Strumigenys eidechthes

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

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys eidechthes.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys akalles-group. See notes under Strumigenys akalles.

Keys including this Species

Key to Strumigenys of East Asia

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia, Malaysia (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.

eidechthes. Strumigenys eidechthes Bolton, 2000: 749, fig. 421 (w.) WEST MALAYSIA.

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 2.5, HL 0.70, HW 0.57, CI 81, ML 0.14, MI 20, SL 0.34, SI 60, PW 0.28, AL 0.70. In full-face view with mandibles fully closed the length of the left preapical tooth is distinctly greater than the distance between the base of the tooth and the base of the mandible. Leading edge of scape with fine soft projecting hairs that are longer than the maximum width of the scape. Dorsolateral margin of head with abundant freely laterally projecting hairs that are very long, fine and flagellate; the longest of them subequal to the length of the scape. Erect hairs on cephalic dorsum, promesonotum and first gastral tergite dense, all long to very long, extremely fine and flagellate. Clypeus glassy smooth, contrasting strongly with the densely reticulate-punctate cephalic dorsum. Pronotal dorsum almost entirely smooth; mesonotum with traces of superficial sculpture.

Paratypes. TL 2.6-2.7, HL 0.74-0.78, HW 0.57-0.60, CI 76-79, ML 0.14-0.15, MI 18-19, SL 0.34-0.36, SI 59-61, PW 0.28-0.32, AL 0.68-0.74 (5 measured). Averaging slightly larger than holotype but standard indices within same range; otherwise identical.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Malaysia: Trengganu, Gn. Lawit, 1974 (T. Clay) (The Natural History Museum).

Paratypes. 9 workers, Indonesia: W Java, Cibodas, 50 km. E Bogor, 1 400 m., 3-6.xi.1989, #2a (Agosti, Lobl & Burckhardt) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève, BMNH, Museum of Comparative Zoology).

References

Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 749, fig. 421 worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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