Strumigenys blanda

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

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys blanda.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the koningsbergeri complex in the Strumigenys koningsbergeri-group. See Strumigenys koningsbergeri.

Keys including this Species

Key to Strumigenys of East Asia

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Borneo (type locality), Indonesia, Malaysia.

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.

blanda. Strumigenys blanda Bolton, 2000: 840 (w.) BORNEO.

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 3.1, HL 0.94, HW 0.80, CI 85, ML 0.40, MI 43, SL 0.50, SI 63, PW 0.38, AL 0.84. With characters of koningsbergeri-complex. Preocular concavity forms a short, shallowly depressed basin on ventral surface of head. Upper scrobe margins weakly constricted above eye but sufficient to allow most of arc of eye to be visible in full-face view. Upper scrobe margin with minute irregularities from which small hairs arise, but without a row of triangular teeth, without a jagged appearance. Depression across posterior vertex of head broad but very shallow. Pronotum without a pair of short standing hairs close to anterodorsal margin. Pronotal humeral hair very short, simple. All erect hairs on cephalic dorsum, and single pair on mesonotum, short. Katepisternum mostly smooth, metapleuron usually with a small smooth patch. Bullae of femoral glands absent from middle and hind legs. Lamella on propodeal declivity very narrow, almost carina-like, in profile its posterior (free) margin concave and following the shape of the edge of the declivity. Standing hairs on first gastral tergite mostly or entirely weakly expanded and flattened toward the apex.

Paratypes. TL 2.8-3.1, HL 0.82-0.96, HW 0.70-0.82, CI 85-88, ML 0.33-0.40, MI 40-45, SL 0.40-0.52, SI 57-63, PW 0.32-0.40, AL 0.72-0.85 (12 measured).

Type Material

Holotype worker, Malaysia: Sabah, Crocker Range N.P. (2c), Gg Emas Highland Res., 1500-1700 m., 6-18.vi.1996 (no collector's name) (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Vienna). Paratypes. 18 workers with same data as holotype (NHMW The Natural History Museum).

References

Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 840, worker described)
Tang, K. L., Guénard, B. 2023. Further additions to the knowledge of Strumigenys (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) within South East Asia, with the descriptions of 20 new species. European Journal of Taxonomy 907, 1–144 (doi:10.5852/ejt.2023.907.2327).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58