Nylanderia wardi

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Nylanderia wardi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Lasiini
Genus: Nylanderia
Species: N. wardi
Binomial name
Nylanderia wardi
LaPolla & Kallal, 2019

Nylanderia wardi F97.jpg

Nylanderia wardi F99.jpg

Nothing is known about the biology of Nylanderia wardi.

Identification

LaPolla and Kallal (2019) - Larger brown to light brown species (HL: 0.6–0.72); SMC typically greater than 30 (measured range: 26–38); head in full-face view distinctly ovate with rounded posterolateral corners.

Compare with: Nylanderia sierra, Nylanderia xestonota

Workers of this species are very similar to N. sierra, but N. wardi is much larger and the declivity following the mesonotum to the metanotal area is distinctly longer in N. wardi. Additionally, N. wardi has much more scape macrosetae than N. sierra. There were individuals of N. sierra collected in sympatry with N. wardi and the morphological differences between the two species were maintained.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 20.007° to 20.007°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Cuba (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.

  • wardi. Nylanderia wardi LaPolla & Kallal, 2019: 441, figs. 97-99 (w.) CUBA.

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

Description

Worker

(n=7): TL: 2.20–2.84; HW: 0.54–0.6; HL: 0.60–0.72; EL: 0.15–0.18; SL: 0.78–0.87; WL: 0.76–0.85; GL: 0.82–1.3; SMC: 26–38; PMC: 4–6; MMC: 3–4. indices: CI: 83–90; REL: 24–25; SI: 141–152; SI2: 18–21.

Head: Sides of head in full face view rounded and slightly convergent anteriad; posterolateral corners distinctly rounded; posterior margin straight; anterior clypeal margin emarginate; median ocellus present; eye well-developed. Mesosoma: in lateral view, pronotum convex; anterior margin of mesonotum raised slightly above posterior pronotal margin; metanotal area without short flat area before spiracle; dorsal face of propodeum slightly convex; dorsal face of propodeum lower than mesonotum in lateral view. Color and pilosity: color light brown to brownish-yellow; slightly darker dorsally; mesocoxae and metacoxae slightly lighter than the mesosoma; head generally without pubescence, except some sparse pubescence laterally and underneath eyes; mesosoma generally without pubescence, except some sparse pubescence on the mesonotum and a sparse fringe along dorsal face of propodeum; gastral tergites with abundant pubescence.

Type Material

Holotype worker, CUBA: Holguin, 6 km S Yamanigüey, 20° 33’ N, 74° 44’W, 25 m, 23.viii.2001, P.S. Ward #1443723 (National Museum of Natural History); 2 paratype workers same locality data as holotype (specimens are from the same nest as holotype); 3 paratype workers same locality data as holotype but different collecting code (P.S. Ward #14436) (NMNH & Museum of Comparative Zoology).

Etymology

Named in honor of Philip S. Ward (University of California—Davis), who not only collected this species, but whose many superb contributions to myrmecology have greatly enriched the field.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • LaPolla J. S., and R. J. Kallal. 2019. Nylanderia of the World Part III: Nylanderia in the West Indies. Zootaxa 4658: 401-451.