Dolichoderus pustulatus

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Dolichoderus pustulatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dolichoderinae
Tribe: Dolichoderini
Genus: Dolichoderus
Species: D. pustulatus
Binomial name
Dolichoderus pustulatus
Mayr, 1886

Dolichoderus pustulatus casent0103855 profile 1.jpg

Dolichoderus pustulatus casent0103855 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen Label

Synonyms

These ants form relatively small soil-based nests. While foraging workers are often seen on low vegetation, their nests are cryptic and can be challenging to locate.

Photo Gallery

  • Dolichoderus pustulatus tending aphids on a willow shrub, Door Co. Wisconsin. Photo by James Trager.

Identification

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Nova Scotia, Canada westward to Illinois and Oklahoma; southward the distribution reaches Florida and Mississippi.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 50.938° to 25.83333333°.

   
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Nearctic Region: United States (type locality).

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.
pChart

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.
pChart

Biology

Life History Traits

  • Queen number: monogynous (Rissing and Pollock, 1988; Frumhoff & Ward, 1992)

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Dolichoderus pustulatus casent0103855 head 1.jpgDolichoderus pustulatus casent0103855 profile 1.jpgDolichoderus pustulatus casent0103855 dorsal 1.jpgDolichoderus pustulatus casent0103855 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0103855. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by ABS, Lake Placid, FL, USA.

Queen

Images from AntWeb

Dolichoderus pustulatus casent0103854 head 1.jpgDolichoderus pustulatus casent0103854 profile 1.jpgDolichoderus pustulatus casent0103854 dorsal 1.jpgDolichoderus pustulatus casent0103854 label 1.jpg
Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0103854. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by ABS, Lake Placid, FL, USA.

Male

Images from AntWeb

Dolichoderus pustulatus casent0103853 head 1.jpgDolichoderus pustulatus casent0103853 profile 2.jpgDolichoderus pustulatus casent0103853 label 1.jpg
Male (alate). Specimen code casent0103853. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by ABS, Lake Placid, FL, USA.

Nomenclature

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

  • pustulatus. Dolichoderus pustulatus Mayr, 1886d: 436 (w.q.) U.S.A. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1966: 727 (l.); Mackay, 1993b: 85 (m.). Combination in D. (Hypoclinea): Emery, 1894c: 229. Subspecies of plagiatus: Wheeler, W.M. 1905d: 313. Revived status as species and senior synonym of beutenmuelleri: Creighton, 1950a: 335. See also: Smith, D.R. 1979: 1416; Johnson, C. 1989a: 3; Mackay, 1993b: 84.
  • beutenmuelleri. Dolichoderus plagiatus var. beutenmuelleri Wheeler, W.M. 1904e: 304 (w.) U.S.A. Subspecies of pustulatus: Wheeler, W.M. 1913c: 116. Junior synonym of pustulatus: Creighton, 1950a: 335.

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

Description

Worker

Johnson Dolichoderus Fig 3.jpg

Johnson (1989) - This species is bicolored in the South, a feature enhancing its similarity to D. mariae in that region. Specifically, southern specimens have brownish-orange mandibles, head, antennae, legs, alitrunk, and petiole; antennae and legs becoming darker with age. The gaster is dark brown to black and occasionally with small, laterally-spaced, light colored spots on the first and second segments. In the North, mature specimens are often concolored with dark brown, near black or pale orange bodies. Distinctly bicolored specimens from the North appear to be young specimens.

Structurally, a fine granulation sculptures the head behind the eyes and faint indications of shallow foveolae exist. The surface of the pronotum is impressed with a delicate punctation, though both head and pronotum typically reflect light. Dorsum of the mesonotum with distinct depressions, its surface remaining reflective. Depressions of the propodeum are deeper and associated with stronger granulation, its surface becoming opaque The sculpture described above is weakly developed in southern specimens, a condition again similar to D. mariae. The integument of both petiole and gaster is smooth and shining in strong light, though the petiole is partially granulate in northern specimens Erect hairs are present on the head, alitrunk, and gaster. This body pilosity consists of fewer hairs in southern specimens, another variation in the direction of D. mariae where such hairs are absent. There are no erect hairs on the scapes. In dorsal view, the length of propodeum exceeds its width. The integument within concavity of the declivous face of the propodeum is smooth and shining, though faintly granulate in northern specimens. The scapes, lying in natural repose above the head, surpass the occipital border in northern specimens by a smaller fraction of their length than observed in southern specimens. In lateral view, the petiole of northern specimens is more robust. These differences may only reflect geographic variability; however, differences also exist in nest behavior as discussed below and these ants deserve closer study.

Type Material

Type Locality - New Jersey.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Addison D. S., I. Bartoszek, V. Booher, M. A. Deyrup, M. Schuman, J. Schmid, and K. Worley. 2016. Baseline surveys for ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the western Everglades, Collier County, Florida. Florida Entomologist 99(3): 389-394.
  • Annotated Ant Species List Ordway-Swisher Biological Station. Downloaded at http://ordway-swisher.ufl.edu/species/os-hymenoptera.htm on 5th Oct 2010.
  • Blades, D.C.A. and S.A. Marshall. Terrestrial arthropods of Canadian Peatlands: Synopsis of pan trap collections at four southern Ontario peatlands. Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada 169:221-284
  • Canadensys Database. Dowloaded on 5th February 2014 at http://www.canadensys.net/
  • Carroll T. M. 2011. The ants of Indiana (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Master's thesis Purdue University.
  • Choate B., and F. A. Drummond. 2012. Ant Diversity and Distribution (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Throughout Maine Lowbush Blueberry Fields in Hancock and Washington Counties. Environ. Entomol. 41(2): 222-232.
  • Choate B., and F. A. Drummond. 2013. The influence of insecticides and vegetation in structuring Formica Mound ant communities (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Maine lowbush blueberry. Environ. Entomol. 41(2): 222-232.
  • Coovert G. A. 2005. The Ants of Ohio (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Ohio Biological Survey, Inc. 15(2): 1-207.
  • Coovert, G.A. 2005. The Ants of Ohio (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Ohio Biological Survey Bulletin New Series Volume 15(2):1-196
  • Davis W. T., and J. Bequaert. 1922. An annoted list of the ants of Staten Island and Long Island, N. Y. Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society 17(1): 1-25.
  • Del Toro I., K. Towle, D. N. Morrison, and S. L. Pelini. 2013. Community Structure, Ecological and Behavioral Traits of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Massachusetts Open and Forested Habitats. Northeastern Naturalist 20: 1-12.
  • Del Toro, I. 2010. PERSONAL COMMUNICATION. MUSEUM RECORDS COLLATED BY ISRAEL DEL TORO
  • Drummond F. A., A. M. llison, E. Groden, and G. D. Ouellette. 2012. The ants (Formicidae). In Biodiversity of the Schoodic Peninsula: Results of the Insect and Arachnid Bioblitzes at the Schoodic District of Acadia National Park, Maine. Maine Agricultural and forest experiment station, The University of Maine, Technical Bulletin 206. 217 pages
  • Dubois, M.B. and W.E. Laberge. 1988. An Annotated list of the ants of Illionois. pages 133-156 in Advances in Myrmecology, J. Trager
  • Ellison A. M., E. J. Farnsworth, and N. J. Gotelli. 2002. Ant diversity in pitcher-plant bogs of Massachussetts. Northeastern Naturalist 9(3): 267-284.
  • Ellison A. M., and E. J. Farnsworth. 2014. Targeted sampling increases knowledge and improves estimates of ant species richness in Rhode Island. Northeastern Naturalist 21(1): NENHC-13–NENHC-24.
  • Emery C. 1895. Beiträge zur Kenntniss der nordamerikanischen Ameisenfauna. (Schluss). Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere 8: 257-360.
  • Forster J.A. 2005. The Ants (hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Alabama. Master of Science, Auburn University. 242 pages.
  • Frye J. A., T. Frye, and T. W. Suman. 2014. The ant fauna of inland sand dune communities in Worcester County, Maryland. Northeastern Naturalist, 21(3): 446-471.
  • Gotelli, N.J. and A.M. Ellison. 2002. Biogeography at a Regional Scale: Determinants of Ant Species Density in New England Bogs and Forests. Ecology 83(6):1604-1609
  • Hill J.G. & Brown R. L. 2010. The Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Fauna of Black Belt Prairie Remnants in Alabama and Mississippi. Southeastern Naturalist. 9: 73-84
  • Ivanov, K. 2019. The ants of Ohio (Hymenoptera, Formicidae): an updated checklist. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 70: 65–87.
  • Ivanov K., L. Hightower, S. T. Dash, and J. B. Keiper. 2019. 150 years in the making: first comprehensive list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Virginia, USA. Zootaxa 4554 (2): 532–560.
  • Longino, J.T. 2010. Personal Communication. Longino Collection Database
  • Lubertazi, D. Personal Communication. Specimen Data from Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard
  • Lynch J. F. 1981. Seasonal, successional, and vertical segregation in a Maryland ant community. Oikos 37: 183-198.
  • Lynch J. F. 1988. An annotated checklist and key to the species of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Chesapeake Bay region. The Maryland Naturalist 31: 61-106
  • Mackay, W.P. 1993. A review of the New World ants of the genus Dolichoderus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 22(1):1-148
  • Menke S. B., E. Gaulke, A. Hamel, and N. Vachter. 2015. The effects of restoration age and prescribed burns on grassland ant community structure. Environmental Entomology http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvv110
  • Menke, S.B. Personal Communication. Field Museum Specimen Data
  • Merle W. W. 1939. An Annotated List of the Ants of Maine (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomological News. 50: 161-165
  • Munsee, J. R.; Jansma, W. B.; Schrock, J. R. 1986. Revision of the checklist of Indiana ants with the addition of five new species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science 1985, publ. 1986 Vol. 95 pp. 265-274
  • Ouellette G. D., F. A. Drummond, B. Choate and E. Groden. 2010. Ant diversity and distribution in Acadia National Park, Maine. Environmental Entomology 39: 1447-1556
  • Shattuck S. O. 1994. Taxonomic catalog of the ant subfamilies Aneuretinae and Dolichoderinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). University of California Publications in Entomology 112: i-xix, 1-241.
  • Smith M. R. 1930. A list of Florida ants. Florida Entomologist 14: 1-6.
  • Smith M. R. 1934. Dates on which the immature or mature sexual phases of ants have been observed (Hymen.: Formicoidea) (continued from page 251). Entomological News 45: 264-267.
  • Talbot M. 1976. A list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Edwin S. George Reserve, Livingston County, Michigan. Great Lakes Entomologist 8: 245-246.
  • Van Pelt A. F. 1948. A Preliminary Key to the Worker Ants of Alachua County, Florida. The Florida Entomologist 30(4): 57-67
  • Van Pelt A. F. 1958. The ecology of the ants of the Welaka Reserve, Florida (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Part II. Annotated list. American Midland Naturalist 59: 1-57
  • Van Pelt A., and J. B. Gentry. 1985. The ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Savannah River Plant, South Carolina. Dept. Energy, Savannah River Ecology Lab., Aiken, SC., Report SRO-NERP-14, 56 p.
  • Wheeler G. C., J. N. Wheeler, and P. B. Kannowski. 1994. Checklist of the ants of Michigan (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The Great Lakes Entomologist 26(4): 297-310
  • Wheeler G. C., and J. Wheeler J. 1989. A checklist of the ants of Oklahoma. Prairie Naturalist 21: 203-210.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1905. An annotated list of the ants of New Jersey. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 21: 371-403.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1905. The North American ants of the genus Dolichoderus. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 21: 305-319.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1908. The ants of Casco Bay, Maine, with observations on two races of Formica sanguinea Latreille. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 24: 619-645.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1932. A list of the ants of Florida with descriptions of new forms. J. N. Y. Entomol. Soc. 40: 1-17.
  • Wheeler, G.C., J. Wheeler and P.B. Kannowski. 1994. CHECKLIST OF THE ANTS OF MICHIGAN (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE). Great Lakes Entomologist 26:1:297-310
  • Wing M. W. 1939. An annotated list of the ants of Maine (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomological News 50:161-165.
  • Young J., and D. E. Howell. 1964. Ants of Oklahoma. Miscellaneous Publication. Oklahoma Agricultural Experimental Station 71: 1-42.
  • Young, J. and D.E. Howell. 1964. Ants of Oklahoma. Miscellaneous Publications of Oklahoma State University MP-71
Retrieved from "https://antwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Dolichoderus_pustulatus&oldid=695447"