Strumigenys carolinae

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

A forest species that has been found in litter samples.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the sylvaini complex in the Strumigenys dexis-group. S. carolinae is immediately separated from all other members of the group by its unique possession of: 1. Rounded pronotal humeri. 2. Dense reticulate-punctate to reticulate-granulate sculpture present on the dorsum of the head but absent from promesonotum.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Malagasy Strumigenys

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -13.962° to -14.022°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Malagasy Region: Madagascar (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. ‎

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Holotype of Strumigenys carolinae. Worker. Specimen code casent0005502. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by MCZ, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Paratype of Strumigenys carolinae. Worker. Specimen code casent0005503. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Paratype of Strumigenys carolinae. Worker. Specimen code casent0005504. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by SAMC, Cape Town, South Africa.

Nomenclature

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

• carolinae. Strumigenys carolinae Fisher, in Bolton, 2000: 640 (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 2.2, HL 0.55, HW 0.47, CI 85, ML 0.17, MI 31, SL 0.26, SI 56, PW 0.27, AL 0.57. Characters of sylvaini-complex. Entire dorsum of head blanketed with fine, dense reticulate-punctate to reticulate-granulate sculpture. Clypeal dorsum with short, anteriorly-directed spatulate hairs. Spoon-shaped hairs are numerous on the dorsal surfaces of the occipital lobes, but they are absent from the median posterodorsal area of the head and from immediately behind clypeus. There are no standing hairs of any description on the head, alitrunk, postpetiole or first gastral tergite. Eye conspicuous, with 4-5 ommatidia in the longest row. Promesonotal dorsum mostly smooth. Pronotal humeri rounded. Mesopleural gland large and circular. Petiole node broader than long in dorsal view, and with several pairs of posteriorly curved decumbent spatulate hairs. Disc of postpetiole completely surrounded by spongiform tissue; disc with a mostly smooth dorsal disk. Basigastral costulae moderately developed, extending for some distance onto the first gastral tergite.

Paratype. TL 2.2-2.4, HL 0.55-0.58, HW 0.46-0.49, CI 81-87, ML 0.16-0.18, MI 29-32, SL 0.26-0.27, SI 55-57, PW 0.26-0.30, AL 0.55-0.62 (4 measured). As holotype.

Measurements of this material extends the range shown by the type-series: HL 0.58-0.65, HW 0.46-0.52, CI 79-83, ML 0.18-0.21, MI 30-33, SL 0.28-0.30, SI 56-59 (6 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 itter (leaf mold, rotten wood), rainforest #1996 (40)-2 (B. L. Fisher) (Museum of Comparative Zoology).

Paratypes. 36 workers and 3 queens (dealate) with same data as holotype but coded (13)-1, (18)-1, (32)-1, (35)-1, (35)-2, (35)-3, (38)-1, (38)-2, (42)-2, (44)-4, (45)-1, (46)-1, (46)-2, (49)-1, (50)-6, (51)-1, (55)-2, (56)-7, (70)-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 640, 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)