Strumigenys bibiolona

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Strumigenys bibiolona
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Attini
Genus: Strumigenys
Species: S. bibiolona
Binomial name
Strumigenys bibiolona
Fisher, 2000

Strumigenys bibiolona casent0005493 profile 1.jpg

Strumigenys bibiolona casent0005493 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

Known from forest habitats that vary from wet to dry, the dozens of collection records indicate this is a species nests in dead wood (rotten log, rotten branch, dead twig above ground).

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the chilo complex in the Strumigenys grandidieri-group. S. bibiolona forms a close species pair with Strumigenys chilo within the grandidieri-group, but bibiolona is known only from collections from the humid forest in the northwest of Madagascar, while chilo is found throughout the eastern rainforest. Similarities of the two species are discussed under chilo. S. bibiolona is easily differentiated from chilo by the following characters:

1 Dorsum of head evenly and gradually curved from middorsum to posterior margin of occipital corner; in profile, outline of dorsal margin of occipital corners curved, not flat.

2 Propodeal spines long, much longer than distance between base of spines.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -13.96167° to -14.047°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Malagasy Region: Madagascar (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

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Strumigenys bibiolona casent0005495 head 1.jpgStrumigenys bibiolona casent0005495 profile 1.jpgStrumigenys bibiolona casent0005495 dorsal 1.jpgStrumigenys bibiolona casent0005495 label 1.jpg
Paratype of Strumigenys bibiolonaWorker. Specimen code casent0005495. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Strumigenys bibiolona casent0005496 head 1.jpgStrumigenys bibiolona casent0005496 profile 1.jpgStrumigenys bibiolona casent0005496 dorsal 1.jpgStrumigenys bibiolona casent0005496 label 1.jpg
Paratype of Strumigenys bibiolonaWorker. Specimen code casent0005496. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Strumigenys bibiolona casent0005494 head 1.jpgStrumigenys bibiolona casent0005494 dorsal 1.jpgStrumigenys bibiolona casent0005494 label 1.jpg
Paratype of Strumigenys bibiolonaWorker. Specimen code casent0005494. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Nomenclature

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

  • bibiolona. Strumigenys bibiolona Fisher, in Bolton, 2000: 650 (w.q.) MADAGASCAR.

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 3.5, HL 0.85, HW 0.52, CI 61, ML 0.51, MI 60, SL 0.65, SI 126, PW 0.32, AL 0.91. Characters of chilo-complex. Mandibles almost straight and at full closure parallel. Apical fork of mandible subtended by a third, shorter spiniform tooth; the fork effectively 3-dentate; without intercalary teeth or denticles. Preapical teeth absent. Upper scrobe margin ends anterior of preocular groove; when viewed in profile, upper scrobe margin curves downwards at anterior margin of vertical preocular groove of side of head and almost meets preocular lamina; scrobe margin does not extend across dorsal apex of preocular groove so that the latter extends uninterrupted to the cephalic dorsum. Eye large, convex, and plainly visible in full-face view. Dorsum of head evenly and gradually curved from middorsum to posterior margin of occipital corner; in profile, outline of dorsal margin of occipital corners curved. Scape long and slender, approximately straight, the leading edge with a row of slender hairs which are slightly flattened or spoon-shaped apically. Cephalic dorsum with inconspicuous curved fine ground-pilosity; the upper scrobe margin without a row of hairs. Cephalic dorsum with 4 simple standing hairs arranged in a transverse row close to the occipital margin. Dorsum of head reticulate-punctate. Alitrunk dorsum without standing hairs. Propodeum without a pair of short posteriorly curved hairs i m mediately anterior of propodeal spines. Ground-pilosity on alitrunk as on head but sparser. With the alitrunk in profile the posterior portion of the mesonotum sharply depressed, the metanotal groove represented by a shallow impression. Pronotal humeri rounded. Lateral margin of posterior pronotum bluntly marginate. Anterior mesonotum without a narrow carina above the mesothoracic spiracle. Propodeal spines slender, almost spiniform; spines long, much longer than distance between base of spines; propodeal lamella absent. Alitrunk dorsum and sides reticulate-punctate. Petiole node in dorsal view reticulate-punctate and much longer than broad. Postpetiole reticulate-punctate. Waist segments without spongiform appendages. Disc of postpetiole with spongiform collar. Basigastral costulae absent. First gastral tergite and sternite with superficial reticulate-punctate sculpture over the anterior half or less of the sclerite, remainder of gaster smooth and shiny. Petiole without erect hairs. Dorsal surface of postpetiole with a pair posteriorly projecting stout hairs; gaster with stout standing hairs which are weakly swollen apically. Colour dull yellow to light brown.

Paratypes. TL 3.3-3.5, HL 0.80-0.85, HW 0.48-0.54, CI 60-64, ML 0.49-0.52, MI 60-64, SL 0.63-0.67, SI 117-132, PW 0.30-0.34 AL 0.87-0.93 (4 easured). As holotype.

Measurements of this material extend the range shown by the type-series: HL 0.85-0.97, HW 0.52-0.59, CI 58-66, ML 0.53-0.59, MI 61-64, SL 0.66-0.74, SI 115-131 (5 measured).

Type Material

Holotype worker, Madagascar: Provo Antsiranana, R.S. Manongarivo, 10.8 km. 229° SW Antanambao, 400 m., 13°57.7'S, 48°26.0'E, 8.xi.1998, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood). rainforest #1996 (37)-3 (B. L. Fisher) (Museum of Comparative Zoology).

Paratypes. 22 workers and 3 queens (dealate) with same data as holotype but coded (2)-4, (21)-4, (27)-2, (28)-4, (29)-2, (30)-5, (31)-1, (31)-2, (34)-2, (38)-4, (40)-4, (41)-2, (42)-3, (44)-2, (46)-5, (54)-3, (54)-5, (57)-2, (60)-3, (64)-1, (64)-2, (65)-1, (68)-3, (74)-2 (The Natural History Museum, South African Museum).

References

  • Fisher, B.L. 2000. The Malagasy fauna of Strumigenys. Pp. 612-696 in: Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 650, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
  • Fisher B. L. 2003. Formicidae, ants. Pp. 811-819 in: Goodman, S. M.; Benstead, J. P. (eds.) 2003. The natural history of Madagascar. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, xxi + 1709 pp.
  • Fisher, B. 2002. Ant diversity patterns along an elevational gradient in the Reserve Speciale de Manongarivo, Madagascar. in Gautier, L. and S.M. Goodman, editors, Inventaire Florestique et Faunistique de la Reserve Speciale de Manongarivo (NW Madagascar)