Strumigenys hekate

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

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys hekate.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the doriae complex in the Strumigenys doriae-group. For differentiation of species see under Strumigenys bryanti and Strumigenys doriae.

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.

‎

Castes

Nomenclature

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

hekate. Strumigenys hekate Bolton, 2000: 776 (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 4.0, HL 1.07, HW 0.70, CI 65, ML 0.59, MI 55, SL 0.62, SI 89, PW 0.46, AL 1.10. Mandible with two minute preapical denticles, both in the distal half. In anterior view apical fork of mandible forming a V-shape or very narrow-based U-shape, the dorsal fork tooth conspicuously longer than the ventral. Pronotal humeri in dorsal view distinctly angulate. Lateral spongiform lobe of petiole a short collar, restricted to posterior margin of node, not extending forward to the level of the spiracle on the peduncle. Dorsolateral margin of head with 5 or more long fine hairs and a number of shorter simple hairs that freely project laterally; apicoscrobal hair usually slightly longer than any of the other main projecting hairs, its length about 0.40 X SL. With head in profile erect hairs that arise from the dorsum in front of the highest point of the vertex are much shorter than the longest hairs that arise between the highest point and the occipital margin; the longest of the latter is shorter than the maximum depth of the head capsule. Longest hairs on first gastral tergite shorter than length of tergite from base of limbus to apex, shorter than the maximum depth of the first gastral segment in profile. Surface of first gastral tergite with a coat of short grey appressed pubescence.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Malaysia: Sabah, Poring Hot Springs, Langanan Riv., 850 m., 14.v.1987, no. 25a (Lobl & Burckhardt) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève).

References

Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 776, worker described)

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