Pheidole singaporensis

Pheidole singaporensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Pheidole
Species:	P. singaporensis
Binomial name
	Pheidole singaporensis; Özdikmen, 2010 Specimen Labels
Subspecies
	Pheidole singaporensis conicollis (Emery, 1900); Pheidole singaporensis continentis (Forel, 1911); Pheidole singaporensis pseudola Forel, 1915;
Synonyms
	Myrmica longipes Smith, F., 1857;

Maruyama et al. (2023) found P. singaporensis nesting at the base of a large living tree in Thailand while Eguchi (2001) found it inhabiting well-developed forests and nesting in rotting fallen logs on the forest floor.

Identification

Eguchi (2001) - This species is closely related to Pheidole comata and Pheidole montana, and these three are peculiar among Indo-Chinese and Indo-Malayan congeners in the characteristics noted under P. comata. This species is distinguished from related species by the characteristics noted under P. comata and P. montana.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 32.628611° to 3.439167°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore (type locality).
Oriental Region: India, Myanmar, Nicobar Island, Pakistan, Thailand.
Palaearctic Region: China.

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

Assocation with Other Species

This species is a host for the hydrophilid beetle Chimaerocyon shimadai (a myrmecophile) in Malaysia (Fikáček et al., 2013; Maruyama et al., 2023).
This species is a host for the Carabid beetle Cryptocephalomorpha siamensis (a myrmecophile) in Thailand (Maruyama et al., 2016; Maruyama et al., 2023).
This species is a host for the tenebrionid beetle Platybolium watanai (a myrmecophile) in Thailand (Maruyama et al., 2023) (found at entrance of a Pheidole singaporensis nest at the base of a large living tree).

Maruyama et al. (2023), Fig. 1–3. Platybolium watanai: 1. holotype, dorsal view; 2. ditto, dorso-lateral view; 3. paratype at the host ant nest entrance. Scales: 1.0 mm.

Castes

Images from AntWeb


Syntype of Myrmica longipes. Worker. Specimen code casent0901398. Photographer Ryan Perry, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by OUM, Oxford, UK.


Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0281707. Photographer Estella Ortega, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by NHMUK, London, UK.


Worker. Specimen code casent0281707. Photographer Estella Ortega, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by NHMUK, London, UK.


Not Provided. Worker. Specimen code casent0282605. Photographer Adam Lazarus, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by EPEC.

Nomenclature

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

longipes. Myrmica longipes Smith, F. 1857a: 70, pl. 1, fig. 6 (w.) SINGAPORE. Combination in Ischnomyrmex: Mayr, 1862: 739; Emery, 1922e: 114; in Aphaenogaster: Emery, 1895k: 470; Bingham, 1903: 272; in Pheidole (Isopheidole): Forel, 1912m: 765; in P. (Ischnomyrmex): Forel, 1913k: 49; Viehmeyer, 1914d: 608; in Pheidole: Bolton, 1995b: 324. Crawley, 1924: 391 (s.q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1953b: 80 (l.). Unresolved junior secondary homonym of Formica longipes Latreille, above: Bolton, 1995b: 324. Replacement name: singaporensis Özdikmen, 2010b: 804. See also: Eguchi, 2001b: 71.
singaporensis. Pheidole singaporensis Özdikmen, 2010b: 804. Replacement name for Myrmica longipes Smith, F. 1857a: 70. [Junior secondary homonym of Formica longipes Latreille, 1802c: 233.] Current subspecies: nominal plus conicollis, continentis (unresolved junior homonym), pseudola.

Type Material

Eguchi (2001) - Minor (The Natural History Museum). Type locality: Singapore. One syntype (minor) was examined.

The following notes on F. Smith type specimens have been provided by Barry Bolton (details):

Myrmica longipes

Three worker syntypes in Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Card with two syntypes labelled “Sing. 28,” card with a single syntype labelled “Singapore, Wallace.”

Description

Worker

Eguchi 2001. Figure 25.

Eguchi (2001) - Major (n=32): TL 6.8-7.9 mm, HL 2.38-3.03 mm, HW 2.05-2.73 mm, SL 1.50-2.08 mm, FL 2.33-3.35 mm, Cl 84-98, Sl 63-96, FI 98-152. Head broadest at 2/3-3/4 distance of head (as measured from the mid-point of a transverse line spanning the anteriormost and posteriormost projecting points, respectively) posterior margin of head in full-face view with a median emargination from which a shallow longitudinal impression extends to midlength of head (Fig. 25A); head in profile not impressed on vertex (Fig. 25B). Hypostoma bearing an inconspicuous median process, or lacking median processes. Clypeus with a median longitudinal carina, with anterior margin hardly emarginate medially. Eye situated around 1/3 distance of head; distance between mandibular insertion and anterior margin of eye 1.5-1.7 times as long as maximal diameter of eye. Frontal carina and antennal scrobe present only around antennal insertion. Antenna without conspicuous club; scape extending backward to 2/3-9/10 distance of head. Masticatory margin of mandible with apical and preapical teeth, and a denticle in front of basal angle. Promesonotal dome with a distinct prominence on its posterior declivity (Fig. 25C); the prominence in anterior view not or very weakly concave medially. Mesopleuron with an indistinct transverse impression. Propodeal spine corniform, 2.5-3 times as long as diameter of propodeal spiracle. Petiole in profile cuneiform, 1.0-1.1 times as long as postpetiole, with ill-defined node of which apex in posterior view is distinctly concave. Postpetiole in dorsal view subpentagonal, 2.0-2.2 times as broad as petiole.

Frons and gena longitudinally rugose; fine longitudinal rugulae curving outward on occipital lobes; lateral face of occipital lobe finely and weakly rugose with punctured interspaces, or smooth and shining over the surface; median portion of dorsolateral face of head rugoso-reticulate with enclosures punctured and dull; promesonotal dome smooth and shining, or in dorsal view weakly transversely rugose, with smooth and shining interspaces; remainder of alitrunk weakly punctured and smooth and shining partly, or weakly rugoso-reticulate, with punctured and dull enclosures; petiole (excluding smooth and shining anterodorsal face), postpetiole and first gastral tergite punctured and dull. Head in profile sparsely bearing standing hairs dorsally, and in full-face view bearing appressed pubescence, but lacking standing hairs (sometimes sparsely with them only on lateral face of occipital lobe) (Fig. 25A); outer face of mandible sparsely covered with appressed hairs, which are 0.03-0.06 mm in length and much shorter than distance between piligerous hairs; submarginal zone of masticatory margin of mandible with a row of longer decumbent hairs; in profile dorsum of promesonotal dome in front of the prominence on its posterior declivity bearing less than 10 standing hairs (Fig. 25C). Body reddish-brown to dark reddish-brown; flagella and legs lighter than alitrunk.

Minor (n=62): TL 4.1-5.1 mm, HL 1.04-1.54 mm, HW 0.66-0.93 mm, SL 1.67-2.38 mm, AL 1.50-2.11 mm, FL 2.10-3.04 mm, CI 58-70, SI 196-293, FI 247-372. Head in full-face view narrowed and prolonged behind eyes; occipital carina forming a distinct flange (Fig. 250, E). Clypeus sometimes with a longitudinal median carina, with anterior margin slightly convex or truncate medially. Eye situated at about 4/9 distance of head (as measured from anterior margin of clypeus to occipital carina); distance between mandibular insertion and anterior margin of eye 0.9-1.0 times as long as maximal diameter of eye. Antenna without conspicuous club (Fig. 25F), but 8th segment 1.3-1.4 times as long as 7th. Promesonotal dome with a distinct prominence on its posterior declivity (Fig. 25G). Mesopleuron without distinct transverse impression. Propodeal spine 2-2.5 times as long as diameter of propodeal spiracle. Petiole in profile cuneiform, with ill-defined node, 0.9-1.0 times as long as postpetiole. Postpetiole 2.0-2.3 times as broad as petiole, in dorsal view distinctly longer than broad, gently narrowed forward in its anterior 2/3.

Clypeus smooth and shining, or slightly punctured and with several rugulae; remainder of head and promesonotal dome smooth and shining; mesopleuron and lateral face of propodeum punctured (occasionally smooth and shining partly); lateral faces of petiole and postpetiole weakly punctured; dorsa of petiole and postpetiole, and gaster smooth and shining. Body brown to dark brown (rarely light brown); legs lighter than alitrunk.

References

Bingham, C. T. 1903. The fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Hymenoptera, Vol. II. Ants and Cuckoo-wasps. London: Taylor and Francis, 506 pp. (page 272, Combination in Aphaenogaster)
Crawley, W. C. 1924a. Ants from Sumatra, with biological notes by Edward Jacobson. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 9(13): 380-409 (page 391, soldier, queen, male described)
Eguchi, K. 2001a. A revision of the Bornean species of the ant genus Pheidole (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Tropics Monograph Series. 2:1-154.
Eguchi, K. 2003. A Study on the Male Genitalia of Some Asian Species of Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae). Sociobiology 41(2): 317-355 (page 327, figs. 12A, B male genitalia described)
Emery, C. 1895m. Viaggio di Leonardo Fea in Birmania e regioni vicine. LXIII. Formiche di Birmania del Tenasserim e dei Monti Carin raccolte da L. Fea. Parte II. Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. 34[=(2(14): 450-483 (page 470, Combination in Aphaenogaster)
Emery, C. 1922c. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Myrmicinae. [part]. Genera Insectorum 174B: 95-206 (page 114, Combination in Ischnomyrmex)
Fikáček, M., Maruyama, M., Vondráček, D., Short, A.E.Z. 2013. Chimaerocyon gen. nov., a morphologically aberrant myrmecophilous genus of water scavenger beetle (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae: Sphaeridiinae). Zootaxa 3716: 277–288 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3716.2.8).
Forel, A. 1912n. Descriptions provisoires de genres, sous-genres, et espèces de Formicides des Indes orientales. Rev. Suisse Zool. 20: 761-774 (page 765, Combination in Pheidole (Isopheidole))
Forel, A. 1913l. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse einer Forschungsreise nach Ostindien ausgeführt im Auftrage der Kgl. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin von H. v. Buttel-Reepen. II. Ameisen aus Sumatra, Java, Malacca und Ceylon. Gesammelt von Her (page 49, Combination in P. (Ischnomyrmex))
General, D.E.M. 2021. A preliminary checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Mt. Pantaron Range, Bukidnon Province, Mindanao Island, Philippines. Halteres, 12:4-14 (doi:10.5281/ZENODO.5371745).
Khachonpisitsak, S., Yamane, S., Sriwichai, P., Jaitrong, W. 2020. An updated checklist of the ants of Thailand (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 998, 1–182 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.998.54902).
Maruyama, M., Komatsu, T., Sakchoowong, W. 2016. Host record of the myrmecophilous carabid genus Cryptocephalomorpha (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Pseudomorphinae) with description of a new species from Thailand. Entomological Science, 19, 448–451 (doi:10.1111/ens.12208).
Maruyama, M., Sasitorn, H., Ando, K. 2023. A description of the second species of the genus Platybolium Blair, 1938 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) collected from a nest of Pheidole singaporensis Özdikmen, 2010 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Thailand. Zootaxa, 5256(3), 289–294 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5256.3.5).
Mayr, G. 1862. Myrmecologische Studien. Verh. K-K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 12: 649-776 (page 739, Combination in Ischnomyrmex)
Rasheed, M.T., Bodlah, I., Fareen, A.G., Wachkoo, A.A., Huang, X., Akbar, S.A. 2019. A checklist of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Pakistan. Sociobiology 66(3), 426-439 (doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v66i3.4330).
Smith, F. 1857a. Catalogue of the hymenopterous insects collected at Sarawak, Borneo; Mount Ophir, Malacca; and at Singapore, by A. R. Wallace. [part]. J. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. Zool. 2: 42-88 (page 70, pl. 1, fig. 6 worker described [unresolved junior secondary homonym of Formica longipes Latreille])
Viehmeyer, H. 1914d. Mayr's Gattung Ischnomyrmex (Hym.) nebst Beschreibung einiger neuer Arten aus anderen Gattungen. Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst. Geogr. Biol. Tiere 37: 601-612 (page 608, Combination in P. (Ischnomyrmex))
Wang, W.Y., Soh, E.J.Y., Yong, G.W.J., Wong, M.K.L., Benoit Guénard, Economo, E.P., Yamane, S. 2022. Remarkable diversity in a little red dot: a comprehensive checklist of known ant species in Singapore (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with notes on ecology and taxonomy. Asian Myrmecology 15: e015006 (doi:10.20362/am.015006).
Wheeler, G. C.; Wheeler, J. 1953b. The ant larvae of the myrmicine tribe Pheidolini (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Proc. Entomol. Soc. Wash. 55: 49-84 (page 80, larva described)
Wheeler, W. M. 1916g. Some new formicid names. Psyche (Camb.) 23: 40-41 (page 40, replacement name Pheidole grallipes)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

André E. 1892. Voyage de M. Chaper à Bornéo. Catalogue des fourmis et description des espèces nouvelles. Mém. Soc. Zool. Fr. 5: 46-55.
Bharti H., Y. P. Sharma, M. Bharti, and M. Pfeiffer. 2013. Ant species richness, endemicity and functional groups, along an elevational gradient in the Himalayas. Asian Myrmecology 5: 79-101.
Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
Crawley W.C. 1924. Ants from Sumatra, with biological notes by Edward Jacobson. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (9)13: 380-409
Davidson D. W., S. C. Cook, R. R. Snelling and T. H. Chua. 2003. Explaining the Abundance of Ants in Lowland Tropical Rainforest Canopies. Science 300: 969-972.
Eguchi K. 1999. Pheidole longipes (Fr. Smith) and two closely related species from Kinabalu Park, Sabah, Borneo (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Japanese Journal of Systematic Entomology 5: 97-104.
Eguchi K. 2001. A revision of the Bornean species of the ant genus Pheidole (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Tropics Monograph Series 2: 1-154.
Eguchi K. 2003. A study on the male genitalia of some Asian species of Pheidole (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae). Sociobiology 41: 317-355.
Eguchi, K. 1999. Pheidole longipes (Fr. Smith and two new closely related species from Kinabalu Park, Sabah, Borneo (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Japanese Journal of Systematic Entomology 5(1):97-104
Emery C. 1888. Catalogo delle formiche esistenti nelle collezioni del Museo Civico di Genova. Parte terza . Formiche raccolte dal sig. Elio Modigliani in Sumatra e nell'isola Nias. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale 25: 528-534.
Emery C. 1901. Formiciden von Celebes. Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere 14:565-580.
Emery, C. "Formiche raccolte da Elio Modigliani in Sumatra, Engano e Mentawei." Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria (Genova) (2) 20, no. 40 (1900): 661-722.
Forel A. 1911. Fourmis de Bornéo, Singapore, Ceylan, etc. récoltées par MM. Haviland, Green, Winkler, Will, Hose, Roepke et Waldo. Rev. Suisse Zool. 19: 23-62.
Forel A. 1911. Fourmis nouvelles ou intéressantes. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 47: 331-400.
Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
Hashimoto Y., Y. Morimoto, and M. Mohamed. 2002. Species list of ground and leaf litter ants collected in Lower Kinabatangan. Lower Kinabatangan : scientific expedition 2002/ 13-18.
Hashimoto Y., Y. Morimoto, and M. Mohamed. 2003. Species List of Ground and Leaf Litter Ants Collected in Lower Kinabatangan. Pp 13-18. In Lower Kinabatangan Scientific Expedition 2002, 176 pp. ISBN-13: 983-2369-11-8
Hashimoto Y., and M. Mohamed. 2004. A preliminary survey of ant fauna at Crocker Range Park. In: Maryati Mohamed, Zulhazman Hamzah, T. Tachi & J. Nais (eds.). Crocker Range scientific expedition 2002. Kota Kinabalu: Universiti Malaysia Sabah, pp. 51-71.
Jaitrong W., and T. Ting-Nga. 2005. Ant fauna of Peninsular Botanical Garden (Khao Chong), Trang Province, Southern Thailand (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The Thailand Natural History Museum Journal 1(2): 137-147.
Karavaiev V. 1935. Neue Ameisen aus dem Indo-Australischen Gebiet, nebst Revision einiger Formen. Treubia 15: 57-118.
Li Z.h. 2006. List of Chinese Insects. Volume 4. Sun Yat-sen University Press
Mohamed M. 1995. A preliminary list of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Tawau Hills Park, Sabah. In: Ghazally Ismail et al. (eds.), Tawau Hills Park, Sabah, Pelanduk Pub. Pp. 205-213.
Mohanraj P., M. Ali, and K. Veerakumari. 2010. Formicidae of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Indian Ocean: Bay of Bengal). Journal of Insect Science 10: Article 172
Mohanraj, P., M. Ali and K. Veenakumari. 2010. Formicidae of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Indian Ocean: Bay Of Bengal). Journal of Insect Science 10:172.
Ozdikmen H. 2010. New names for the preoccupied specific and subspecific epithets in the genus Pheidole Westwood, 1839 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Munis Entomology and Zoology 5: 804-806.
Pan Y.S. 2007. Systematic Study on the Ant Genera Pheidole Westwood and Aphaenogaster Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formincidae : Myrmicinae) In China. Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi, China. 73 pages.
Pfeiffer M., D. Mezger, and J. Dyckmans. 2013. Trophic ecology of tropical leaf litter ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) - a stable isotope study in four types of Bornean rain forest. Myrmecological News 19: 31-41.
Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58
Rasheed M. T., I. Bodlah, A. G. Fareen, A. A. Wachkoo, X. Huang, and S. A. Akbar. 2019. A checklist of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Pakistan. Sociobiology 66(3): 426-439.
Watanasit S., S. Sonthichai, and N. Noon-anant. 2003. Preliminary survey of ants at Tarutao National Park, Southern Thailand. Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. 25(1) : 115-122
Wheeler W. M. 1919. The ants of Borneo. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 63:43-147.
Zhang Mingwei et al. 1997. Preliminary Study on Ants in Liaoning Province. Forest Pest and Disease 1: 20-23.