Strumigenys cygarix

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

One of the few known specimens was collected from sifted litter in wet forest.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the cygarix complex in the Strumigenys caniophanes-group. Four species in the group lack preapical dentition on the mandible, Strumigenys caniophanes, Strumigenys heteropha, cygarix and Strumigenys dromica. Of these only cygarix has conspicuous appressed pubescence on the first gastral tergite between the bases of the flagellate main pilosity.

Keys including this Species

Key to Strumigenys of East Asia

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 4.95° to 4.95°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Borneo (type locality), Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia.

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.

cygarix. Strumigenys cygarix Bolton, 2000: 755 (w.) BORNEO.

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 0.62, HW 0.46, CI 74, ML 0.31, MI 50, SL 0.38, SI 83, PW 0.28, AL 0.63. Mandible in full-face view without preapical dentition. Dorsolateral margin of head in full-face view with 4 freely laterally projecting fine flagellate hairs; one in front of level of eye, one at level of eye, one in apicoscrobal position and one closer to the occipital corner. A second row of 4-5 shorter hairs occurs on the dorsal surface of the dorsolateral margin; these are directed dorsally and slightly laterally. Cephalic dorsum with standing hairs present from level of eye to occipital margin. Dorsum of head finely densely reticulate-punctate, also with weakly defined reticulate-rugulose sculpture. Dorsal alitrunk coarsely densely punctate. Side of alitrunk densely punctate to. punctate-shagreenate everywhere. Pronotal humeral hair long and flagellate, longer than 0.50 X SL. Dorsal alitrunk with fine simple standing hairs, the dorsolateral margins also with longer flagellate hairs. Waist segments and first gastral tergite with fine flagellate hairs; surface of first gastral tergite between the hairs quite densely covered with appressed fine gray pubescence. Dorsal, lateral and ventral surfaces of femora with standing fine hairs; dorsal (outer) surfaces of middle and hind tibiae and basitarsi also with much longer flagellate hairs. Propodeal teeth short, stoutly triangular. Petiole in dorsal view broader than long; both petiole and disc of postpetiole densely sculptured. Node of petiole in profile with a steeply ascending anterior face. Basigastral costulae shorter than length of postpetiole disc.

Paratypes. TL 2.2, HL 0.60, HW 0.42-0.44, CI 70-73, ML 0.28-0.30, MI 47-50, SL 0.36, SI 82-86, PW 0.26, AL 0.58 (2 measured).

Type Material

Holotype worker, Malaysia: Sarawak, confl. Suan Oyan and Mujong riv., E Kapit, 150 m., 19.v.1994, #6a (Lobl & Burckhardt) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève).

Paratypes. 2 workers with same data as holotype (The Natural History Museum).

References

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

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
Pfeiffer M., and D. Mezger. 2012. Biodiversity Assessment in Incomplete Inventories: Leaf Litter Ant Communities in Several Types of Bornean Rain Forest. PLoS ONE 7(7): e40729. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0041073
Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58