Strumigenys berkalial

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

Specimens have been collected on limestone in secondary forest.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the godeffroyi complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group. See notes under Strumigenys nanzanensis.

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.

berkalial. Strumigenys berkalial Bolton, 2000: 787 (w.) INDONESIA (Timor).

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 2.0, HL 0.54, HW 0.35, CI 65, ML 0.22, MI 41, SL 0.32, SI 91, PW 0.23, AL 0.S4. Characters of godeffroyi-complex. Cephalic dorsum with pair of erect hairs closest to midline on occipital margin short and inconspicuous, apical third abruptly angled anteriorly or looped. With head in full-face view the dorsolateral margin posterior to the flagellate apicoscrobal hair without a row of stiffly projecting hairs. Eye minute, with only 4-5 ommatidia in total. Ground-pilosity on pronotal dorsum dilute. Dorsum of pronotum weakly punctulate and with distinct longitudinal costulate-rugulose sculpture; a pair of erect flagellate hairs present in addition to the humeral pair. Most of side of pronotum smooth; pleurae and side of propodeum almost entirely smooth, any reticulate-punctate sculpture present is confined to periphery. Propodeal declivity with a conspicuous lamella, the propodeal teeth distinct at apex of lamella. Dorsal surface of propodeal tooth in profile without a convex crest or ridge of spongiform tissue. In dorsal view petiole node unsculptured and with a broad transverse anterior face; lateral spongiform lobes not overlapping onto anterior face. Disc of postpetiole unsculptured. Basigastral costulae conspicuous but not extending half the length of the tergite.

Paratype. TL 2.0, HL 0.53, HW 0.35, CI 66, ML 0.32, MI 42, SL 0.32, SI 91, PW 0.23, AL 0.55.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Indonesia: Timor Tim, Salele, 11 km. W Suai, 40 m., l8.viii.1990, F90036, secondary forest, limestone (Agosti & Weintraub) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève).

Paratype. 1 worker with same data as holotype (The Natural History Museum).

References

Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 787, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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