Strumigenys anchiplex

Strumigenys anchiplex
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Strumigenys
Species:	S. anchiplex
Binomial name
	Strumigenys anchiplex; Bolton, 2000 Specimen labels

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys anchiplex.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the prosopis complex in the Strumigenys lyroessa-group. The bases of the mandibles in anchiplex are less strongly expanded laterally than elsewhere in the complex. In this species the ratio of ML to the maximum width across the outer margins is about 1.00; in the remainder the ratio is 0.80-0.90. Like Strumigenys propinqua this species has relatively long scapes, possesses a freely projecting pronotal humeral hair and does not have pilosity restricted to basal and apical pairs on the first tergite; unlike propinqua, anchiplex lacks standing hairs on the entire promesonotal dorsum.

Keys including this Species

Key to Strumigenys of East Asia

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia (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.

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.

Biology

Explore Overview of Strumigenys biology

Strumigenys were once thought to be rare. The development and increased use of litter sampling methods has led to the discovery of a tremendous diversity of species. Many species are specialized predators (e.g. see Strumigenys membranifera and Strumigenys louisianae). Collembola (springtails) and other tiny soil arthropods are typically favored prey. Species with long linear mandibles employ trap-jaws to sieze their stalked prey (see Dacetine trap-jaws). Larvae feed directly on insect prey brought to them by workers. Trophallaxis is rarely practiced. Most species live in the soil, leaf litter, decaying wood or opportunistically move into inhabitable cavities on or under the soil. Colonies are small, typically less than 100 individuals but in some species many hundreds. Moist warm habitats and micro-habitats are preferred. A few better known tramp and otherwise widely ranging species tolerate drier conditions. Foraging is often in the leaf litter and humus. Workers of many species rarely venture above ground or into exposed, open areas. Individuals are typically small, slow moving and cryptic in coloration. When disturbed individuals freeze and remain motionless. Males are not known for a large majority of species.

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Castes

Nomenclature

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

anchiplex. Strumigenys anchiplex Bolton, 2000: 868 (w.q.) INDONESIA (Sumatra).

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

Description

Worker

Holotype. TL 2.1, HL 0.58, HW 0.45, CI 78, ML 0.21, MI 36, SL 0.27, SI 60, PW 0.27, AL 0.57. Characters of prosopis-complex. With the mandibles fully closed ML is about equal to the maximum width across the outer margins. Dorsolateral margin of head with narrowly spoon-shaped curved hairs on upper scrobe margin to level of apex of scrobe; these hairs similar in shape and size to those on leading edge of scape. Posterior to this are shorter, narrower hairs that are more strongly appressed; there is no apicoscrobal hair. Cephalic dorsum with a single standing hair at apex of each occipital lobe, otherwise standing hairs absent. Pronotal humeral hair stiff and feebly remiform. Dorsum of promesonotum without erect hairs. Waist segments with 1-2 pairs of curved hairs. First gastral tergite with three transverse rows of stiff hairs: one close to base, one just behind midlength and one close to apex. Cephalic dorsum and entire dorsal alitrunk finely reticulate-punctate; dorsum of petiole node more superficially punctulate.

Paratypes. TL 2.0-2.1, HL 0.57-0.58, HW 0.44-0.45, CI 77-78, ML 0.20-0.21, MI 34-36, SL 0.27-0.28, SI 60-62, PW 0.26-0.27, AL 0.56-0.57 (5 measured).

Type Material

Holotype worker, Indonesia: Sumatra, W Sum., Lubuksulasih, 30 km. E Padang, 1100 m., 8.xi.1989, #7 (Agosti, Lobl & Burckhardt) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève). Paratypes. 11 workers and 1 queen with same data as holotype (MHNG, The Natural History Museum, Museum of Comparative Zoology).

References

Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 868, worker described)
Musfira, S.H., Rafi, M., Gusti, M., Putri, D.H., Satria, R. 2022. New data on the genus Strumigenys (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Sumatra. Zoosystematica Rossica 31(1): 74–86 (doi:10.31610/zsr/2022.31.1.74).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Bolton B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65: 1-1028.