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Prenolepis melanogaster
| Prenolepis melanogaster | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Tribe: | Lasiini |
| Genus: | Prenolepis |
| Species: | P. melanogaster |
| Binomial name | |
| Prenolepis melanogaster Emery, 1893
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| Synonyms | |
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Nothing is known about the biology of Prenolepis melanogaster.
Identification
Williams and LaPolla (2016) - Relatively large in overall size (TL > 4.25mm); yellow-brown head and mesosoma with a dark brown to black gaster; head as broad as or broader than long (CI > 97) with round compound eyes that are spaced far apart (REL3 < 35); setae on scapes are erect.
This species is much larger and more hirsute than all other Prenolepis species and has a distinctly broad head (CI: 97–105). Prenolepis melanogaster also has a yellow-brown head and mesosoma with a dark brown to black gaster, similar to the coloration seen in Prenolepis fustinoda.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 23.8° to 22°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India, Myanmar (type locality), Thailand, Vietnam (type locality).
Palaearctic Region: China (type locality), Republic of Korea.
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
Worker
Images from AntWeb
   
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| Worker. Specimen code casent0906258. Photographer Estella Ortega, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by NHMUK, London, UK. |
   
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| Syntype of Prenolepis melanogaster. Worker. Specimen code casent0905675. Photographer Z. Lieberman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by MSNG, Genoa, Italy. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- melanogaster. Prenolepis melanogaster Emery, 1893e: 223 (w.) MYANMAR.
- [Also described as new by Emery, 1895k: 476.]
- Status as species: Bingham, 1903: 327; Wheeler, W.M. 1927h: 106; Bolton, 1995b: 364; Wu, J. & Wang, 1995: 137; Xu, 1995c: 338 (in key).
- Senior synonym of carinifrons, nigriflagella: Williams & LaPolla, 2016: 234.
- carinifrons. Prenolepis melanogaster st. carinifrons Santschi, 1920g: 173 (w.) VIETNAM.
- Subspecies of melanogaster: Wheeler, W.M. 1927h: 106; Bolton, 1995b: 363.
- Junior synonym of melanogaster: Williams & LaPolla, 2016: 234.
- nigriflagella. Prenolepis nigriflagella Xu, 1995c: 338, figs. 1-3 (w.) CHINA.
- Junior synonym of melanogaster: Williams & LaPolla, 2016: 234.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Williams and LaPolla (2016) - (n=3): CMC: 46–50; EL: 0.24–0.29; EW: 0.23–0.26; HL: 1.06–1.24; HLA: 0.53–0.66; HLP: 0.41–0.47; HW: 1.03–1.30; IOD: 0.70–0.90; LF1: 0.29–0.35; LF2: 0.20–0.25; LHT: 1.92–2.29; MMC: 4–8; MTW: 0.55–0.70; MW: 0.37–0.45; PDH: 0.42–0.47; PMC: 11–16; PrCL: 0.65–0.77; PrCW: 0.39–0.45; PrFL: 1.26–1.49; PrFW: 0.22–0.26; PTH: 0.42–0.47; PTL: 0.43–0.55; PTW: 0.33–0.42; PW: 0.64–0.77; SL: 1.47– 1.70; TL: 4.28–4.93; WF1: 0.09; WF2: 0.08–0.09; WL: 1.55–1.92; BLI: 143–151; CI: 97–105; EPI: 128–139; FLI: 135–144; HTI: 171–187; PetHI: 100–101; PetWI: 75–77; PrCI: 58–60; PrFI: 17–18; REL: 21–23; REL2: 21–23; REL3: 31–33; SI: 129–144.
Relatively large in overall size (TL > 4.25mm); yellow-brown head and mesosoma with a dark brown to black gaster; cuticle of head, pronotum, mesopleuron, propodeum, and gaster smooth and shiny; abundant very long, erect setae on scapes, head, mesosoma, gaster, and legs; head slightly broader than long and round in shape with indistinct posterolateral corners and a weakly convex posterior margin; eyes moderately sized, convex, and placed far apart (REL3 < 35); compound eyes do not surpass the lateral margins of the head in full-face view; torulae overlap with the posterior border of the clypeus; anterior border of clypeus with a pair of prominent anterolateral lobes; mandibles with 6 teeth on the masticatory margin; ectal surface of mandibles smooth and shiny; in profile view, propodeum is domed with a rounded dorsal face; dorsal apex of petiole scale is sharply angled and forward-inclined.
Type Material
Williams and LaPolla (2016) - Holotype worker, Myanmar: Carin, Asciuii Cheba, 1100m, 01.xii.1887 (Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Genoa: CASENT0905675) [examined].
References
- Chen, Z., Zhou, S. 2018. A review of the ant genus Prenolepis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in China, with descriptions of four new species. Zoological Systematics 43:58-65 (DOI 10.11865/zs.201806).
- Emery, C. 1893g. Formicides de l'Archipel Malais. Rev. Suisse Zool. 1: 187-229 (page 223, worker 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 476, Also described as new)
- 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).
- Liu, C., Fischer, G., Hita Garcia, F., Yamane, S., Liu, Q., Peng, Y.Q., Economo, E.P., Guénard, B., Pierce, N.E. 2020. Ants of the Hengduan Mountains: a new altitudinal survey and updated checklist for Yunnan Province highlight an understudied insect biodiversity hotspot. ZooKeys 978, 1–171 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.978.55767).
- Williams, J. L. and J. S. LaPolla. 2016. Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the ant genus Prenolepis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). 4200(2):201–258. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4200.2.1
- Williams, J.L. 2022. Description of Prenolepis rinpoche sp. nov. from Nepal, with discussion of Asian Prenolepis species biogeography. Asian Myrmecology 15, e015008 (doi:10.20362/am.015008).
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Chen Y. Q., Q. Li, Y. L. Chen, Z. X. Lu, X. Y. Zhou. 2011. Ant diversity and bio-indicators in land management of lac insect agroecosystem in Southwestern China. Biodivers. Conserv. 20: 3017-3038.
- Chen Z., and S. Zhou. 2018. A review of the ant genus Prenolepis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in China, with descriptions of four new species. Zoological Systematics 43(1): 58-65.
- Collingwood C. A. 1981. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Korea, 2. Folia Entomologica Hungarica 42(34): 25-30.
- Emery, C. "Voyage de MM. Bedot et Pictet dans l'Archipel Malais. Formicides de l'Archipel Malais." Revue Suisse de Zoologie 1 (1893): 187-229.
- Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
- Jaitrong W.; Nabhitabhata, J. 2005. A list of known ant species of Thailand. The Thailand Natural History Museum Journal 1(1): 9-54.
- Kim B.J. 1996. Synonymic list and distribution of Formicidae (Hymenoptera) in Korea. Entomological Research Bulletin Supplement 169-196.
- Li Z.h. 2006. List of Chinese Insects. Volume 4. Sun Yat-sen University Press
- Ran H., and S. Y. Zhou. 2013. Checklist of Chinese Ants: Formicomorph Subfamilies ( Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (III). Journal of Guangxi Normal University : Natural Science Edition 31(1): 104-111.
- Tang J., Li S., Huang E., Zhang B. and Chen Y. 1995. Hymenoptera: Formicidae (1). Economic Insect Fauna of China 47: 1-133.
- Wheeler W. M. 1930. The ant Prenolepis imparis Say. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 23: 1-26.
- Williams J. L., and J. S. LaPolla. 2016. Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the ant genus Prenolepis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 4200: 201-258.
- Wu J. and Wang C. 1995. The ants of China. China Forestry Publishing House, Beijing. 214 pp.
- Xu Z. 1995. Two new species of the ant genus Prenolepis from Yunnan China (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zoological Research 16(4): 337-341.