Proceratium micrommatum

Proceratium micrommatum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Proceratiinae
Tribe:	Proceratiini
Genus:	Proceratium
Species:	P. micrommatum
Binomial name
	Proceratium micrommatum; (Roger, 1863) Specimen Label
Synonyms
	Sysphincta cavernicola Borgmeier, 1937;

In Costa Rica this species is known from lowland wet forest. The species is encountered as isolated workers in sifted leaf litter samples from the forest floor. (Longino, Ants of Costa Rica).

Identification

A member of the micrommatum clade. Similar to Proceratium panamense and Proceratium poinari, but differing from panamense, in the worker and gyne, by the smaller size (worker TL < 3.60 mm instead of 3.80 mm, gyne TL < 3.60 mm instead of 4.57 mm) and by the SI ≥ 61.7 instead of ≤ 60.8; and from poinari by the worker and gyne IGR ≤ 0.16 instead of ≥ 0.23. (Baroni Urbani and de Andrade 2003)

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 25.852° to 4.533°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Venezuela.

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

Explore Overview of Proceratium biology

Very little is known about the biology of Proceratium ants. They nest in soil, rotten wood, under deep-set stones and, in a few cases, tree branches. For many species the nest consists of small rounded chambers hollowed out of soft rotten wood or in the soil. Toward the cooler limits of the range, particularly in North America, nests and foraging workers are found under deep set rocks instead of in rotten wood. The nest site is usually in forest shade, in old moist gardens, or similar habitats that are constantly moist. Some species of known to be egg predators of arthropods, especially of spiders.

Most Proceratium are relatively rare but this is not the full explanation for why they are not commonly collected. Colonies of most species are small. Based on anectdotal natural history information from a few species, it was once thought that most Proceratium would likely be found to have mature colonies that contain somewhere between 10 - 50 workers. Yet nests with more than 50, and in some cases up to 200, workers have been been reported. Besides small colonies, these ants also do not appear to forage in places where they are readily encountered.

Males and females are though to be produced in small numbers but we generally do not have enough data for colonies of any species to know what might be typical. Reproductive flights have been observered toward the end of the summer in some northern temperate areas. In these regions the nuptial flight occurs during the last half of August. Both sexes climb some distance from the nest entrance before taking flight. Workers too issue from the nest during the nuptial flight, as is often the case with otherwise cryptobiotic ants. ‎

Castes

Worker

Fernandes et al. 2019. Figures 5A-B.

Fernandes et al. 2019. Figures 5C-D.

Fernandes et al. 2019. Figures 6A-D.

Nomenclature

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

micrommatum. Sysphingta micrommata Roger, 1863a: 176 (w.) SOUTH AMERICA.
- Type-material: holotype worker.
- Type-locality: South America (no further data).
- Type-depository: MNHU.
- Combination in Proceratium: Emery, in Dalla Torre, 1893: 18; Forel, 1895b: 111.
- Status as species: Roger, 1863b: 21; Mayr, 1863: 455; Dalla Torre, 1893: 18; Forel, 1895b: 111; Emery, 1911d: 51; Borgmeier, 1957: 118 (redescription); Brown, 1958g: 248, 333; Snelling, R.R. 1967: 9 (in key); Kempf, 1972a: 211; Brown, 1980b: 342; Ward, 1988: 117 (in key); Brandão, 1991: 373; Bolton, 1995b: 366; Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2003b: 172 (redescription); Sosa-Calvo & Longino, 2008: 232; Branstetter & Sáenz, 2012: 263; Escárraga, Longino & Sosa-Calvo, 2019: 688; Fernandes, Delabie & Fernández, 2019: 554.
- Senior synonym of cavernicola: Borgmeier, 1957: 118; Brown, 1958g: 248, 333; Kempf, 1972a: 211; Bolton, 1995b: 366; Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2003b: 172.
- Distribution: Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Venezuela.
cavernicola. Sysphincta cavernicola Borgmeier, 1937b: 221, figs. 1-4 (q.) PANAMA.
- Type-material: holotype queen.
- Type-locality: Panama: Chilibrillo Caves, 1931, C-99 (L.H. Dunn).
- Type-depository: MZSP.
- Weber, 1940b: 79 (w.).
- Status as species: Weber, 1940b: 79.
- Junior synonym of micrommatum: Borgmeier, 1957: 118; Brown, 1958g: 248, 333; Kempf, 1972a: 211; Bolton, 1995b: 366; Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2003b: 172.

Taxonomic Notes

The male Proceratium micrommatum reported from Hidalgo County, Texas by Ward (1988) is probably Proceratium mexicanum. Other specimens of are known from nearby sites in Mexico.

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

Baroni Urbani and de Andrade (2003) - Proceratium micrommatum is the most widespread species of its clade. Nonetheless the distribution given in this paper is much narrower than the one resulting from the previous literature. In fact four new species described in this paper have been previously identified as micrommatum.

Ward (1988) attributed a male from south Texas (Hidalgo County) to micrommatum or to the micrommatum complex. He added that the male is relatively small (HW 0.66 mm), with strongly recurved gaster (IGR 0.32) and mid tibia without spur. We did not see the specimen in question but we agree that it should belong to the micrommatum clade. It is very likely, however, that this male should be referred to Proceratium mexicanum (q. v.).

Borgmeier (1957) proposed the synonymy of his Sysphincta cavernicola Borgmeier with Proceratium micrommatum (Roger). We examined the holotype of both species and we confirm the synonymy.

Brown (1974) doubted the specific validity of convexiceps Borgmeier. We consider Proceratium convexiceps as a valid species. The reasons for our conclusion are given under the discussion of convexiceps.

The identification keys by Brown (1980) and by Ward (1989) list the presence of micrommnatum also in Ecuador. The only specimens from Ecuador belonging to the micrommatum clade that we examined represent a new species described in this paper as Proceratium ecuadoriense.

Description

Worker

Baroni Urbani and de Andrade (2003) - Head longer than broad, slightly narrower anteriorly than posteriorly. Vertex in full face view straight. Clypeus very reduced, triangular or round, between the and slightly longer than the antennal sockets. Antenna1 sockets with broad torulus. Frontal carinae close each other, not covering the antenna1 insertions. Frontal area behind the frontal carinae weakly convex. Lateral expansions of the frontal carinae relatively narrow, raised, diverging or subparallel. Genal carinae poorly marked. A superficial sulcus between the genal carinae and the gular area. Eyes present, composed by a clearly convex facet placed below the midline of the head. Ocelli absent. Scapes thicker in the distal half and short of the vertexal margin. First funicular joint 1/3 longer than broad. Funicular joints 2-10 broader than long. Last funicular joint as long as the sum of joints 6-10. Masticatory margin of the mandibles with 3 denticles before the apical tooth. Palp formula 3,2.

Mesosoma slightly convex in side view. Promesonotal and propodeal sutures absent. Promesopleural and mesometapleural sutures impressed on the ventral half only. Basal face of the propodeum gently declivous or weakly convex, with a superficial trace of a transversal sulcus close to the declivous face; the sulcus sometimes posteriorly carinate. Declivous face of the propodeum with the sides superficially marginate, the margin more marked posteriorly. Propodeal lobes subround and with variably crenulate margin. Propodeal spiracles small and tumuliform.

Petiole as broad as long, in dorsal view with the sides subparallel in the anterior fourth or fifth and convex posteriorly. Anterior border of the petiole straight or concave, variably carinate and angulate on each side. Ventral process of the petiole subtriangular and small. Postpetiole less than 1/2 of the length of the gastral tergite I (LT4), in dorsal view anterolaterally gently angulate and with the sides weakly convex. Postpetiolar sternite anteromedially with a superficially marked subtriangular projection. Posterior half of the postpetiolar sternite straight or slightly convex. Constriction between postpetiole and gastral segment I deeply impressed. Gastral tergite I slightly angulate on the curvature, less round than panamense. Gastral sternite I very short medially. Sides of gastral sternite I protruding anteriorly, obtuse and carinale. Remaining gastral tergites and sternites curved ventrally. Sting developed.

Legs moderately elongate. Mid tibiae without spur. Spurs of fore legs without basal spine. Fore basitarsi longer than the mid ones. Hind basitarsi about 1/5 shorter than hind tibiae. Second tarsomere of mid and hind legs longer than third and fourth tarsomeres, and slightly shorter than pretarsus. Pretarsal claws simple. Arolia very small.

Sculpture. As in panamense but the petiole and postpetiole with sparser foveae-like depressions.

Pilosity. As in panamense but with hairs of type (2) shorter and less recurved.

Colour light brown-ferrugineous with lighter antennae and legs.

Measurements in mm and Indices: TL 2.64-3.53; HL 0.62-0.81; HW 0.53-0.72; EL 0.04-0.05; SL 0.40-0.50; WL 0.72-0.95; PeL 0.26-0.35; PeW 0.23-0.35; HFeL 0.45-0.61; HTiL 0.37-0.50; HBaL 0.28-0.35; LS4 0.10-0.14; LT4 0.65-0.90; CI 85.5-89.7; SI 6 1.7-64.5; IGR 0.14-0.16.

Queen

Baroni Urbani and de Andrade (2003) - It differs from the worker in the following details: eyes large, shorter than 1/3 of the head length and with ocular pilosity. Ocelli well developed. Mesosoma robust and convex in profile. Parapsidal furrows weakly impressed. Scutellum with the sides converging posteriorly and with the posterior border round. Metanotum without tooth or spine-like projection. Basal face of the propodeum very short, laterally weakly angulate, medially incised and as flat as the declivous face.

Fore wings of our type 5, hind wings of our type 3 as defined in the description of the genus.

Sculpture. Mesonotum less granulate and more smooth.

Measurements in mm and Indices: TL 3.25-3.55; HL 0.66-0.71; HW 0.58-0.63; EL 0.18-0.20; SL 0.42-0.45; WL 0.91- 1.00; HFeL 0.53-0.56; HTiL 0.42-0.45; HBaL 0.32-0.35; LS4 0.1 3-0.16; LT4 0.89-0.98; CI 86.6-89.3; SI 63.3-64.5; IGR 0.15-0.16.

Type Material

Baroni Urbani and de Andrade (2003) - Type locality: South America. Type material: holotype worker labelled: "Siid-America; Proceratium micrommatum (Rog) Em; TYPE; 1895; Sysphincta Roger; micrommata Roger; Zool. Mus. Berlin", in ZMBC, examined.

Sysphincta cavernicola Type locality: Panama. Type Material: Holotype gyne labeled: “Chilibrillo Caves, Panama, L. H. Dunn, 1931, C-99; Typus; Holotypus.

References

Baroni Urbani, C., de Andrade, M.L. 2003. The ant genus Proceratium in the extant and fossil record (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali, Monografie, 36, 1–492.
Fernandes, I.O., Delabie, J.H.C., Fernández, F. 2019. Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Proceratium Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Proceratiinae) in the New World. Sociobiology 66(4): 551-559 (doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v66i4.4484).
Varela-Hernández, F., Medel-Zosayas, B., Martínez-Luque, E.O., Jones, R.W., De la Mora, A. 2020. Biodiversity in central Mexico: Assessment of ants in a convergent region. Southwestern Entomologist 454: 673-686.

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