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Pseudomyrmex eculeus
| Pseudomyrmex eculeus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Pseudomyrmecinae |
| Genus: | Pseudomyrmex |
| Species: | P. eculeus |
| Binomial name | |
| Pseudomyrmex eculeus Ward, 1999
| |
A Tachigali inhabitant with aggressive workers.
Identification
Ward (1999) - Related to Pseudomyrmex pictus and Pseudomyrmex ferox. All three are characterized by having broad worker heads (CI [0.91), short petioles with a subtriangular profile, long legs, and large queens (queen HW >1.30). P. eculeus can be distinguished from P. ferox by its longer legs, more slender worker profemur, and the position of the worker propodeal spiracle close to the flattened dorsal face; and from P. pictus by its much darker body color, shape of the propodeum, and smaller size.
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -0.06667° to -1.0667°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Ecuador (type locality), Peru.
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.
- eculeus. Pseudomyrmex eculeus Ward, 1999b: 518, figs. 42, 51, 60 (w.q.) ECUADOR.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Measurements (n=9). HL 1.16–1.30, HW 1.13–1.25, MFC 0.030–0.054, LHT 0.97–1.11, CI 0.94–0.99, REL 0.61–0.65, REL2 0.63–0.67, FCI 0.03–0.05, FI 0.39–0.42, PLI 1.04–1.14, PWI 0.83–0.93.
A member of the sericeus group. Palp formula: mostly 6,4, but some individuals apparently 5,3. Frontal carinae relatively well separated; head broad, with strongly convex sides; posterior margin of head straight or (less commonly) slightly concave, in frontal view. Profemur very slender (see FI values); legs long (LHT/HL 0.82–0.88). Dorsal face of propodeum flat, submarginate laterally, subequal in length to declivitous face, and rounding into it; propodeal spiracle close to the basal (dorsal) face of propodeum. Petiole short, high, subtriangular in profile, with a single convex anterodorsal face, which rounds gently into the steep posterior face. Anteroventral process prominent, subrectangular, with a blunt posteroventral angle. Standing pilosity sparse but more common than is usual for the species group. Long, golden, paired (and often curved) setae usually present on pronotum (1–2 pairs), mesonotum (0–1 pairs), on propodeum at the junction of the dorsal and declivitous faces (0–1 pairs), petiole (1–2 pairs) and postpetiole (1–2 pairs); these setae sometimes unpaired, or accompanied by one or two additional shorter setae. Black or very dark blackish-brown, with appendages and frontoclypeal complex contrastingly orange-brown; funiculus and parts of middle and hind legs infuscated.
Type Material
Holotype worker. ECUADOR, Napo: Jatun Sacha, 1°04’S, 77°36’W, 450 m, 13.ix.1992, ex Tachigali, B. L. Fisher #458 (Museum of Comparative Zoology). HW 1.16, HL 1.19, EL 0.76, LHT 1.03, PL 0.43, PH 0.45.
Paratypes. Same data as holotype: series of workers, 1 queen; same locality, ex Tachigali, M. Asanza# 86: four workers; same locality, 400 m, ex Tachigali, P. S. Ward# 11384: four dealate queens (The Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, MCZC, Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales, Museo de Historia Natural, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Philip S. Ward Collection, Museo de Zoologia, University of California, Davis).
References
- Ward, P. S. 1999b. Systematics, biogeography and host plant associations of the Pseudomyrmex viduus group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Triplaris- and Tachigali-inhabiting ants. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 126: 451-540 (page 518, figs. 42, 51, 60 worker, queen described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
- Rasmussen C., and G. Lamas. 2011. Catalog of entomological types in the Museo de Historia Natural (MUSM), Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru: Hymenoptera. Rev. peru. entomol. 46(2): 51-58.