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Poecilomyrma myrmecodiae
| Poecilomyrma myrmecodiae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Poecilomyrma |
| Species: | P. myrmecodiae |
| Binomial name | |
| Poecilomyrma myrmecodiae Mann, 1921
| |
The type collection was "a small series of workers found in a Myrmecodia bulb."
Identification
Sarnat and Economo (2012) - Poecilomyrma myrmecodiae is a large species with a black head infuscated posteriorly, a red mesosoma and petiole, an infuscated postpetiole, a black gaster and dark appendages. The species is similar in size to Poecilomyrma senirewae, with which it is sympatric, but can be differentiated by the dark head. The larger size, relatively longer limbs and more deeply furrowed sculpture sets it apart from Poecilomyrma sp. FJ05, with which it is also sympatric. Characters in the key separate it from other similarly colored taxa. An ergatoid queen (CASENT0194604) was collected in a small nest from a Hydnophytum (Rubiaceae) ant plant, and is characterized by similar long flexous pilosity and more margined carinae and rugae as described for the putative ergatoid P. senirewae as discussed under that species. The type series consists of 21 workers collected from a Hydnophytum bulb by Mann. The species, as defined here, appears restricted to the central and southeastern mountain ranges of Viti Levu.
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -17.66666667° to -17.8°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Fiji (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.
- myrmecodiae. Poecilomyrma senirewae subsp. myrmecodiae Mann, 1921: 448 (w.) FIJI IS. Raised to species: Sarnat & Economo, 2012: 112.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker major. Length 5 mm.
A small series of workers found in a Myrmecodia bulb differ from typical senirewae in color, the head, postpetiole, and legs being black and the petiole infuscated at apical balf, resembling the worker minor of senirewae, but differing in being as large as the worker major of that form and with a shorter head, more convex at sides.
Type Material
Sarnat and Economo (2012) - FIJI, Viti Levu, Mt. Victoria [Mt. Tomanivi] (W. M. Mann). Syntypes: 24 workers (National Museum of Natural History, examined); 6 workers (Museum of Comparative Zoology type no. 2100, examined).
References
- Mann, W. M. 1921. The ants of the Fiji Islands. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 64: 401-499 (page 448, worker described)
- Sarnat, E.M. & Economo, E.P. 2012. The ants of Fiji: 384 pp. UC Publications in Entomology, University of California Press.