Strumigenys caniophanes

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

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys caniophanes.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the caniophanes complex in the Strumigenys caniophanes-group. Four species in the group lack preapical dentition on the mandible, caniophanes, Strumigenys heteropha, Strumigenys cygarix and Strumigenys dromica. Of these only caniophanes has sulcate sculpture on the side of the alitrunk.

Keys including this Species

Key to Strumigenys of East Asia

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.

caniophanes. Strumigenys caniophanes Bolton, 2000: 755, figs. 423, 490 (w.) THAILAND.

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 3.4, HL 0.89, HW 0.68, CI 76, ML 0.40, MI 45, SL 0.46, SI 68, PW 0.39, AL 0.94. Mandible without preapical dentition. In full-face view mandible broadest in about the third quarter of its length where the inner margin is shallowly convex, narrowing both in proximal half and distal quarter. Dorsolateral margin of head in full-face view with more than 5 simple hairs that freely project laterally, the anteriormost at the level of the eye, the posteriormost close to the occipital corner; the longest of these hairs is distinctly less than 0.50 X SL. Cephalic dorsum with standing hairs present at highest point of vertex and across occipital margin; may be 1-2 pairs between these. Dorsum of head finely but very densely reticulate-rugulose; small punctures occur within the reticulae and on the rugulae. Dorsal alitrunk longitudinally rugulose-sulcate; propodeal declivity entirely smooth. Side of alitrunk regularly longitudinally sulcate and transverse sulcate sculpture present on outer surface of front coxa. Pronotal humeral hair simple, long and filiform. Dorsal alitrunk, waist segments and first gastral tergite with numerous erect, apically acute, simple hairs that are straight to shallowly curved and slightly longer on the gaster than on the alitrunk. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of femora and tibiae with erect long fine hairs; ventral surface of femora with similar hairs and dorsal (outer) surfaces of middle and hind basitarsi with much longer hairs. Petiole in dorsal view longer than broad; disc of postpetiole scarcely broader than petiole node; both with punctulate sculpture and superimposed weak longitudinal rugulae or costulae. Petiole in profile subclavate, with a very short and shallowly inclined anterior face that is scarcely more than a continuation of the peduncle; dorsum long and low, shallowly convex.

Paratypes. TL 3.4-3.5, HL 0.89-0.92, HW 0.66-0.70, CI 73-78, ML 0.40-0.42, MI 43-47, SL 0.46-0.48, SI 68-71, PW 0.38-0.41, AL 0.90-0.95 (7 measured).

Type Material

Holotype worker, Thailand: Doi Suthep, 5.xi.1985, 1050 m., no. 10 (Lobl & Burckhardt) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève).

Paratypes. 29 workers with same data as holotype (MHNG, The Natural History Museum, Museum of Comparative Zoology).

References

Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 755, figs. 423, 490 worker described)
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).
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

Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65