Pseudomyrmex malignus

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Pseudomyrmex malignus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Pseudomyrmecinae
Genus: Pseudomyrmex
Species: P. malignus
Binomial name
Pseudomyrmex malignus
(Wheeler, W.M., 1921)

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Specimen Labels

Synonyms

An inhabitant of the eastern Amazon basin.

Identification

Ward (1999) - The workers and queens of this species can be distinguished from all other members of the viduus group by the combination of well separated frontal carinae (MFC >> basal scape width), laterally angulate median clypeal lobe, and the absence of erect hairs from the posterior margin and upper sides of the head (full-face view). The short dorsal face of the propodeum and shiny integument are also characteristic.

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 6.407992° to -3.5242°.

 
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: French Guiana, Guyana (type locality), Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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

Ward (1999) - This is a Tachigali-inhabiting species, less frequently encountered than Pseudomyrmex concolor or Pseudomyrmex penetrator, but broadly sympatric with them in eastern Hylaea (Humboldt's term for the rainforests of the Amazon basin). Wheeler (1921a, 1942) presented observations on the biology of this species and P. concolor in Guyana, where the host tree was T. paniculata. A collection from Salto Salas, Venezuela was made from Tachigali rusbyi Harms; for other localities the plant (if mentioned) is identified only as Tachigali sp.

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • cholerica. Pseudomyrma maligna var. cholerica Wheeler, W.M. 1921f: 146 (w.) GUYANA. Combination in Pseudomyrmex: Kempf, 1961a: 400. Junior synonym of malignus: Ward, 1989: 440.
  • crucians. Pseudomyrma maligna var. crucians Wheeler, W.M. 1921f: 147 (w.) GUYANA. Combination in Pseudomyrmex: Kempf, 1961a: 400. Junior synonym of malignus: Ward, 1989: 440.
  • malignus. Pseudomyrma maligna Wheeler, W.M. 1921f: 143, fig. 14 (w.q.m.) GUYANA. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1990a: 464 (l.). Combination in Pseudomyrmex: Kempf, 1961a: 400. Senior synonym of auripes, cholerica, crucians: Ward, 1989: 440. See also: Ward, 1999b: 496.
  • auripes. Pseudomyrma auripes Wheeler, W.M. 1922c: 5 (q.) TRINIDAD. Combination in Pseudomyrmex: Kempf, 1961a: 400. Junior synonym of malignus: Ward, 1989: 440.

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

Description

Worker

Ward (1999) - Measurements (n=10). HL 0.91–1.18, HW 0.84–1.11, MFC 0.117–0.154, LHT 0.57–0.82, CI 0.90–0.96, REL 0.32–0.38, REL2 0.35–0.43, FCI 0.12–0.17, SI 0.39–0.41, FLI 1.14–1.42, FI 0.40–0.44, PLI 0.86–1.05, PWI 0.84–1.08, PPWI 1.48–1.84.

Similar to Pseudomyrmex concolor (q.v.) except as follows. Median clypeal lobe laterally angulate and its anteromedial surface not deflected ventrally. Head slightly broader, on average, and the frontal carinae tending to be slightly more separated (compare FCI). Metanotal groove less deeply impressed in some workers. Dorsal face of propodeum shorter than the declivitous face (PDI 0.83–0.99). Petiole generally shorter and broader than that of P. concolor but the relevant indices overlap (compare PLI and PWI); least overlap with PWI2 (0.65–0.69, compared to 0.58–0.66 in P. concolor). Anteroventral petiolar process well developed and often conspicuously recurved. Mandible smooth and shining, with scattered punctulae, striolae weak and confined to apical portion. Punctulae on upper two thirds of head finer (most with diameter < 0.010 mm) and better separated, and the head correspondingly shinier. Mesosomal punctulae also tending to be finer and less dense. Standing pilosity less dense; erect hairs usually absent from the sides of the head (at most one or two may be present below the eyes), and absent from the posterior margin of the head (frontal view); pilosity sparser on the mesosoma dorsum and external faces of tibiae (MSC 6–35, HTC 1–6). Appressed pubescence less well developed, the appressed hairs separated by more than their lengths on abdominal tergite V and parts of abdominal tergite IV. Body colour more variable, ranging from orangebrown to dark brown; head and terminal segments of gaster usually medium to dark-brown, one or more of the remaining parts of body (from the pronotum to the fourth abdominal segment) may be concolorous or a contrastingly lighter orange-brown.

Type Material

Ward (1999):

Syntype workers, males, queens, Kartabo, Guyana (W. M. Wheeler) (Museum of Comparative Zoology, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo) [Examined].

Pseudomyrma maligna var. cholerica Wheeler, 1921b:146. Syntype workers, Kartabo, Guyana (W. M. Wheeler) (MCZC) [Examined].

Pseudomyrma maligna var. crucians Wheeler, 1921b:147. Syntype workers, Kartabo, Guyana (W. M. Wheeler) (MCZC) [Examined].

Pseudomyrma auripes Wheeler, 1922:5. Holotype queen, Trinidad (W. M. Wheeler) (MCZC) [Examined].

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Brandao C. R. F., F. A. Esteves, and L. P. Prado. 2010. A catalogue of the Pseudomyrmecinae ant type specimens (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao paulo, Brazil. Papeis Avulsos de Zoologia 50(45): 693-699.
  • Brandao, C.R.F. 1991. Adendos ao catalogo abreviado das formigas da regiao neotropical (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Rev. Bras. Entomol. 35: 319-412.
  • Enzmann E. V. 1944. Systematic notes on the genus Pseudomyrma. Psyche (Camb.) 51: 59-103.
  • Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
  • Franco W., N. Ladino, J. H. C. Delabie, A. Dejean, J. Orivel, M. Fichaux, S. Groc, M. Leponce, and R. M. Feitosa. 2019. First checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of French Guiana. Zootaxa 4674(5): 509-543.
  • Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
  • Ward P. S. 1990. The Ant Subfamily Pseudomyrmecinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Generic Revision and Relationship to Other Formicids. Systematic Entomology 15: 449-489
  • Ward P. S. 1992. Ants of the genus Pseudomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Dominican amber, with a synopsis of the extant Antillean species. Psyche (Cambridge) 99: 55-85
  • Ward P. S. 1999. Systematics, biogeography and host plant associations of the Pseudomyrmex viduus group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Triplaris- and Tachigali-inhabiting ants. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 126: 451-540
  • Wheeler W. M. 1921. The Tachigalia ants. Zoologica (New York) 3: 137-168.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1922. The ants of Trinidad. American Museum Novitates 45: 1-16.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1942. Studies of Neotropical ant-plants and their ants. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 90: 1-262.
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