Strumigenys dantalion

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

A few of the type specimens were collected from lowland forest.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys yaleopleura-group. Easily distinguished from the other two species in the group as both Strumigenys furfara and Strumigenys yaleopleura have 3 flagellate hairs on the dorsolateral margin of the head and an extra pair of flagellate hairs on the pronotum, located dorsally between the humeral pair and the mesonotal pair.

Keys including this Species

Key to Strumigenys of East Asia

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -3.633333° to -3.633333°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia (type locality), Sulawesi.

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.

dantalion. Strumigenys dantalion Bolton, 2000: 913 (w.) INDONESIA (Sulawesi).

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 1.8, HL 0.50, HW 0.40, CI 80, ML 0.15, MI 30, SL 0.22, SI 55, PW 0.24, AL 0.53. Dorsolateral margin of head with a single freely laterally projecting flagellate hair, the apicoscrobal. Pronotal dorsum without standing hairs except for the humeral pair. Katepisternum, metapleuron and side of propodeum smooth or at most with punctation around the periphery. Basitarsus of hind leg with two flagellate hairs on its dorsal (outer) surface; dorsal (outer) surface of hind tibia without flagellate hairs. Propodeal declivity with an indistinct narrow lamella, its posterior (free) margin concave. Disc of postpetiole mostly smooth but there are usually a few fine longitudinal costulae anteriorly.

Paratypes. TL 1.7-1.8, HL 0.46-0.50, HW 0.36-0.40, CI 77-80, ML 0.14-0.16, MI 30-33, SL 0.21-0.22, SI 55-59, PW 0.22-0.24, AL 0.48-0.54 (5 measured).

Type Material

Holotype worker, Indonesia: Sulawesi Utara, Danau Mooat, 1200 m., nr Kotamobagu, l3.ix.1985 (no collector's name) (The Natural History Museum). Paratypes. 1 worker with same data as holotype; 1 worker, Indonesia: Sulawesi Utara, Dumoga-Bone N. P., 12.ix.1985, 664 m., ‘Edwards’ camp, lowland forest (no collector’s name); 3 workers, Sulawesi Utara, Dumoga-Bone N. P., ii.1985, lowland forest, 200-400 m., 2m2 sample of litter, BB 12 (P. M. Hammond); 2 workers with same data as last but BB 13 (BMNH, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève).

References

Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 913, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Asfiya W., L. Lach, J. D. Majer, B. Heterick, and R. K. Didham. 2015. Intensive agroforestry practices negatively affect ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) diversity and composition in southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Asian Myrmecology 7: 87-104.