Strumigenys brontes

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

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys brontes.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys sauteri-group. This very distinctive member of the sauteri-complex is quickly identified by its angulate scape margin and complete lack of basigastral costulae. For further discussion see under Strumigenys sauteri.

Keys including this Species

Key to Strumigenys of East Asia (as Pyramica)

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Thailand (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.

brontes. Pyramica brontes Bolton, 2000: 463, figs. 268, 294 (w.) THAILAND. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 116

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 0.64, HW 0.44, CI 69, ML 0.04, MI 6, SL 0.26, SI 59, PW 0.28, AL 0.60. Anterior clypeal margin evenly deeply concave between distinctly projecting narrowly rounded anterolateral clypeal angles. Lateral margins of clypeus convex in full-face view, especially anteriorly where the sides converge toward the anterolateral angles. Leading edge of scape passing through a prominent angle at about the basal third of its length, the scape broadest at the apex of the angle. Leading edge of scape shallowly concave between the apex of the projecting angle and the base. Dorsum of head superficially punctate, the punctures mostly separated by narrow strips of shining cuticle rather than reticulate. Eye with 4 ommatidia in the longest row. Standing hairs extremely sparse: a single pair on the postpetiole disc and a few around the gastral apex, otherwise absent from head and body, and also absent from the legs and scapes. Dorsal alitrunk finely punctulate; petiole, postpetiole and gaster unsculptured. First gastral tergite without basigastral costulae. Pleurae and side of propodeum smooth. Propodeum armed with a pair of broad-based triangular teeth subtended by conspicuous lamellae that engage about half the length of each tooth’s ventral surface. With petiole in profile the lateral spongiform lobe extends forward almost to the level of the anterior face of the node. Petiole node in dorsal view slightly b roader than long (discounting posterior collar). Postpetiole transversely subovate, surrounded on all sides by spongiform tissue.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Thailand: Kaeng Krachan N.P., 13.xi.1985, no. 26 (Lobl & Burckhardt) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève).

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

References

Baroni Urbani, C. & De Andrade, M.L. 2007. The ant tribe Dacetini: limits and constituent genera, with descriptions of new species. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale “G. Doria” 99:1-191.
Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 463, figs. 268, 294 worker d*Khachonpisitsak, S., Yamane, S., Sriwichai, P., Jaitrong, W. 2020. An updated checklist of the ants of Thailand (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 998, 1–182 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.998.54902).

escribed)

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).