Sericomyrmex mayri

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Sericomyrmex mayri
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Attini
Genus: Sericomyrmex
Species: S. mayri
Binomial name
Sericomyrmex mayri
Forel, 1912

Sericomyrmex mayri casent0909370 p 1 high.jpg

Sericomyrmex mayri casent0909370 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Synonyms

Workers mostly forage alone but will sometimes form short, dense foraging columns in the immediate area of the nest entrance.

Identification

Jesovnik and Schultz (2017) - Large species; head broad; frontal lobe narrow, directed anterad; mandible usually striate; frontal carina often reduced, incomplete; eye flat to mildly convex; posterior cephalic margin shallow, abruptly to gradually impressed; posterior cephalic corner usually angled; mesosomal tubercles low and obtuse, first gastral tergite with lateral carina well developed, dorsal carinae absent or faint.

S. mayri can be separated from both Sericomyrmex amabilis and Sericomyrmex saussurei by its large size, broad head, narrow frontal lobes, and gaster lacking anteromedian dorsal carinae. In addition, saussurei has eyes covered with a thick white layer, which is never the case in mayri. Sericomyrmex lutzi is similar in size, but lutzi has a characteristic, much deeper cephalic emargination and smooth mandibles. In addition to worker characters, the S. mayri queen can be separated from the sympatric S. saussurei queen by its more pronounced petiolar denticles.

Variation within S. mayri includes the scape length, the head shape, and mandibular striation. As with Sericomyrmex amabilis and saussurei, two other species with striate mandibles, some individuals or populations of S. mayri have smooth or faintly striate mandibles. These alternative states are encountered less commonly in mayri than in the other two species, mostly in populations from Trinidad and Tobago. Intermediate-state workers (i.e., those with faint mandibular striation) were collected at the same locality and, indeed, were found within the same nest as workers with typically striate mandibles. A callow worker of mayri studied with SEM had smoother, faintly striate mandibles), so some observations of smooth mandibles may be due to sampling of recently eclosed workers, but this is unlikely to explain smooth-mandibled foragers.

The presence/absence of the anteromedian dorsal gastral carinae and robustness of the lateral gastral carinae are also variable in mayri. Typically, both carinae are present, but in some specimens the anteromedian carinae are very faint or absent, while lateral carinae can be weak to robust. The posterior cephalic emargination can be very shallow, so that the posterior margin of the head appears almost straight (e.g., specimens from Minas Gerais, Uberlandia, Brazil, and the type series of Sericomyrmex moreirai). The shape of the head varies to some extent, from distinctly broad in some specimens to more narrow in others (the CI range is wide: 101–115).

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 19.1831° to -22.9167°.

 
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Bolivia, Brazil (type locality), Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guyana (type locality), Mexico, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago (type locality), Venezuela.

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

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

Explore-icon.png Explore Fungus Growing 
For additional details see Fungus growing ants.

A handful of ant species (approx. 275 out of the known 15,000 species) have developed the ability to cultivate fungus within their nests. In most species the fungus is used as the sole food source for the larvae and is an important resource for the adults as well. Additionally, in a limited number of cases, the fungus is used to construct part of the nest structure but is not as a food source.

These fungus-feeding species are limited to North and South America, extending from the pine barrens of New Jersey, United States, in the north (Trachymyrmex septentrionalis) to the cold deserts in Argentina in the south (several species of Acromyrmex). Species that use fungi in nest construction are known from Europe and Africa (a few species in the genera Crematogaster, Lasius).


The details of fungal cultivation are rich and complex. First, a wide variety of materials are used as substrate for fungus cultivating. The so-called lower genera include species that prefer dead vegetation, seeds, flowers, fruits, insect corpses, and feces, which are collected in the vicinity of their nests. The higher genera include non leaf-cutting species that collect mostly fallen leaflets, fruit, and flowers, as well as the leafcutters that collect fresh leaves from shrubs and trees. Second, while the majority of fungi that are farmed by fungus-feeding ants belong to the family Lepiotaceae, mostly the genera Leucoagaricus and Leucocoprinus, other fungi are also involved. Some species utilise fungi in the family Tricholomataceae while a few others cultivate yeast. The fungi used by the higher genera no longer produce spores. Their fungi produce nutritious and swollen hyphal tips (gongylidia) that grow in bundles called staphylae, to specifically feed the ants. Finally, colony size varies tremendously among these ants. Lower taxa mostly live in inconspicuous nests with 100–1000 individuals and relatively small fungus gardens. Higher taxa, in contrast, live in colonies made of 5–10 million ants that live and work within hundreds of interconnected fungus-bearing chambers in huge subterranean nests. Some colonies are so large, they can be seen from satellite photos, measuring up to 600 m3.

Based on these habits, and taking phylogenetic information into consideration, these ants can be divided into six biologically distinct agricultural systems (with a list of genera involved in each category):

Nest Construction

A limited number of species that use fungi in the construction of their nests.

Lower Agriculture

Practiced by species in the majority of fungus-feeding genera, including those thought to retain more primitive features, which cultivate a wide range of fungal species in the tribe Leucocoprineae.

Coral Fungus Agriculture

Practiced by species in the Apterostigma pilosum species-group, which cultivate fungi within the Pterulaceae.

Yeast Agriculture

Practiced by species within the Cyphomyrmex rimosus species-group, which cultivate a distinct clade of leucocoprineaceous fungi derived from the lower attine fungi.

Generalized Higher Agriculture

Practiced by species in several genera of non-leaf-cutting "higher attine" ants, which cultivate a distinct clade of leucocoprineaceous fungi separately derived from the lower attine fungi.

Leaf-Cutter Agriculture

A subdivision of higher attine agriculture practiced by species within several ecologically dominant genera, which cultivate a single highly derived species of higher attine fungus.

Note that the farming habits of Mycetagroicus (4 species) are unknown. Also, while species of Pseudoatta (2 species) are closely related to the fungus-feeding genus Acromyrmex, they are social parasites, living in the nests of their hosts and are not actively involved in fungus growing. ‎

Castes

Figure 36.
Figure 37.

Jesovnik and Schultz 2017. Figure 36. S. mayri worker (USNMENT01125171). a Head b dorsal view; and c lateral profile. Figure 37. S. mayri worker variation; head, full-face view. a mayri worker from Brazil, Amazonas (USNMENT00444066) b mayri worker from Brazil, Bahia (USNMENT01125172) c mayri worker from Colombia, Meta (USNMENT01125151).

Figure 38.
Figure 39.

Jesovnik and Schultz 2017. Figure 38. S. mayri worker (USNMENT01126229), SEM images. a Head, full-face view b mandibles c mesosoma and metasoma, lateral view d eye. Figure 39. S. mayri queen and male; head, lateral profile, and dorsal view. Queen (USN-MENT01126007) (a, c, e). Male (USNMENT01126022) (b, d, f).

Figure 40.

Jesovnik and Schultz 2017. Figure 40. S. mayri larva (USNMENT01126227: a, f USNMENT01126230: b, c, d, e), SEM images. a Lateral view b ventral view c head, frontodorsal view d head, lateral view; e mouthparts f anal setae

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Sericomyrmex harekulli casent0911237 h 1 high.jpgSericomyrmex harekulli casent0911237 d 1 high.jpgSericomyrmex harekulli casent0911237 p 1 high.jpgSericomyrmex harekulli casent0911237 l 1 high.jpg
Paratype of Sericomyrmex harekulli arawakensis. Worker. Specimen code casent0911237. Photographer Alexandra Westrich, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.

Queen

Images from AntWeb

Sericomyrmex urichi casent0281770 d 2 high.jpg
Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0281770. Photographer Shannon Hartman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMUK, London, UK.

Male

Nomenclature

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

  • mayri. Sericomyrmex mayri Forel, 1912e: 194 (w.) BRAZIL (Rio de Janeiro).
    • Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Ješovnik & Schultz, 2017a: 61), 4 paralectotype workers.
    • Type-locality: Brazil: Rio de Janeiro, Nichteroy (= Niterói) (“received from Emery”); paralectotypes with same data.
    • Type-depository: MHNG.
    • Status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1916c: 10 (in key); Emery, 1924d: 339; Borgmeier, 1927c: 127; Kempf, 1972a: 229; Bolton, 1995b: 382; Ješovnik & Schultz, 2017a: 61 (redescription); Fernández & Serna, 2019: 874.
    • Senior synonym of arawakensis: Ješovnik & Schultz, 2017a: 61.
    • Senior synonym of harekulli: Ješovnik & Schultz, 2017a: 61.
    • Senior synonym of luederwaldti: Ješovnik & Schultz, 2017a: 61.
    • Senior synonym of moreirai: Ješovnik & Schultz, 2017a: 61.
    • Senior synonym of muelleri: Ješovnik & Schultz, 2017b: 202.
    • Senior synonym of urichi: Ješovnik & Schultz, 2017a: 61.
    • Distribution: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad, Venezuela.
  • arawakensis. Sericomyrmex harekulli subsp. arawakensis Weber, 1937: 399, fig. 11 (w.q.) GUYANA.
    • Type-material: syntype workers, syntype queens (numbers not stated, “a colony”).
    • Type-locality: Guyana (“British Guiana”): Mazaruni River, nr Forest Settlement, 16.viii.1935 (N.A. Weber).
    • [Note: Ješovnik & Schultz, 2017a: 62, date the syntypes 15.viii.1935.]
    • Type-depository: MCZC.
    • Subspecies of harekulli: Weber, 1946b: 141; Kempf, 1972a: 229; Bolton, 1995b: 382.
    • Junior synonym of mayri: Ješovnik & Schultz, 2017a: 62.
  • harekulli. Sericomyrmex harekulli Weber, 1937: 398, fig. 10 (w.) GUYANA.
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated, “a colony”).
    • Type-locality: Guyana (“British Guiana”): Oronoque River, tributary of New River, main upper arm of Courantyne River, 27.vii.1936 (N.A. Weber).
    • Type-depositories: MCZC, USNM.
    • Status as species: Weber, 1946b: 140; Kempf, 1972a: 229; Bolton, 1995b: 382.
    • Junior synonym of mayri: Ješovnik & Schultz, 2017a: 62.
  • luederwaldti. Sericomyrmex luederwaldti Santschi, 1925b: 15 (w.) BRAZIL (Minas Gerais).
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-locality: Brazil: Minas Gerais, Pirapora (E. Garbe).
    • Type-depositories: MSNG, NHMB.
    • Status as species: Borgmeier, 1927c: 127; Kempf, 1972a: 229; Bolton, 1995b: 382.
    • Junior synonym of mayri: Ješovnik & Schultz, 2017a: 61.
  • moreirai. Sericomyrmex moreirai Santschi, 1925b: 16 (w.q.m.) BRAZIL (Rio de Janeiro).
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated), 4 syntype queens, 4 syntype males.
    • Type-locality: Brazil: Rio de Janeiro (C. Moreira).
    • Type-depositories: MCZC, NHMB.
    • Status as species: Borgmeier, 1927c: 128; Kempf, 1972a: 229; Bolton, 1995b: 382.
    • Junior synonym of mayri: Ješovnik & Schultz, 2017a: 62.
  • muelleri. Sericomyrmex opacus var. muelleri Forel, 1912e: 195 (q.) BRAZIL (Rio de Janeiro).
    • Type-material: holotype queen.
    • Type-locality: Brazil: Rio de Janeiro (A. Müller).
    • Type-depository: MHNG.
    • Subspecies of opacus: Emery, 1924d: 339; Borgmeier, 1927c: 128; Kempf, 1972a: 229; Bolton, 1995b: 382.
    • Junior synonym of mayri: Ješovnik & Schultz, 2017b: 202.
  • urichi. Sericomyrmex urichi Forel, 1912e: 193 (w.) TRINIDAD.
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
    • Type-locality: Trinidad: (no further data) (F.W. Urich).
    • Type-depository: MHNG.
    • Status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1916c: 11 (in key); Wheeler, W.M. 1922c: 13; Emery, 1924d: 339; Weber, 1937: 395; Weber, 1945: 40; Kempf, 1972a: 230; Bolton, 1995b: 382.
    • Junior synonym of mayri: Ješovnik & Schultz, 2017a: 61.

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

Jesovnik and Schultz 2017:

Description

Worker

(lectotype): HWe 1.05–1.60 (1.4) HW 1.05–1.64 (1.43) HW1 1.02–1.68 (1.44) HW2 1.12–1.8 (1.6) HW3 0.74–1.12 (1.05) IFW1 0.66–1.00 (0.93) IFW2 0.24–0.40 (0.35) HL1 1.02– 1.52 (1.33) HL2 0.93–1.36 (1.21) SL 0.74–1.08 (0.99) EL 0.15–0.35 Om 10–13 WL 1.27–2.2 (1.84) PL 0.24–0.47 (0.4) PPL 0.18–0.35 (0.32) GL 0.92–1.42 (1.24) HFL 1.15–1.7 (1.58) PW 0.68–1.2 (1.05) CI 101–115 (105) FLI 59–68 (66) SI 61–76 (71) OI 11–26 CEI 5–19 (9) [N=103]

Pilosity. Pubescence dense, often lighter colored than integument, appressed to decumbent. Hairs straight to curved, darker in color at base, yellow to gray, appressed to suberect, mostly decumbent.

Head. In full-face view broader than long (CI=108 ± 3), posterior corner angular to acute, lateral margin of head straight, sometimes slightly convex. Posterior cephalic emargination distinct, shallow, usually abruptly, sometimes gradually impressed, variable within species and within colonies. Vertexal impression relatively deep, pronounced, sometimes extending anterad to include frons, frontal tumuli often distinct. Mandibles with 7–8 teeth, dorsally glossy, usually striate. Frontal carina straight to slightly curved laterally, usually fading before reaching posterior cephalic corner, sometimes complete. Eye small to medium-sized (OI=14 ± 1), flat to slightly convex, lacking white layer, 10–13 ommatidia across largest diameter. Frontal lobe triangular, narrow (FLI=63 ± 2), posterior margin much shorter than medial, lateral margin long, directed anterad. Antennal scape short (SI=68 ± 3), never reaching posterior cephalic corner.

Mesosoma. Mesosomal tubercles low and obtuse. Propodeal carinae low, without posterodorsal denticles, or denticles low and weak.

Metasoma. Petiole and postpetiole each with two low, short, serrate, longitudinal carinae dorsally, on petiole sometimes reduced to low denticles, best seen in dorsolateral view. Postpetiole usually with another pair of low carinae laterally. First gastral tergite with lateral carinae well developed, dorsal carinae absent or faint.

Queen

HWe 1.44–1.64 HW 1.48– 1.68 HW1 0.52–1.76 HW2 1.64–1.84 HW3 1.03–1.2 IFW1 0.98–1.13 IFW2 0.36–0.45 HL1 1.4–1.56 HL2 1.24–1.4 SL 0.96–1.09 EL 0.24–0.3 Om 16–21 EW 0.08–0.13 WL 2.12–2.5 PL 0.45–0.65 PPL 0.25–0.4 GL 1.76–2.21 HFL 1.5–1.85 PW 1.24–1.46 FWg 6.56–8.03 HWg 4.29–5.28 CI 100–109 FLI 64–72 SI 62–70 OI 16–19 [N=15]

Head. Mandible with 8–9 teeth, dorsally striate. Preocular carina fading posterior to eye, rarely (in one queen from Ecuador) 1–3 supraocular carinae also present, not reaching posterior cephalic corner. Eye large (OI=18 ± 1), convex, sometimes mildly notched posteriorly, 16–21 ommatidia across largest diameter. Frontal lobe as in worker, antennal scape not reaching posterior cephalic corner.

Mesosoma. Lateral pronotal tubercles low and obtuse. Scutum in dorsal view with notauli faint, median mesoscutal line sometimes anteriorly developed into weak costa, posteriorly with shallow longitudinal impressions on each side. Parapsidal lines thin, slightly curved. In dorsal view scutellum short, narrowing posteriorly, posterior notch shallow, sometimes continuing into median impression that divides scutellum in two lateral parts. Propodeal denticles reduced, low.

Metasoma. Petiole in frontodorsal view with two pointed, distinct dorsal denticles, and two smaller, lateral denticles. Postpetiole with two dorsal and two lateral short, low carinae, sometimes reduced to small denticles. First gastral tergite with lateral carinae strongly developed, dorsal carinae weak, anteromedian groove distinct.

Male

Measurements in mm, range: HWe 0.84–1.02 HW 0.71–0.84 IFW1 0.32–0.38 IFW2 0.15–0.27 HL1 0.72–0.8 SL 0.77–0.85 EL 0.31– 0.36 Om 24–32 EW 0.13–0.16 WL 1.88–2.05 PL 0.35–0.56 PPL 0.24–0.33 GL 1.32–1.8 HFL 1.9–2.2 PW 0.87–1.12 IOD 0.65–0.74 FWg 5.4–6.25 HWg 3.79– 4.29 CI 105–131 FLI 34–42 SI 78–96 OI 31–42 (N=8)

Head in full-face view longer than broad (CI=124 ± 8). Eye large (OI=36 ± 3), convex, 24–32 ommatidia across largest diameter. Preocular carina long, extended posteriorly beyond lateral ocellus, slightly curved medially before fading. Notauli and mesoscutal line well developed, surrounding integument usually lighter colored, often reticulate, groove between axillae with 1–4 transverse keels. Propodeum smooth, without any protuberances except spiracular tubercles. Petiole with two lateral and two dorsal low, serrate carinae, postpetiole with reduced lateral denticles.

Larva

Two to four setae on each side of lateral body surfaces, none dorsally. Supra-antennal setae present. Six genal setae on each side. Mandibular apical tooth divided. Labial denticles absent. First thoracic segment ventrally with multiple multidentate spinules, arranged in transverse rows. Numbers of ventral hairs: ten to fourteen on T1, six on T2, four to six on T3, two to eight on abdomen (not including anal setae). Single pair of setae anterior to anal opening, no additional setae laterally.

Type Material

Lectotype worker (here designated): Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Niterói, [-22.8751, -43.2775], ANTC31816, A. Forel, (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève: 1w, CASENT0909370). Paralectotypes: same data as lectotype (MHNG: 1w, USNMENT00445567; 3m, USNMENT00445580).

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Alonso L. E., J. Persaud, and A. Williams. 2016. Biodiversity assessment survey of the south Rupununi Savannah, Guyana. BAT Survey Report No.1, 306 pages.
  • Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
  • Forel A. 1912. Formicides néotropiques. Part II. 3me sous-famille Myrmicinae Lep. (Attini, Dacetii, Cryptocerini). Mémoires de la Société Entomologique de Belgique. 19: 179-209.
  • 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.
  • Galkowski C. 2016. New data on the ants from the Guadeloupe (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Bull. Soc. Linn. Bordeaux 151, 44(1): 25-36.
  • Groc S., J. H. C. Delabie, F. Fernandez, F. Petitclerc, B. Corbara, M. Leponce, R. Cereghino, and A. Dejean. 2017. Litter-dwelling ants as bioindicators to gauge the sustainability of small arboreal monocultures embedded in the Amazonian rainforest. Ecological Indicators 82: 43-49.
  • Jesovnik A., J. Chaul, and T. Schultz. 2018. Natural history and nest architecture of the fungus-farming ant genus Sericomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 26: 65-80.
  • Jesovnik A., and T. R. Schultz. 2017. Revision of the fungus-farming ant genus Sericomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae). ZooKeys 670:1-109.
  • Kaspari M., D. Donoso, J. A. Lucas, T. Zumbusch, and A. D. Kay. 2012. Using nutritional ecology to predict community structure: a field test in Neotropical ants. Ecosphere 3(11): art.93.
  • Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
  • Klingenberg, C. and C.R.F. Brandao. 2005. The type specimens of fungus growing ants, Attini (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil. Papeis Avulsos de Zoologia 45(4):41-50
  • Pires de Prado L., R. M. Feitosa, S. Pinzon Triana, J. A. Munoz Gutierrez, G. X. Rousseau, R. Alves Silva, G. M. Siqueira, C. L. Caldas dos Santos, F. Veras Silva, T. Sanches Ranzani da Silva, A. Casadei-Ferreira, R. Rosa da Silva, and J. Andrade-Silva. 2019. An overview of the ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the state of Maranhao, Brazil. Pap. Avulsos Zool. 59: e20195938.
  • Solomon S. E., C. Rabeling, J. Sosa-Calvo, C. Lopes, A. Rodrigues, H. L. Vasconcelos, M. Bacci, U. G. Mueller, and T. R. Schultz. 2019. The molecular phylogenetics of Trachymyrmex Forel ants and their fungal cultivars provide insights into the origin and coevolutionary history of ‘higher-attine’ ant agriculture. Systematic Entomology 44: 939–956.
  • Weber N. A. 1937. The biology of the fungus-growing ants. Part l. New forms. Rev. Entomol. (Rio J.) 7: 378-409.
  • Weber N. A. 1945. The biology of the fungus-growing ants. Part VIII. The Trinidad, B. W. I., species. Revista de Entomologia (Rio de Janeiro) 16: 1-88.
  • Weber N. A. 1946. The biology of the fungus-growing ants. Part IX. The British Guiana species. Revista de Entomologia (Rio de Janeiro) 17: 114-172.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1922. The ants of Trinidad. American Museum Novitates 45: 1-16.
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