Strumigenys japonica

Strumigenys japonica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Strumigenys
Species:	S. japonica
Binomial name
	Strumigenys japonica; Ito, 1914 Specimen Labels

Common Name

Yamato-uroko-ari
Language:	Japanese

Strumigenys japonica is a rare species. In addition to the type-locality (Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan), confirmed distribution records are from the Kansai and Chugoku districts of Honshu, and Okinawa Island (Japanese Ant Image Database). Many former records are doubtful in their identification and are likely Strumigenys benten (Ogata & Onoyama 1998).

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys leptothrix-group. Mandibles, clypeus and cephalic dorsum densely clothed with longitudinal rows of appressed small spatulate hairs. Dorsolateral margin of head only with appressed spatulate hairs; entire head lacks standing hairs of any description. Scapes and tibiae without standing hairs, with appressed fine spatulate pilosity only. Mesonotum usually with 3-4 pairs of short simple erect hairs (anteriormost pair may be at posteriormost point of pronotum) but very rarely mesonotum without hairs. Similar hairs occur on the first gastral tergite and on the waist segments, but on the latter they are curved posteriorly. Dorsal alitrunk and sides of pronotum reticulate-punctate, the former usually also with a few weak longitudinal rugulae. Most of katepistemum and part of metapleuron smooth and shining. Propodeum with acute teeth, narrow lamellae and low rounded propodeal lobes. Lateral spongiform lobe of petiole in profile small and restricted to extreme posterolateral angle.

Determination Clarifications

Tang & Guenard (2023) - With the re-identification of the specimens collected and reported by Bui & Eguchi (2003) in Lào Cai Province of Vietnam as Strumigenys rongi, Vietnam is likely no longer part of the native range of S. japonica. If there are other specimens collected from Vietnam that have previously been identified as S. japonica, it is recommended to re-examine them to check if they are S. rongi instead.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 33.367° to 33.367°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Taiwan.
Palaearctic Region: China, Japan (type locality), Republic of Korea.

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.

japonica. Strumigenys japonica Ito, 1914: 40 (w.) JAPAN. Wheeler, W.M. 1928d: 116 (q.). Combination in S. (Cephaloxys): Emery, 1924d: 325; in Smithistruma: Brown, 1948e: 105; in Weberistruma: Brown, 1953g: 27; in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1673; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 122. See also: Brown, 1949d: 10; Bolton, 2000: 435.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Type Material

Bolton (2000) - Syntype workers, JAPAN: Hondo I., Nagato Provo (Y. Nawa) (no types known to exist).

References

Baroni Urbani, C. & De Andrade, M.L. 2007. The ant tribe Dacetini: limits and constituent genera, with descriptions of new species. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale “G. Doria” 99: 1-191.
Bolton, B. 1999. Ant genera of the tribe Dacetonini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Natural History. 33:1639-1689. (page 1673, combination in Pyramica)
Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 435, redescription of worker)
Brown, W. L., Jr. 1948. A preliminary generic revision of the higher Dacetini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 74: 101-129. (page 105, combination in Smithistruma)
Brown, W. L., Jr. 1949f. Revision of the ant tribe Dacetini. I. Fauna of Japan, China and Taiwan. Mushi 20: 1-25 (page 10, notes on worker)
Brown, W. L., Jr. 1953. Revisionary studies in the ant tribe Dacetini. American Midland Naturalist. 50:1-137. (page 27, combination in Weberistruma)
Emery, C. 1924f [1922]. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Myrmicinae. [concl.]. Genera Insectorum 174C: 207-397 (page 325, combination in Strumigenys (Cephaloxys), catalogue)
Hashimoto, Y. 1990. Unique features of sensilla on the antennae of Formicidae (Hymenoptera). Applied Entomology and Zoology 25: 491-501.
Ito, T. 1914a. Formicidarum japonicarum species novae vel minus cognitae. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 58: 40-45 (page 40, worker described)
Iwata, K., Eguchi, K., Yamane, S. 2005. A case study on urban ant fauna of southern Kyusyu, Japan, with notes on a new monitoring protocol (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 8, 263-272.
Morisita, M.; Kubota, M.; Onoyama, K.; Ogata, K.; Terayama, M.; Yamauchi, K.; Sonobe, R.; Yamane, 1992. A guide for the identification of Japanese ants. III. Myrmicinae and supplement to Leptanillinae. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Tokyo: Myrmecological Soc (page 70, revived combination)
Ogata, K. and Onoyama, K. 1998. A revision of the ant genus Smithistruma Brown of Japan, with descriptions of four new species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomological Science. 1(2):277-287.
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).
Wheeler, W. M. 1928d. Ants collected by Professor F. Silvestri in Japan and Korea. Boll. Lab. Zool. Gen. Agrar. R. Sc. Super. Agric. 22: 96-125 (page 116, queen described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Bui T.V., and K. Eguchi. 2003. Ant survey in Hoang Lien Son Nature Reserve, Lao Cai, N. Vietnam. ANeT Newsletter 5: 4-11.
Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
Eguchi K.; Bui T. V.; Yamane S. 2011. Generic synopsis of the Formicidae of Vietnam (Insecta: Hymenoptera), part I Myrmicinae and Pseudomyrmecinae. Zootaxa 2878: 1-61.
Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
Kim B.J. 1996. Synonymic list and distribution of Formicidae (Hymenoptera) in Korea. Entomological Research Bulletin Supplement 169-196.
Kim C.H., B.M. Choi, and J.R. Bang. 1992. Studies on the distribution of ants (Formicidae) in Korea (8)-Ant fauna in 10 islands, Chollanam-do. Korean J. Appl. Entomol. 31(4): 345-359.
Kim et al. 1993. Systematic study of ants from Chejudo Province. Koran Journal of Entomology 23(3): 117-141.
Kishimoto R., and N. Tsurusaki. 2011. Ant fauna of Tottori Sand dunes and surrounding sand erosion control forests. Sanin Natural History Research 6: 37-44.
Lyu D.P. 2003. Systematics of Myrmicinae from Korea (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). PhD thesis Faculty of the Graduate School of Chungbuk National University 330 pages.
Lyu D.P., B.M. Choi, and S. Cho. 2001. Review of Korean Dacetini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Ins. Koreana 18(3): 1-13.
Minato M., and F. Ito. 1997. A supplementary note on ant fauna in Kagawa Pref. Ari 21: 8.
Ogata K. and Onoyama K. 1998. A Revision of the Ant Genus Smithistruma Brown of Japan, with Descriptions of Four New Species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomological Science 1: 277-287
Park S.J., and B.J. Kim. 2002. Faunal comparison of ants among Cheongsando and other islands of South Sea in Korea. Korean Journal of Entomology 32(1): 7-12.
Park, Seong, Joon and Byung, and Kim, Jin. 2002. Faunal Comparison of Ants among Cheongsando and Other Islands of South Sea in Korea. Korean Jornal of Entomology. 32(1):7-12.
Sato T., N. Tsurusaki, K. Hamaguchi, and K. Kinomura. 2010. Ant fauna of Tottori prefecture, Honshu, Japan. Bulletin of the Tottori Prefectural Museum 47: 27-44.
Terayama M. 1983. Kagoshima-ken-hondo no ari. Kanagawa-chucho (Journal of the Kanagawa Entomologists Association): 13-24.
Terayama M. 1992. Structure of ant communities in East Asia. A. Regional differences and species richness. Bulletin of the Bio-geographical Society of Japan 47: 1-31.
Terayama M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University. Liberal Arts 17:81-266.
Terayama M., C. C. Lin, and W. J. Wu. 1996. The Taiwanese species of the ant genus Smithistruma (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Japanese Journal of Entomology 64: 327-339.
Terayama M., K. Ogata, and B.M. Choi. 1994. Distribution records of ants in 47 prefectures of Japan. Ari (report of the Myrmecologists Society of Japan) 18: 5-17.
Terayama M., S. Kubota, and K. Eguchi. 2014. Encyclopedia of Japanese ants. Asakura Shoten: Tokyo, 278 pp.
Terayama, M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta; Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
Wheeler W. M. 1928. Ants collected by Professor F. Silvestri in Japan and Korea. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della Reale Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura. Portici 22: 96-125.
Xu Z. H., and X. G. Zhou. 2004. Systematic study on the ant genus Pyramica Roger (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of China. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 29: 440-450.
Xu Z. and X.-G. Zhou. 2004. Systematic study on the ant genus Pyramica Roger (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of China. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 29(3): 440-450.
Yamane S. 2016. How many species of Ants in Amami Islands? (in Japanese). Part 2, chapter 1 in How many species of Ants in Amami Islands? Pp. 92-132.
Yamane S., S. Ikudome, and M. Terayama. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp, 138-317.
Yamane S.; Ikudome, S.; Terayama, M. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp138-317.