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Strumigenys cacaoensis
| Strumigenys cacaoensis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Strumigenys |
| Species: | S. cacaoensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Strumigenys cacaoensis Bolton, 1971
| |
This relatively large species is arboreal, nesting in rot holes in the trunks and branches of trees.
Identification
A member of the cacaoensis complex in the Strumigenys rogeri -group.
Bolton (1983) - Separated from all its Afrotropical congeners by its unique dentition and strongly excavated upper scrobe margins.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 6.25° to -2.234166667°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Central African Republic, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria (type locality), Uganda.
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. |
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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. |
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Biology
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- cacaoensis. Strumigenys cacaoensis Bolton, 1971: 59, fig. 1 (w.q.) NIGERIA. See also: Bolton, 1983: 367; Bolton, 2000: 602.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
TL 2.7-3.3, HL 0.83-0.92, HW 0.72-0.80, CI 86-91, ML 0.38-0.45, MI 44-50, SL 0.48-0.50, SI 62-67, PW 0.36-0.40, AL 0.76-0.88 (11 measured).
Apical fork of left mandible with a dorsally situated small tooth and a ventrally situated denticle between the upper and lower spiniform fork teeth. Apical fork of right mandible with an intercalary denticle only. Preapical armament of both mandibular blades consisting of a pair of teeth or denticles. In general the proximal preapical tooth is very small, reduced to a denticle, and the distal is distinctly larger, but in a few specimens the two are of approximately equal size on each blade. The usual configuration seen in the rogeri-group, with the distal preapical tooth distinctly smaller than the proximal, is not found in this species. Upper scrobe margins not bordered by a lamella or flange, narrowly concave and with a pinched-in appearance immediately behind the convex frontal lobes. Posterior to this the upper scrobe margins are evenly divergent then suddenly and deeply excavated above the eye, the site of this excavation directly above the strongly developed preocular notch so that the two together form a broad deep groove running down the side of the head in front of the eye. Anterior portion of the eye detached from the head and the preocular notch continued onto the ventral surface of the head as a broad transverse impression. Antennal scapes narrow in the basal fifth than broadened, the short curved stout hairs on the leading edge defected apically and broadly spatulate to spoon-shaped. Head reticulate-punctate everywhere the ground-pilosity of dense short broadly spatulate to scale-like hairs which are curved anteriorly and quite closely applied to the surface, the hairs bordering the upper scrobe margins no longer than those sited elsewhere on the dorsum. Vertex of head without standiing hairs of any description. Pronotal humeri without projecting hairs of any description, the mesonotum bearing a single pair of stout hairs which represent the only standing pilosity on the dorsal alitrunk. Ground-pilosity of alitrunk of short sparse spatulate hairs which are closely applied to the surface. Propodeum armed with a pair of acute spines, the infradental lamellae very narrow or vestigial. Sides and dorsum of alitrunk and of pedicel segments reticulate-punctate everywhere, often with a granular appearance on the latter. Metanotal groove shallowly impressed. Spongiform appendages absent from petiole, present on postpetiole as a small ventral lobe and a narrow posterior collar. Transverse basal strip on first gastral tergite reduced to a narrow rim or carina from which the fine basigastral costulae arise. Petiole, postpetiole and gaster with stout hairs which increase in thickness from base to apex. Colour dull yellow to light yellowish brown.
Type Material
Holotype worker, paratype workers and female, NIGERIA: Gambari Exp. Sta. (Cocoa Res. Inst. of Nigeria), 10. vii.1969, rot hole in trunk of cocoa tree (B. Bolton) (The Natural History Museum; Museum of Comparative Zoology) [examined].
References
- Bolton, B. 1971. Two new subarboreal species of the ant genus Strumigenys (Hym., Formicidae) from West Africa. Entomol. Mon. Mag. 107: 59-64. (page 59, fig. 1 worker, queen described)
- Bolton, B. 1983. The Afrotropical dacetine ants (Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology. 46:267-416. (page 367, redescription of worker)
- Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 602, redescription of worker)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Bolton B. 1983. The Afrotropical dacetine ants (Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 46: 267-416.
- Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
- Garcia F.H., Wiesel E. and Fischer G. 2013.The Ants of Kenya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)Faunal Overview, First Species Checklist, Bibliography, Accounts for All Genera, and Discussion on Taxonomy and Zoogeography. Journal of East African Natural History, 101(2): 127-222
- IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
- Medler J. T. 1980: Insects of Nigeria - Check list and bibliography. Mem. Amer. Ent. Inst. 30: i-vii, 1-919.
- Taylor B. 1979. Ants of the Nigerian Forest Zone (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). III. Myrmicinae (Cardiocondylini to Meranoplini). Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria Research Bulletin 6: 1-65.