Rhytidoponera

Rhytidoponera; Temporal range: 23.03–0 Ma K Pa Eo Ol Mi Pl Early Miocene – Recent
	Rhytidoponera metallica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ectatomminae
Tribe:	Ectatommini
Genus:	Rhytidoponera; Mayr, 1862
Type species
	Ponera araneoides, now Rhytidoponera araneoides;
Diversity
	104 species; 3 fossil species; (Species Checklist, Species by Country) Rhytidoponera metallica Specimen Label
Synonyms
	Chalcoponera Emery, 1897;

Most species lack winged queens and instead have mated workers that produce female brood (i.e. gamergates). In Rhytidoponera confusa, dealate queens found new colonies and are replaced by gamergates when they die. Only in Rhytidoponera purpurea are gamergates unknown.

At a Glance

• Gamergate

These are some of the most common ants in Australia. They are found across the continent and can be very abundant, especially in urban areas such as yards, gardens and parks. Some species, especially those found in forested areas, generally forage during the day while many of the arid zone species forage primarily in the evening and at night. In forested areas they will forage on low vegetation and trees as well as on the ground. They are general predators or scavengers, with some also taking honeydew and others showing a strong preference for seeds. Workers generally forage singly or less often in small groups. Some of the smaller species have a potent sting while others, including the larger species, have a weak sting or are unable to sting.

Nests are generally in soil either in the open or under rocks or other objects on the ground. When in the open, nests range from low and messy mounds to large mounds decorated with stones and small twigs or leaves. Species found in wet sclerophyll and rainforest often nest in rotten wood. Some rainforest species will occasionally nest arboreally (although they nest on the ground as well).

Workers of Rhytidoponera are general scavengers, taking a wide range of prey items.
While they normally prefer animal-based prey items, this worker is returning to her nest with a small flower.

Identification

The forward sections of the frontal lobes and the antennal sockets are separated by the broadly rounded or triangular rearward extension of the clypeus. The leading edge of the pronotum on each side just above the front legs with a small angular tooth or spine. The node of the petiole has distinct front, top and rear faces. The tips of the tibiae of the hind legs each have either a single small, simple or comb-like (pectinate) spur, or two spurs, one large and comb-like (pectinate) and one small and simple (best viewed from the front). The claws on the hind legs have a tooth at about the middle of their inner surface.

Rhytidoponera is most similar to Heteroponera in overall body shape and size. However, the claws in Rhytidoponera have a small tooth along their inner margins while in Heteroponera the claws are simple.

Keys including this Genus

Keys to Species in this Genus

Key to Rhytidoponera of the southwestern Australian Botanical Province

Distribution

Distribution and Richness based on AntMaps

Species by Region

Number of species within biogeographic regions, along with the total number of species for each region.

	Afrotropical Region	Australasian Region	Indo-Australian Region	Malagasy Region	Nearctic Region	Neotropical Region	Oriental Region	Palaearctic Region
Species	0	96	15	0	0	0	0	0
Total Species	2841	1736	3045	932	835	4379	1741	2862

Fossils

Fossils are known from: Chon-Tyz mine, Naryn Province, Kyrgyzstan (Middle Miocene), Foulden Maar diatomite, New Zealand (Aquitanian, Early Miocene).

Biology

In Rhytidoponera sp. 12, twenty-one mated workers were found in a large colony (at least 600 workers). There were few large yolky oocytes, and the dense accumulations of yellow bodies indicated that eggs were laid regularly by these gamergates. In contrast, a substantial proportion of workers confined underground had many large yolky oocytes in their ovaries. Examination of various details of oogenesis (size and appearance of basal oocytes,...) revealed that oocytes do not mature in unmated workers (Peeters 1987). Thus virgin workers store food by accumulating non-viable large oocytes in their ovaries.

Association with Other Organisms

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Species Uncertain

An unknown species is a host for the eucharitid wasp Tricoryna ectatommae (a parasite) (Universal Chalcidoidea Database) (primary host).
An unknown species is a host for the eucharitid wasp Tricoryna ectatommae (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
An unknown species is a host for the eucharitid wasp Tricoryna iello (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
An unknown species is a host for the eucharitid wasp Tricoryna iello (a parasite) (Universal Chalcidoidea Database) (primary host).

All Associate Records for Genus

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Taxon	Relationship	Associate Type	Associate Taxon	Associate Relationship	Locality	Source	Notes
Rhytidoponera chalybaea	host	eucharitid wasp	Chalcura sp. nr. polita	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Rhytidoponera metallica	host	cricket	Myrmecophilus keyi	myrmecophile	Australia
Rhytidoponera metallica	host	eucharitid wasp	Chalcura nigricyanea	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Rhytidoponera metallica	host	eucharitid wasp	Chalcura polita	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Rhytidoponera metallica	host	eucharitid wasp	Tricoryna chalcoponerae	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Rhytidoponera metallica	host	eucharitid wasp	Tricoryna minor	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Rhytidoponera victoriae	host	eucharitid wasp	Tricoryna chalcoponerae	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Rhytidoponera victoriae	host	eucharitid wasp	Tricoryna minor	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Rhytidoponera violacea	host	eucharitid wasp	Stilbula cyniformis	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Rhytidoponera violacea	host	eucharitid wasp	Tricoryna alcicornis	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest
Rhytidoponera violacea	host	eucharitid wasp	Tricoryna sp.	parasite		Universal Chalcidoidea Database	primary host
Rhytidoponera violacea	host	eucharitid wasp	Tricoryna sp. nr. alcicornis	parasitoid		Quevillon, 2018	multiple encounter modes; direct transmission; transmission outside nest

Life History Traits

Queen type: winged or dealate; gamergate (Peeters, 1997) (dealate queens and gamergates can occur within a single species)
Mean colony size: 50-271 (Greer et al., 2021)
Compound colony type: not parasitic (Greer et al., 2021)
Nest site: hypogaeic (Greer et al., 2021)
Diet class: omnivore (Greer et al., 2021)
Foraging stratum: subterranean/leaf litter; arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)
Foraging behaviour: solitary (Greer et al., 2021)

Castes

Most species lack winged queens but have mated egg-laying workers called gamergates, and colonies reproduce exclusively by fission (Haskins and Whelden 1965). Yet winged queens still occur in the basal R. impressa group (unpublished phylogeny by H. Reichel), thus allowing the option of independent colony foundation (ICF). In R. impressa group, both modeling and empirical approaches showed that the proportion of queenright colonies in the coastal populations in the East decreases from north (tropical) to south (temperate), indicating that environmental changes make colony fission more successful than nonclaustral ICF by winged queens (Molet et al. 2008). This is confirmed empirically by the decrease in size of queenright colonies but not gamergate colonies. Empirical data also showed that gynes are produced in smaller quantity, but they are heavier relative to workers in both lean weight and fat weight.

Worker of R. metallica from Queensland.

Worker of R. nodifera from Queensland.

Worker of R. punctigera from Western Australia.

Diploid males are known to occur in Rhytidoponera chalybaea or Rhytidoponera confusa (Cournault & Aron, 2009).

Morphology

Worker Morphology

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• Antennal segment count: 12 • Antennal club: absent, gradual • Palp formula: 3,2; 2,2 • Total dental count: 12-30 • Spur formula: 1 simple-pectinate, 1 simple-pectinate; 0, 1 barbulate-pectinate;0, 0 • Eyes: >100 ommatidia • Pronotal Spines: absent • Mesonotal Spines: absent • Propodeal Spines: absent • Petiolar Spines: absent • Caste: none or weak • Sting: present • Metaplural Gland: present • Cocoon: present

Male Morphology

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• Antennal segment count 13 • Antennal club 0 • Palp formula 6,4;5,3; 4,3 • Total dental count 9-18 • Spur formula 2 (1 simple, 1 simple-pectinate);2 (1 simple, 1 pectinate);2 simple, 2 (1 simple, 1 pectinate); 1 barbulate-pectinate • Caste • Body size • Notes:

Karyotype

Species Uncertain

Rhytidoponera sp.(ANIC-9): 2n = 48 (Australia) (Crozier et al., 1986).
Rhytidoponera sp.(ANIC-10): 2n = 46 (Australia) (Crozier et al., 1986).
Rhytidoponera sp.(ANIC-10): 2n = 49 (Australia) (Crozier et al., 1986).
Rhytidoponera sp.(ANIC-11): 2n = 50 (Australia) (Crozier et al., 1986).
Rhytidoponera sp.(ANIC-12): 2n = 50 (Australia) (Crozier et al., 1986).
Rhytidoponera sp.(ANIC-13): 2n = 52 (Australia) (Crozier et al., 1986).
Rhytidoponera sp.(ANIC-14): 2n = 23 (Australia) (Crozier et al., 1986).
Rhytidoponera sp.(ANIC-15): 2n = 50 (Australia) (Crozier et al., 1986).
Rhytidoponera sp.(ANIC-16): 2n = 52 (Australia) (Crozier et al., 1986).

All Karyotype Records for Genus

See additional details at the Ant Chromosome Database.

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Taxon	Haploid	Diploid	Karyotype	Locality	Source	Notes
Rhytidoponera aciculata	26	52	18M + 34A	Australia	Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015
Rhytidoponera chalybaea	21	42	6M + 36A	Australia	Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015
Rhytidoponera impressa	21	42	6M + 36A	Australia	Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015
Rhytidoponera lamellinodis		52		Australia	Crozier et al., 1986
Rhytidoponera maniae		39		Australia	Imai et al., 1977	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera maniae		44		Australia	Imai et al., 1977	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera maniae		45		Australia	Imai et al., 1977	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera maniae		46		Australia	Imai et al., 1977	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera maniae		47		Australia	Imai et al., 1977	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera maniae		48		Australia	Imai et al., 1977	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera mayri	25	50	20M + 30A	Australia	Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015
Rhytidoponera metallica		23		Australia	Imai et al., 1977	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica		24		Australia	Crozier, 1969; Crozier et al., 1986	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica		34		Australia	Crozier et al., 1986	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica		35		Australia	Crozier et al., 1986	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica		36		Australia	Crozier et al., 1986	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica		37		Australia	Crozier et al., 1986	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica		37		Australia	Imai et al., 1977	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica		38		Australia	Crozier et al., 1986	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica		41		Australia	Crozier, 1969	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica		41		Australia	Imai et al., 1977	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica		42		Australia	Crozier, 1969	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica		43		Australia	Crozier, 1969; Crozier et al., 1986	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica		43		Australia	Imai et al., 1977	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica		44		Australia	Imai et al., 1977	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica		46		Australia	Crozier et al., 1986	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica	11	22	12M + 10A	Australia	Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica	12	24	16M + 8A	Australia	Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica	17			Australia	Crozier, 1969	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica	18			Australia	Crozier, 1969	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica	18	36	6M + 30A	Australia	Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica	19			Australia	Crozier, 1969	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica	20			Australia	Crozier, 1969	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica	21			Australia	Crozier, 1969	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica	21	42		Australia	Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica	22			Australia	Crozier, 1969	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera metallica	23	46	4M + 42A	Australia	Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015	Robertsonian polymorphism
Rhytidoponera punctata		50		Australia	Crozier et al., 1986
Rhytidoponera purpurea	19	38	14M+ 24A	Australia	Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015
Rhytidoponera tasmaniensis		30		Australia	Crozier et al., 1986
Rhytidoponera tasmaniensis		46		Australia	Crozier et al., 1986
Rhytidoponera victoriae	21	42		Australia	Crozier, 1969; Crozier, 1970b; Crozier et al., 1986; Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015

Phylogeny

Ectatomminae

Heteroponerini

Bazboltonia (1 species, 0 fossil species)

	Acanthoponera (4 species, 0 fossil species)

	Heteroponera (27 species, 0 fossil species)

Ectatommini

	Ectatomma (15 species, 1 fossil species)

	Rhytidoponera (104 species, 3 fossil species)

Stictoponera (43 species, 0 fossil species)

	Gnamptogenys (32 species, 5 fossil species)

	Typhlomyrmex (11 species, 0 fossil species)

Poneracantha (18 species, 1 fossil species)

	Alfaria (9 species, 0 fossil species)

	Holcoponera (40 species, 0 fossil species)

See Phylogeny of Ectatomminae for details.

Nomenclature

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

RHYTIDOPONERA [Ectatomminae: Ectatommini]
- Rhytidoponera Mayr, 1862: 731 [as subgenus of Ectatomma]. Type-species: Ponera araneoides, by subsequent designation of Emery, 1911d: 37.
- [Type-species not Ponera metallica, incorrect subsequent designation by Wheeler, W.M. 1911f: 172; see Wheeler, W.M. 1913a: 79.]
- Rhytidoponera junior synonym of Ectatomma: Roger, 1863b: 17.
- Rhytidoponera revived from synonymy as subgenus of Ectatomma: Mayr, 1863: 453; Dalla Torre, 1893: 23.
- Rhytidoponera raised to genus: Emery, 1897d: 547; Emery, 1911d: 36.
- Rhytidoponera senior synonym of Chalcoponera: Brown, 1953c: 2; Brown, 1958g: 198.
CHALCOPONERA [junior synonym of Rhytidoponera]
- Chalcoponera Emery, 1897d: 548. Type-species: Ponera metallica, by subsequent designation of Emery, 1911d: 39.
- Chalcoponera junior synonym of Rhytidoponera: Brown, 1953c: 2.

References

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