Strumigenys cingatrix

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

A few of the small number of specimens of this species were collected from rainforest litter.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the signeae complex in the Strumigenys godeffroyi-group. Only three species of the Austral signeae-complex combine the presence 3 pairs of stiffly erect hairs on the mesonotum with the presence of stiff erect short hairs on the first gastral tergite: Strumigenys perplexa, cingatrix and Strumigenys deuteras. These species are best separated by the characters given in the key. Of these characters the intercalary dentition appears to be constant. Obviously, it has been impossible to check in all previously mounted material, but in the proportion where it is visible it is consistent. It should be stressed that the denticles that flank the small intercalary tooth in cingatrix and deuteras are minute, and may be difficult to see without appropriate lighting and orientation; there are no denticles in perplexa, only the small tooth.

Sculpture of the postpetiole disc is usually also unambiguous, but there are a few individuals in cingatrix and perplexa where the decision “mostly sculptured versus mostly smooth” may be difficult as both species show some variation.

The character of the pilosity on the leading edge of the scape is good, but requires careful examination. It is best observed with the scape extended as usual and viewed from above and slightly behind (oblique posterodorsal view). In this view both the primary and secondary rows of hairs can be seen to best advantage and their shapes and lengths compared.

Keys including this Species

Key to Australian Strumigenys Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -15.83° to -19.00141961°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (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.

cingatrix. Strumigenys cingatrix Bolton, 2000: 958, fig. 541 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

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 2.4, HL 0.64, HW 0.45, CI 70, ML 0.30, MI 47, SL 0.36, SI 80, PW 0.27, AL 0.65. With characters of signeae-complex. Apical fork of right mandible with a small intercalary tooth that is flanked above and below by a minute denticle. Apicoscrobal hair short, stiff and simple, shallowly curved. Reticulate-punctate sculpture of cephalic dorsum very closely packed and with a granulate appearance. Occipital margin with 4-6 short erect hairs present. Main row of curved projecting hairs on leading edge of scape simple to extremely narrowly spatulate; secondary hairs on leading edge only fractionally more slender and fractionally shorter, not easily distinguished from components of main row. Pronotal humeral hair stiff and simple, straight to shallowly curved; pronotal dorsum with 1-2 pairs of stiffly erect simple hairs and mesonotum with 3 pairs of similar hairs. Entire dorsal alitrunk finely and densely reticulate-punctate. Side of pronotum entirely reticulate-punctate. Katepisternum, metapleuron and side of propodeum entirely evenly reticulate-punctate, without unsculptured patches. Lamella on declivity of propodeum very narrow, hardly more than a carina, closely paralleling the shape of the margin of the declivity. Postpetiole disc finely superficially sculptured, sculpture faint and almost effaced in places. Hairs on first gastral tergite short and straight, simple and stiffly erect, apically blunt. Basigastral costulae longer than disc of postpetiole.

Paratypes. TL 2.4-2.5, HL 0.64-0.65, HW 0.45-0.46, CI 70-71, ML 0.30-0.31, MI 47-48, SL 0.36-0.38, SI 80-83, PW 0.26-0.27, AL 0.65-0.66 (2 measured).

Dimensions of non-paratypic workers. TL 2.2-2.5, HL 0.57-0.66, HW 0.42-0.45, CI 68-74, ML 0.24-0.31, MI 42-48, SL 0.31-0.38, SI 74-84, PW 0.25-0.27, AL 0.55-0.65 (6 measured).

Type Material

Holotype worker, Australia: Queensland, NQ., 6 km W Clump Point, 9.vii.1971, R. W. Taylor Accession 71.1170, rainforest (R. W. Taylor & J. Feehan) (Australian National Insect Collection). Paratypes. 1 worker with same data as holotype; 1 worker Queensland, 20 km. S of Ravenshoe, 800 m., 3.vii.1971, Berlesate ANIC 358, 17.49 X 145.32, rainforest (Taylor & Feehan) (ANIC, The Natural History Museum).

Holotype, worker, 6km W Clump Point, Queensland, Australia, Taylor,R.W. & Feehan,J.E., ANIC32-017760, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 1 worker, 20km S Ravenshoe, Queensland, Australia, Taylor,R.W. & Feehan,J., ANIC32-017761, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 1 worker, 6km W Clump Point, Queensland, Australia, The Natural History Museum.

References

Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 958, fig. 541 worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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