Strumigenys dromica

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

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys dromica.

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, Strumigenys cygarix and Strumigenys dromica. Of these caniophanes has dense sulcate sculpture on the lateral alitrunk, cygarix has conspicuous appressed pubescence on the first gastral tergite between the bases of the flagellate main pilosity, and heteropha has the katepisternum unsculptured; dromica contradicts all of these. Apart from these features caniophanes and heteropha have the petiole subclaviform in profile whilst cygarix and dromica have a well differentiated long anterior face to the node.

Keys including this Species

Key to Strumigenys of East Asia

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Borneo (type locality), 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.

dromica. Strumigenys dromica Bolton, 2000: 758 (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 2.6, HL 0.68, HW 0.50, CI 74, ML 0.33, MI 49, SL 0.42, SI 84, PW 0.32, AL 0.70. 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. Cephalic dorsum with standing hairs present from just behind level of eye to occipital margin, the posteromedian pair, that straddles the midline, long and flagellate. Dorsal surfaces of head, alitrunk and waist segments densely sculptured. Side of alitrunk densely punctate to punctate-shagreenate everywhere. Pronotal humeral hair very long and flagellate, more than 0.50 X SL. Dorsal alitrunk with fine simple standing hairs, the dorsolateral margins also with very long flagellate hairs. Waist segments and first gastral tergite with shorter fine standing hairs and very long flagellate hairs. Dorsal and ventral surfaces of femora with standing fine hairs; dorsal (outer) surfaces of middle and hind tibiae and basitarsi with sparse very long erect flagellate hairs. Petiole in dorsal view broader than long. Node of petiole in profile with an almost vertically ascending anterior face. Basigastral costulae shorter than length of postpetiole disc.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Malaysia: Sabah, Crocker Ra. N.P., KK-Tambunan km. 60, 17.v.1987, 1270 m., no. 29a (Burckhardt & Lobl) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève).

References

Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 758, 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

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