Strumigenys anthocera

Strumigenys anthocera
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Strumigenys
Species:	S. anthocera
Binomial name
Strumigenys anthocera Lattke & Goitía, 1997 Specimen Labels

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys anthocera.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys tococae-group. Like Strumigenys usbensis and Strumigenys fairchildi, anthocera has the first gastral tergite finely and densely sculptured everywhere. S. anthocera is the largest of the three and is unique in the group in having a simple apicoscrobal hair and a pair of standing hairs on the mesonotum. The other species lack projecting hairs at these locations. Spongiform tissue is better developed on the waist segments in anthocera than in usbensis or fairchildi; usbensis lacks spongiform tissue beneath the petiole, which is distinct in anthocera and fairchildi though broader in the former than in the latter. The spongiform lobes of the waist segments tend to be narrow and sublamellate in fairchildi but are thick and coarse in anthocera.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Neotropical and Nearctic Strumigenys

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 1.715° to 1.7°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Venezuela (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. ‎

Nomenclature

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

• anthocera. Strumigenys anthocera Lattke & Goitía, 1997: 383, figs. 33, 34, 41 (w.) VENEZUELA. See also: Bolton, 2000: 563.

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

Description

Worker

Bolton (2000) - TL 4.2, HL 1.06, HW 0.77, CI 73, ML 0.64, MI 60, SL 0.72, SI 94, PW 0.49, AL 1.07. First gastral tergite finely and densely longitudinally striolate-costulate; without appressed spatulate hairs such as are present on the cephalic dorsum but with a few fine flagellate hairs. Maximum diameter of eye ca 0.15. Apicoscrobal hair simple. Mesonotum with a pair of short curved standing hairs. In profile declivity of propodeum with a pair of spines dorsally and a second pair basally, the two about the same length. Ventral surface of petiole with a continuous curtain of spongiform tissue that terminates in a thick spongiform pad posterolaterally.

Type Material

Bolton (2000) - Holotype and paratype workers, VENEZUELA: Edo. Amazonas, Alto Rio Siapa, 1°42'N, 64°33'W, 495 m., 2.ii.1989 (J. Lattke) (Instituto de Zoologia Agricola, The Natural History Museum, Museum of Comparative Zoology) [examined].

References

• Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028.
• Lattke, J.; Goitía, W. 1997. El género Strumigenys (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) en Venezuela. Caldasia 19: 367-396 (page 383, figs. 33, 34, 41 worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.