Strumigenys daithma

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

A Fijian endemic that is known only from the holotype. It was collected from a rainforest litter sample.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the caniophanes complex in the Strumigenys caniophanes-group. This species, represented by a single specimen from Fiji, seems to represent the most far-flung member of the caniophanes-group. It was misidentified by Dlussky (1993) as wheeleri (now Strumigenys tumida). See notes under Strumigenys dipsas.

Sarnat and Economo (2012) - Strumigenys daithma is the only known Fijian representative of the caniophanes group, which Bolton describes as ants with fine and soft pilosity, and sculpturing that is denser and coarser than usual.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Strumigenys of East Asia

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -17.43° to -17.8°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Fiji (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. ‎

Nomenclature

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

• daithma. Strumigenys daithma Bolton, 2000: 756 (w.) FIJI IS.

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 2.7, HL 0.72, HW 0.52, CI 72, ML 0.26, MI 36, SL 0.44, SI 85, PW 0.32, AL 0.71. Mandible with preapical tooth located close to the apicodorsal tooth and shorter than maximum width of mandible. Dorsolateral margin of head in full-face view with at least 4 freely laterally projecting flagellate hairs: one just posterior to frontal lobe, one just before and one behind level of eye, one in apicoscrobal position; a few other shorter soft simple hairs also present as well as simple ground-pilosity. Cephalic dorsum with fine curved standing hairs sparsely present from about level of eye to occipital margin; dense simple ground-pilosity also present. Dorsum of head finely and densely punctate-rugulose. Apical funicular segment not constricted basally. Pronotal dorsum longitudinally rugulose, mesonotum reticulate-punctate; propodeal dorsum mostly smooth but declivity with a narrow band of punctate sculpture between the teeth. Mesopleuron, metapleuron and side of propodeum smooth and shining. Pronotal humeral hair flagellate. Promesonotal dorsum with numerous erect subflagellate to flagellate fine hairs and with elevated simple ground-pilosity. First gastral tergite with finely filiform to flagellate hairs. Dorsal surface of hind femur with 2-3 long erect hairs; dorsal (outer) surfaces of middle and hind tibiae and basitarsi each with 1-2 freely projecting long erect filiform or flagellate hairs. Propodeal teeth short, narrowly triangular and acute. Petiole node in profile with a short oblique anterior face and a long curved dorsum. Disc of postpetiole finely longitudinally rugulose. Basigastral costulae dense, the longest about equal to length of postpetiole disc.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Fiji Is: Viti Levu, Road E of Monasavu Dam, 26.vii.1987, 17.435, 178.03E, QM Berlesate No. 788, 1000 m., rainforest, sieved litter, ANIC Ants vial 45.195 (G. Monteith (Australian National Insect Collection).

• Holotype, worker, Viti Levu, Road E of Monasavu Dam [Monasavu Falls], Fiji, Monteith,G., ANIC32-017716, Australian National Insect Collection.

References

• Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 756, worker described)
• Sarnat, E. M. and Economo, E. P. 2012. The ants of Fiji. University of California Publications in Entomology. 132:1-384.
• Sarnat, E.M., Hita-Garcia, F., Dudley, K., Liu, C., Fischer, G., Economo, E.P. 2019. Ready species one: Exploring the use of augmented reality to enhance systematic biology with a revision of Fijian Strumigenys (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Insect Systematics and Diversity 3(6): 6; 1–43 (doi:10.1093/isd/ixz005).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
• CSIRO Collection
• Sarnat Eli M. 2009. The Ants [Hymenoptera: Formicdiae] of Fiji: Systematics, Biogeography and Conservation of an Island Arc Fauna. 80-252
• Ward, Darren F. and James K. Wetterer. 2006. Checklist of the Ants of Fiji. Fiji Arthropods III 85: 23-47.