Strumigenys kompsomala

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

Nothing is known about the biology of Strumigenys kompsomala.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys splendens-group. S. kompsomala is immediately diagnosed within the group by its extremely reduced ventral postpetiolar lobe and possession of a median dorsal tooth on the mesonotum. Like Strumigenys rugithorax and Strumigenys villiersi, kompsomala has flagellate hairs projecting from the dorsolateral margin of the head and freely projecting hairs on the middle and hind tibiae. However, kompsomala lacks the upcurved anterior clypeal margin seen in rugithorax, and does not have the exposed preocular carinae that occur in villiersi.

Keys including this Species

Key to Neotropical Strumigenys (as Pyramica)

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Colombia (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.

kompsomala. Pyramica kompsomala Bolton, 2000: 234 (w.) COLOMBIA. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 122

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 2.3, HL 0.64, HW 0.44, CI 69, ML 0.08, MI 13, SL 0.28, SI 64, PW 0.24, AL 0.66. With head in full-face view the clypeus not expanded laterally, outer margins of mandibles visible to level of preocular carinae. Anteriormost curve of preocular carina just visible anterior to frontal lobe, posterior to this entirely concealed by the laterally expanded frontal lobe and frontal carina. Outer edges of upper scrobe margins divergent posteriorly but not sinuate. Vertex smooth and shining except in the short depressed area immediately in front of the occipital margin; expanded frontal carinae finely and densely sculptured, semitranslucent and lacking fenestrae behind level of antennal insertion. Apicoscrobal hair long and flagellate; dorsolateral margin of occipital lobe, close to occipital corner, with a number of shorter fine projecting hairs. Cephalic dorsum near occipital margin with a few standing hairs and anteroventral margination of head in front of eye with a row of fine acute hairs that point downward and forward. Pronotal dorsum transversely convex, feebly sculptured and with a weak median carina, humeral hair flagellate. Dorsal alitrunk with numerous fine standing hairs. Mesonotum, close to metanotal groove, with a short truncated vertical tooth on the midline. Sides of alitrunk smooth; propodeal dorsum and declivity reticulate to reticulate-punctate. With postpetiole in profile the lateral spongiform lobe large, arching out and downward; ventral lobe very reduced, represented only by a small triangular spongiform process anteriorly on the sternite. Base of gaster markedly dorsoventrally compressed, very narrow in profile. Long fine hairs present of first gastral tergite. Dorsal (outer) surfaces of tibiae, and other segments of legs, with numerous suberect to erect fine projecting hairs. Basigastral costulae absent.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Colombia: Putumayo, Villa Garzon, 25.vii.1977 (D. Jackson) (The Natural History Museum) .

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. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 234, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Silva T. S. R., and R. M. Feitosa. 2019. Using controlled vocabularies in anatomical terminology: A case study with Strumigenys (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Arthropod Structure and Development 52: 1-26.