPolla J. S.; P.G. Hawkes, and B.L. Fisher. 2011. Monograph of Nylanderia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the World, Part I: Nylanderia in the Afrotropics. Zootaxa 3110: 10-36.