Strumigenys anchis

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

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys anchis.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys emmae-group. The combination of two large preapical teeth and a deep concave impression in the anteroventral margin of the head in front of the eye immediately diagnoses this species. Strumigenys radix also has a fairly well developed distal preapical tooth, but this species is smaller, has longer, more slender scapes, lacks the impression in the anteroventral margin of the head and possesses an apicoscrobal hair.

Identification Keys including this Taxon

• Key to Australian Strumigenys Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -12.6° to -12.61666667°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (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

Expand 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. ‎

Nomenclature

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

• anchis. Strumigenys anchis Bolton, 2000: 949, fig. 518 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

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 0.57, HW 0.47, CI 82, ML 0.20, MI 35, SL 0.26, SI 55, PW 0.28, AL 0.54. Exposed length of fully closed mandible less than width of anterior clypeal margin. Preapical dentition of mandible consisting of a long-conical proximal preapical tooth and a flattened shorter, broader distal preapical tooth; apex of distal tooth truncated or bevelled, obviously not conical . Inner margin of mandible proximal of the long-conical proximal preapical tooth with a narrow convex cuticular lamella. Anteroventral margin of head deeply concave in front of eye. Antenna with 4 segments; second funicular segment distinctly longer than broad. Cephalic dorsum with orbicular hairs; upper scrobe margin fringed with similar or broadly spoon-shaped hairs; without an apicoscrobal hair. Occipital margin of head without short erect hairs. Eye relatively large, with 5 ommatidia in the longest row and more than 15 ommatidia in total. Leading edge of scape flattened and evenly convex , not forming an obtuse angle at about the midlength. Pronotal humeral hair short and upcurved, spatulate to remiform. Ground pilosity of pronotal dorsum as head but the hairs tending to be smaller and more widely spaced. Mesonotum without erect hairs. Promesonotal dorsum reticulate-punctate. Disc of postpetiole finely shagreenate at least in part. First gastral tergite with short suberect to erect hairs that are spatulate to remiform. Basigastral costulae at least equal in length to postpetiole disc.

PARATYPE. TL 2.1-2.2, HL 0.59-0.61, HW 0.49-0.50, CI 82-83, ML 0.20-0.21, MI 33-36, SL 0.28-0.29, SI 57-58, PW 0.28-0.30, AL 0.55-0.56 (3 measured).

Type Material

• Holotype, worker, Kapalga, Northern Territory, Australia, Greenslade,P.J.M., ANIC32-002188, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Paratype, 2 workers, Kapalga, Northern Territory, Australia, Greenslade,P.J.M., ANIC32-017747, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Paratype, 1 worker, Kapalga, Northern Territory, Australia, The Natural History Museum.

References

• Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 940, fig. 518 worker described)