Simopone inculta

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Simopone inculta
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dorylinae
Genus: Simopone
Species group: emeryi
Species: S. inculta
Binomial name
Simopone inculta
Bolton & Fisher, 2012

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Specimen Labels

Specimens have been collected in low vegetation in tropical dry forest.

Identification

A member of the emeryi species group. There are no pronotal humeral setae on the single known specimen of inculta, which may imply that they have been abraded away. But it should be noted that there are also no humeral setae on any of the seven specimens that make up the type-series of the closely related Simopone fera. The latter species shows considerable size-variation and this probably should also be expected in inculta. (Bolton and Fisher 2012)

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -12.31666667° to -12.31666667°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Malagasy Region: Madagascar (type locality).

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

Explore-icon.png Explore Overview of Simopone biology 
Little is known about the biology of most species of Simopone. Specimens are rarely collected, and the number of species known only from workers is telling in regards to a lack of nest samples. Species are almost entirely arboreal but on occasion foraging workers are found on the ground or in rotten logs. Prey records are extremely sparse. They consist only of Crematogaster brood by Simopone vepres, and the brood of Terataner by Simopone sicaria. Nevertheless, these two records support the general supposition by Brown (1975) that most or all members of tribe Cerapachyini prey on other ants, or more probably the brood of other ants, but actual records are extremely rare. (Bolton and Fisher 2012)

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • inculta. Simopone inculta Bolton & Fisher, 2012: 55, figs. 55-57 (w.) MADAGASCAR.
    • Type-material: holotype worker.
    • Type-locality: Madagascar: Prov. Antsiranana, Montagne Français, 7.2 km. 142° SE Diego Suarez, 180 m., 12°19’S, 49°20’E, 22-28.ii.2001, BLF3152, CASENT0410475 (B.L. Fisher).
    • Type-depository: CASC.
    • Distribution: Madagascar.

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

Description

Worker

Holotype. HL 1.84, HW 1.15, SL 0.50, EL 0.45, PW 0.97, AIIW 0.95, AIIL 0.92, AIIIW 1.10, AIIIL 1.08, WL 1.94, MFL 1.04, CI 63, SI 43, EL/HW 0.39, EP 1.00, AIIW/AIIL 1.03, AIIIW/AIIIL 1.02.

In full-face view anteriormost points of frontal lobes project far forward as a pair of lobes that extend considerably beyond the level of the anterior clypeal margin. Midpoint of anterior clypeal margin with a small convex tumulus, so that the margin is not evenly transverse or evenly convex across. Eyes located close to cephalic midlength (EP 1.00). Leading edge of scape without projecting setae. In full-face view sides of head from just behind clypeus to posterior corners without projecting setae. In profile cephalic dorsum without standing setae; setae distinct anteriorly on ventral surface of head. Cephalic dorsum between eyes punctate and with dense, longitudinally arranged, fine punctulate-striolate ground sculpture. Behind the level of the eyes the ground sculpture diminishes in intensity. In dorsal view the pronotum with a transverse carina anteriorly. Propodeal dorsum meets declivity through a narrowly rounded angle, without a carina. Promesonotal suture distinct, broadly V-shaped medially; metanotal groove faint but median pit conspicuous. Mesosoma in dorsal view with mesonotum fractionally narrower than pronotum; propodeum about the same width as mesonotum. Density of punctate sculpture on pronotal dorsum about the same as on mesonotal dorsum. Entire dorsum of mesosoma without setae. Dorsal (outer) surfaces of mesotibiae and metatibiae without projecting setae. Dorsal surface of AII (petiole) meets anterior surface in a narrowly rounded angle, without a transverse carina. Posteriorly the dorsum of AII rounds into the posterior surface, with an inconspicuous low ridge above the foramen. In dorsal view the posterior corners of AII are bluntly rounded and project slightly posteriorly. In dorsal view AII and AIII about as long as broad. Dorsal surfaces of abdominal tergites AII to AIV without setae, but setae present posteriorly on sternites of AIII and AIV. Abdominal tergites AII to AIV sculptured only with small punctures. Sternite of AIII with conspicuous, dense, grey pubescence that obscures the surface of the sclerite. Full adult colour black; appendages and clypeus slightly lighter.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Madagascar: Prov. Antsiranana, Montagne Français, 7.2 km 142° SE Diego Suarez, 180 m, 12°19’S, 49°20’E, 22-28.ii.2001, BLF3152, CASENT0410475 (B.L. Fisher) (California Academy of Sciences).

References