Ochetellus

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This genus is found in forested areas with colonies occurring under rocks, in dead wood or in soil. Workers forage arboreally or epigeically, often forming conspicuous foraging columns. Ochetellus commonly forage in houses where they show a preference for fluids and sweets.

At a Glance • Haiku  

Identification

Shattuck (1992) - Worker: Metanotal groove a narrow, distinct notch in the relatively flat dorsal mesosomal surface; declivitous face of propodeum concave; petiolar scale vertical and not inclined anteriorly, narrowed longitudinally, expanded dorsolaterally; anterolateral clypeal margin posterior to the mediolateral region and separated from it by a shoulder; anteromedial clypeal margin with a broad, shallow concavity. Japan south through Burma and the Philippines to Australia and Fiji. Queen: Anterolateral clypeal margin posterior to the mediolateral region and separated from it by a shoulder; anteromedial clypeal margin with a broad, shallow concavity; dorsal face of propodeum longer (occasionally shorter) than declivitous face; petiolar scale moderately inclined anteriorly but with the anterior and posterior faces approximately the same length; anterior axillar suture angular medially (occasionally weakly developed). Male: Petiole expanded laterally along entire height, and with the dorsal surface very broad; anterior axillar suture angular medially; mandible with 1 tooth (the apical) and 0 to 4 denticles.

Ochetellus differs markedly from Iridomyrmex in numerous characters, including the placement of the compound eye, configuration of the anterior clypeal margin and petiolar node, and mesosomal profile. Ochetellus workers superficially resemble small workers of Dolichoderus in their mesosomal profile (relatively flat mesosomal dorsum and concave declivitous propodeal face) but can be separated by their generally smaller size and the unique petiole, which is narrowed longitudinally and expanded dorsolaterally. The head shape, while not diagnostic, tends to appear flattened dorsoventrally, giving a thinner profile than in most dolichoderine genera.

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Keys including this Genus

 

Distribution

Distribution and Richness based on AntMaps

Species by Region

Number of species within biogeographic regions, along with the total number of species for each region.

Afrotropical Region Australasian Region Indo-Australian Region Malagasy Region Nearctic Region Neotropical Region Oriental Region Palaearctic Region
Species 0 7 5 2 1 0 1 1
Total Species 2841 1736 3045 932 835 4379 1741 2862

Biology

Association with Other Organisms

All Associate Records for Genus

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Taxon Relationship Associate Type Associate Taxon Associate Relationship Locality Source Notes
Ochetellus glaber host encyrtid wasp Ananusia australis parasite Universal Chalcidoidea Database associate

Life History Traits

  • Mean colony size: ? (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Compound colony type: not parasitic (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Nest site: hypogaeic (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Diet class: omnivore (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Foraging stratum: subterranean/leaf litter; arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Foraging behaviour: cooperative (Greer et al., 2021)

Castes

Morphology

Worker Morphology

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• Antennal segment count: 12 • Antennal club: gradual • Palp formula: 6,4 • Total dental count: 7-12(+) • Spur formula: 1 simple-pectinate, 1 pectinate • Eyes: >100 ommatidia • Scrobes: absent • Pronotal Spines: absent • Mesonotal Spines: absent • Propodeal Spines: absent • Petiolar Spines: absent • Caste: none or weak • Sting: absent • Metaplural Gland: present • Cocoon: absent

Karyotype

All Karyotype Records for Genus

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Taxon Haploid Diploid Karyotype Locality Source Notes
Ochetellus glaber 14 28 Australia; Japan Imai, 1969; Imai & Yosida, 1964 as ''Iridomyrmex glaber''n Crozier 1968a and as ''Iridomyrmex itoi''n Imai and Yosida 1964

Phylogeny

Dolichoderinae
Tapinomini
⊟
Bothriomyrmecini
⊟
Dolichoderini

Dolichoderus  (150 species, 51 fossil species)

Leptomyrmecini
⊟

See Phylogeny of Dolichoderinae for details.

Nomenclature

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

  • OCHETELLUS [Dolichoderinae: Leptomyrmecini]
    • Ochetellus Shattuck, 1992a: 16. Type-species: Hypoclinea glabra, by original designation.

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

Description

Shattuck (1992):

Worker

HEAD. Vertex weakly convex to weakly concave. Compound eyes present, approximately round; relatively anterior on head. Ocelli absent. Antennae 12 segmented. Scape short, at most surpassing the vertex by less than one-third its length. Anterolateral clypeal margin posterior to the mediolateral region and separated from it by a shoulder. Anteromedial clypeal margin with a broad, shallow concavity. Anterior clypeal setae 2-8; short, less than twice the maximum scape diameter; straight. Posterior clypeal margin posterior to the anterior surfaces of the antennal socket cavities. Anterior tentorial pit nearer the antennal socket than the mandibular insertion. Frontal carina present. Anterolateral hypostoma reduced to a thin sclerite. Medial hypostoma entire. Psammophore absent. MOUTHPARTS. Palp formula 6:4. Third maxillary palp segment subequal in length to segment 4. Fifth maxillary palp segment at the apical extreme of segment 4. Mandible with 6-8 teeth and 1-3 denticles. Apical tooth slightly longer than the subapical tooth. Basal angle distinct, with a well developed tooth or angle separating the masticatory and basal margins. Basal margin denticulate distally, smooth proximally. MESOSOMA. Posteroventral pronotum lateral, rounded. Mesopleural process absent. Anteromedial mesosternum even with the lateral regions. Declivitous face of propodeum concave; dorsal face convex, shorter than the declivitous face. Propodeal angle distinct (with a sharp angle or carina at juncture). Mesosomal spines and tooth absent. Erect pronotal hairs absent. Dorsal pro-mesonotal junction with the pronotum and mesonotum even, or occasionally with the mesonotum below the pronotum. Metanotal groove a narrow, distinct notch in the relatively flat dorsal mesosomal surface. Metanotal spiracle lateral and ventral of the dorsal surface when viewed in lateral profile. Propodeal spiracle lateral and ventral of the propodeal dorsum. Hind tibial spur with well developed barbules along entire inner surface (except extreme base). PETIOLE. Scale present; rounded and forming an even arch dorsally (narrowed longitudinally, expanded dorsolaterally); vertical and not inclined anteriorly. Venter with or without a slight or weakly developed lobe. GASTER. Firsttergite vertical and not concealing the petiole in dorsal view and with a groove or indentation for the reception of either the basal portion or the entire height of the petiole. AnteriortergosternaJ suture of the first segment extending laterally from the helcium in a distinct arch which extends dorsal of the dorsal helcial surface. Fifth tergite ventral, gaster with 4 apparenttergites. Gastral compression dorsoventral. Fourth sternite flat across entire posterior border. GENERAL CHARACTERS. Worker caste monomorphic. Chromosome number 14 (n=14, 2n=28, O. itoi, Imai and Yosida 1964, Imai 1969; O. g/aber, Crozier 1968a). Integument thin and flexible, weakly sculptured. PROVENTRICLUS. Cupola much broader than bulb; round; with short pile; smooth, without sculpture; and with narrow phragma. Bulb completely hidden by cupola in lateral view. Longitudinal muscle No.1 absent. Occlusory tract absent.

Queen

HEAD. Vertex weakly concave. Compound eyes relatively anterior on head. Antennae 12 segmented. Scape short, surpassing the vertex by less than one- half scape length. Anterolateral clypeal margin posterior to the mediolateral region and separated from it by a shoulder. Anteromedial clypeal margin with a broad, shallow concavity. Anterior clypeal setae 10- 14; short, less than twice the maximum scape diameter; straight. Posterior clypeal margin posterior of the anterior surfaces of the antennal socket cavities. Anteriortentorial pit nearer the antennal socketthan the mandibular insertion. Anterolateral hypostoma reduced to a thin sclerite. Medial hypostoma entire. Psammophore absent. MOUTHPARTS. Palp formula 6:4. Third maxillary palp segment subequal in length to segment 4. Fifth maxillary palp segment at the apical extreme of segment 4. Mandible with 7- 9 teeth and 0-3 denticles. Apical tooth slightly longer than the subapical tooth. Basal angle distinct, with a well developed tooth or angle separating the masticatory and basal margins. Basal margin denticulate distally, smooth proximally. MESOSOMA. Posteroventral pronotum lateral, rounded or angled. Episternal suture complete but weakly developed anteriorly. Mesopleural process absent. Anteromedial mesosternum even with the lateral regions. Axilla parallel and entire. Anterior axillar suture angular medially (occasionally only weakly). Declivitous face of propodeum weakly convex to flat; dorsal face convex, longer than the declivitous face (or occasionally shorter than the declivitous face). Propodeal angle indistinct. Propodeal suture weakly developed to absent. Mesosomal spines and tooth absent. Erect mesoscutal hairs about 15- 70; varying from short (less than twice the maximum scape diameter) to elongate (more than twice the maximum scape diameter). Propodeal spiracle lateral and ventral of the propodeal dorsum. Hind tibial spur with well developed barbules along entire inner surface (except extreme base). WI NGS. Radial cell closed. Fore wing with 2 cubital and 1 discoidal cell. Hind wing with 2 cells. PETIOLE. Scale present; weakly ridged and with a distinct angle dorsally; moderately inclined anteriorly but with the anterior and posterior faces approximately the same length. Venter with a well developed, rounded lobe. GASTER. First segment vertical and not concealing the petiole in dorsal Shattuck - Generic Revision of the Dolichoderinae 133 view and with a groove or indentation for the reception of the entire height of the petiole. Fifth tergite vertical and with the distal terminus of the gaster not well defined. Gastral compression absent (gaster circular in cross section). Fourth sternite flat across entire posterior border.

Male

HEAD. Inner margin of eye entire, flat. Scape length shorter than the length of funicular segments 2+3. First funicular segment barrel-shaped. Second funicular segment cylindrical, straight. Funicular segments 2 and 3 at most twice as long as broad. Third and fourth funicular segments straight. Anteromedial clypeal margin entire, without a central notch or concavity of any type. Anterior clypeal setae 6; short, about as long as the maximum diameter of the scape; straight. Posterior clypeal margin anterior of the posterior surfaces of the antennal socket cavities. Anterior tentorial pit nearer the antennal socket than the mandibular insertion. Anterolateral hypostoma reduced to a thin sclerite. Medial hypostoma entire. MOUTHPARTS. Palp formula 6:4. Third maxillary palp segment subequal in length to segment 4. Fifth maxillary palp at the apical extreme of segment 4. Mandible with 1 tooth and 0-4 denticles. Apical tooth distinct. Basal angle indistinct, with a relatively uninterrupted curve between the two margins and without a distinct tooth or angle. Basal margin smooth and without teeth or denticles. MESOSOMA. Posteroventral pronotum lateral, rounded or angled. Episternal suture present, complete. Anteromedial mesosternum even with the lateral regions. Axilla parallel and entire. Anterior axillar suture angular medially. Declivitous and dorsal faces of propodeum convex. Propodeal angle indistinct. WINGS. Radial cell closed. Fore wing with 1 cubital and 1 discoidal cell. Pterostigmal appendage absent. Hind wing with 2 cells. PETIOLE. Scale present; ridged and with a distinct angle dorsally, expanded laterally along entire height, and with the dorsal surface very broad; vertical and not inclined anteriorly. Venter with a slight or weakly developed lobe. Attachment to gaster broad. GASTER. First segment elongated posteriorly, smooth and without a groove or indentation. GENITAUA. Pygostyles present. Posterior margin of subgenital plate even across entire width. Paramere divided by a membranous region. Digitus with a down-turned tip. Cuspis absent. Ventral lobe of volsella absent. Aedeagus with ventral teeth.

Larva

Shape dolichoderoid. Protuberances present as 5 bosses located middorsally on thoracic tergite 2 and abdominal tergites 1-4. Body hairs sparse; simple; short. 9 spiracular pairs. Antennae short.

References

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