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Solenopsis oculata
| Solenopsis oculata | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Solenopsidini |
| Genus: | Solenopsis |
| Species complex: | nigella |
| Species: | S. oculata |
| Binomial name | |
| Solenopsis oculata Santschi, 1925
| |
Nothing is known about the biology of Solenopsis oculata.
Identification
A New World thief ant that is a member of the nigella species complex.
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) – Worker - This is a small, dark brown species with a head that is longer than wide with very fine punctures. The eyes are large, with approximately 30-35 ommatidia. Antennal segment 10 is relatively long at 0.240 mm in length. Both the anterior and posterior faces of the petiole are nearly vertical and converge to form a rounded, although somewhat triangular node. Unlike other species of this complex, this species lacks a tooth at the subpeduncular process. The postpetiole has a rounded node and is wider than the postpetiole when viewed from above.
This species could be confused with other members of the nigella species subgroup, but may be distinguished by the lack of a tooth on the subpeduncular process, which is well defined in all other members of the nigella subgroup.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 7.766944444° to 7.766944444°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina (type locality).
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
Known only from the worker caste.
Worker
Images from AntWeb
   
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| Worker. Specimen code casent0103216. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by NHMB, Basel, Switzerland. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- oculata. Solenopsis (Diplorhoptrum) angulata st. oculatus Santschi, 1925e: 161 (w.) ARGENTINA (Catamarca).
- Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 245), 4 paralectotype workers.
- Type-locality: lectotype Argentina: Catamarca, Cerro Colorado (Weiser); paralectotypes with same data.
- Type-depository: NHMB.
- Combination in S. (Euophthalma): Creighton, 1930b: 133.
- Status as species: Creighton, 1930b: 133 (redescription); Ettershank, 1966: 142; Kempf, 1972a: 238; Bolton, 1995b: 389; Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 244 (redescription).
- Distribution: Argentina.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=5). TL 1.80-2.04 (1.88); HL 0.520-0.552 (0.534); HW 0.432-0.456 (0.444); EL 0.108-0.120 (0.118); ED 0.078-0.084 (0.079); SL 0.390-0.438 (0.413); FSL 0.192-0.198 (0.194); CI 81.8-86.5 (83.2); SI 73.9-80.8 (77.4); PL 0.102; PW 0.120; PI 85.0; PPL 0.126-0.132 (0.127); PPW 0.162-0.174 (0.169); PPI 72.4-77.8 (75.2); WL 0.390-0.420 (0.409); PSL 0.024-0.030 (0.029); PSW 0.024-0.030 (0.029).
Small, concolorous dark brown; head quadrate, longer than wide, with fine cephalic punctures; eyes large with approximately 30-35 ommatidia; clypeal carinae well developed, extend into well-developed lateral teeth, extralateral teeth rounded; scapes long but do not reach posterior lateral corner of head; notopropodeal suture well depressed, groove breaks sculpture of mesosoma; horizontal striae present on mesopleuron as well as metapleuron; propodeal margin angled, propodeal spiracle small; petiole barely wider than postpetiole in profile, anterior and posterior faces of petiole subvertical, converge to form rounded triangular node, peduncle lacking tooth; postpetiole rounded node, wider than postpetiole when viewed dorsally.
Little pilosity present; sparse sub erect hairs present throughout body surfaces.
Type Material
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - 5-46, Sammlung, Dr. F. Santschi, Kairouan Argentina, Catamarca, Cerro Colorado (Weiser) (lectotype worker and 4 paralectotype workers [here designated] Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel).
References
- Creighton, W. S. 1930b. The New World species of the genus Solenopsis (Hymenop. Formicidae). Proc. Am. Acad. Arts Sci. 66: 39-151 (page 133, Combination in S. (Euophthalma), and raised to species)
- Pacheco, J.A. & Mackay, W.P. 2013. The systematics and biology of the New World thief ants of the genus Solenopsis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston, New York. 501 pp.
- Santschi, F. 1925e. Fourmis des provinces argentines de Santa Fe, Catamarca, Santa Cruz, Córdoba et Los Andes. Comun. Mus. Nac. Hist. Nat. "Bernardino Rivadavia" 2: 149-168 (page 161, worker described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Creighton W. S. 1930. The New World species of the genus Solenopsis (Hymenop. Formicidae). Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 66: 39-151.
- Cuezzo, F. 1998. Formicidae. Chapter 42 in Morrone J.J., and S. Coscaron (dirs) Biodiversidad de artropodos argentinos: una perspectiva biotaxonomica Ediciones Sur, La Plata. Pages 452-462.
- Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
- Kusnezov N. 1978. Hormigas argentinas: clave para su identificación. Miscelánea. Instituto Miguel Lillo 61:1-147 + 28 pl.
- Pacheco J. A., and W. P. Mackay. 2013. The systematics and biology of the New World thief ants of the genus Solenopsis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 501 pp.
- Salinas P. J. 2010. Catalogue of the ants of the Táchira State, Venezuela, with notes on their biodiversity, biogeography and ecology (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Amblyioponinae, Ponerinae, Proceratiinae, Myrmicinae, Ecitoninae, Formicinae, Pseudomyrmecinae, Dolichoderinae). Boletín de la SEA 47: 315-328.