Strumigenys chuchihensis

Strumigenys chuchihensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Strumigenys
Species:	S. chuchihensis
Binomial name
Strumigenys chuchihensis Lin & Wu, W.-J., 2001

Chien and Lin (2015) analyzed the chemical constituents of the venom of five Taiwanese Strumigenys species: Strumigenys chuchihensis, Strumigenys feae, Strumigenys liukueiensis, Strumigenys minutula and Strumigenys solifontis for a chemotaxonomy study. The venom was collected from extruded stings and was thought likely to contain a mixture of poison (venom) and Dufour gland secretions. GC/MS profiles showed that three of the five species were clearly differentiated by the chemical composition of their sting secretions. Two remaining two species, S. chuchihensis and S. liukueiensis, showed chemical signatures that were not significantly different from one another.

Identification

Lin & Wu (2001) - This new species is closely related to Strumigenys godeffroyi and Strumigenys nanzanensis. However it is easily distinguished from S. godeffroyi and S. nanzanensis by the different pilosity on the mesosoma, without the abundant, short narrowly spatulate hairs.

Lubertazzi (2017, Antwiki, unpublished): Based on the above associations, this species is provisionally placed in the godeffroyi complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group.

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Taiwan (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.

Nomenclature

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

• chuchihensis. Strumigenys chuchihensis Lin & Wu, 2001: 160, figs. 1-6 (w.q.) TAIWAN.

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, 2.53 mm; HL, 0.72 mm; HW, 0.53 mm; SL, 0.41 mm; ML, 0.34 mm; FCD, 0.20 mm; PW, 0.34 mm; WL, 0.69 mm; CI, 74; MI, 47; SI, 77; FCI, 37; MSI, 49.

Paratypes: TL, 2.53-2.65 mm; HL, 0.67-0.73 mm; HW, 0.51-0.54 mm; SL, 0.40-0.42 mm; ML, 0.32-0.45 mm; FCD, 0.19-0.21 mm; PW, 0.33-0.36 mm; WL, 0.67-0.72 mm; CI, 70-75; MI, 45-49; SI, 75-82; FCI, 35-39; MSI, 48-53.

Head as in Fig., microreticulate sculpturing, with short, narrowly spatulate hairs on cranium; in full face view, posterolateral corners of head with 1 pair of long flagellate hairs. Mandibles hooklike, slender in full face view; external margin very shallowly and evenly convex; internal margin almost straight; preapical teeth of mandibles prominently spiniform; apical fork with 2 spiniform teeth and 2 intercalary denticles. Anterior clypeal margin transverse. Antennae 6-segmented, in a ratio of 10.5:2.2:1:1:2.2:8.3 in length from base; scape microreticulate, with a row of narrowly spatulate hairs; 2nd segment 1.5X as long as wide; 3rd and 4th segments each shorter than wide; 5th segment 1.5X as long as wide; apical segment 4X as long as wide. Eyes relatively large, 0.07 mm in maximum diameter, with about 10 ommatidia.

Dorsum of promesonotum with microreticulate sculpturing; pairs of long flagellate hairs and short erect hairs present. Mesopleuron and metapleuron smooth and shiny on most parts. Metanotum with microreticulate sculpturing. Propodeal lamellae well developed; propodeal teeth acute absent.

Petiole with microreticulate sculpturing, with long flgellate hairs; peduncle long; dorsal margin of node convex in profile. Spongiform appendages of pedicelled segments well developed.

First gastral tergite smooth and shiny, with numerous, long flagellate hairs.

Body brownish yellow.

Queen

TL, 2.70-2.72 mm; HL, 0.67-71 mm; HW, 0.56-0.58 mm; SL, 0.50-0.52 mm; ML, 0.34-0.36 mm; FCD, 0.20-0.22 mm; PW, 0.37-0.38 mm; WL, 0.78-0.80 mm; CI, 79-85; MI, 48-54; SI, 86-93; FCI, 34-39; MSI, 46-49.

General shape of head and alitrunk as shown in Figs. 4-5. Head and antennal scape with microreticulate sculpturing. Head with narrowly spatulate hairs in cranium; in full face view, posterolateral corners of head with 1 pair of long flagellate hairs. Compound eyes large. Ocelli relatively small, without blackened callus.

Alitrunk in profile more even dorsally, arching from anteriormost of mesonotum to posteriormost of metanotum. Propodeal lamellae well developed; propodeal teeth acute absent. Dorsum of alitrunk with numerous short erect hairs. Long flagellate hairs present on dorsal of alitrunk, petiole, postpetiole and 1st gastral tergite.

Body brownish yellow.

Type Material

Holotype, worker, Taiwan: Chuchih, Taipei County, 10-ix-1997 (C. C. Lin) (Type depository: National Taiwan University).

Paratypes. One queen, 6 workers, Taiwan: Chuchih, Taipei County, 10-ix-1997 (C. C. Lin) from the same nest as holotype; 12 workers, Chuchih, Taipei County, 10- ix-1997 (C. C. Lin); Yinhotung, Taipei County, 24-vii-1992 (C. C. Lin); 3 queens, 67 workers, Fushan, Ilan County, 10-x-1992 ( C. C. Lin) (Type depository: National Taiwan University; National Museum of Natural Science, Taiwan; Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute).

Etymology

Named after Chuchih, the type locality of this new species.

References

• Chien, C. H. and C. C. Lin. 2015. Chemotaxonomic Analysis of the Venom Composition within the Ant Genus Strumigenys (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Taiwan. Sociobiology. 62:374-381. doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v62i3.369
• Lin, C.-C. and Wu, W.-J. 2001. Three new species of Strumigenys Fr. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with a key to Taiwanese species. Formosan Entomologist. 21:159-170. (page 160, figs. 1-6 worker, queen 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).
• Wang, C., Chung, F.-Y., Lin, C.-C., Gibson, J. C., McGuire, S., Suarez, A. V., Billen, J. 2023. The spongiform tissue in Strumigenys ants contains exocrine glands. Arthropod Structure & Development 73, 101246 (doi:10.1016/j.asd.2023.101246).
• Wang, C., Lin, C.-C., Keller, R.A., Billen, J. 2021. The ‘hairwheels’ in Strumigenys ants are not glandular. Asian Myrmecology 13: e013004 (doi:10.20362/am.013004).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Cheng D., Z. Chen, and S. Zhou. 2015. An analysis on the ant fauna of Jinzhongshan Nature Reserve in Gunagxi, China. Journal of Guangxi Normal University: Natural Science Edition 33(3): 129.137.
• Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
• Lin C.-C., and W. J. Wu. 2001. Three new species of Strumigenys Fr. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with a key to Taiwanese species. Formosan Entomologist 21: 159-170.
• Terayama M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University. Liberal Arts 17:81-266.
• Terayama Mamoru. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta, Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
• Terayama, M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta; Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.