Strumigenys ligur

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

A leaf-litter sample from a humid forest is the only collection of this species.

Identification

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

Keys including this Species

Key to Strumigenys of East Asia

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia (type locality), New Guinea.

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.

ligur. Strumigenys ligur Bolton, 2000: 783 (w.q.) INDONESIA (Kai Besar).

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 1.9, HL 0.47, HW 0.38, CI 81, ML 0.25, MI 53, SL 0.28, SI 74, PW 0.25, AL 0.50. Dorsolateral margin of head with 2 freely laterally projecting flagellate hairs, one at level of eye, the other apicoscrobal. Side of alitrunk entirely reticulate-punctate, without smooth shining patches on pleurae. Bullae of femoral glands very conspicuous, those on fore femora distinctly larger than those on middle and hind femora. Basitarsus of hind leg with 2 very long erect fine flagellate hairs on its dorsal (outer) surface; a single similar hair on dorsal (outer) surface of hind tibia. Propodeal teeth short and narrowly triangular. With petiole in profile height of anterior face of node about equal to length of dorsum of node, the two surfaces meeting through a well defined but blunt anterodorsal angle. Petiole node in dorsal view broader than long, roughly transversely rectangular. Basigastral costulae very short, their length on the tergite hardly greater than thickness of limbus, very much shorter than length of the reticulate-punctate postpetiole disc.

Paratypes. TL 1.8-1.9, HL 0.46-0.49, HW 0.37-0.39, CI 79-81, ML 0.24-0.25, MI 50-53, SL 0.27-0.28, SI 71-74, PW 0.24-0.25, AL 0.46-0.50 (6 measured).

Type Material

Holotype worker (top specimen of 2 on pin), Indonesia: Malra Kai Besar, G. Dab, humid forest leaf litter #4, F911204, 5.39°S, 132.59°E, 3.ix.1991 (D. Agosti) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève).

Paratypes. 1 worker with same data as holotype; 6 workers and 3 queens with same data but #5, F911205, 4.ix.1991; 2 workers with same data but #6, F911206, 5.ix.1991 (MHNG, The Natural History Museum).

References

Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 783, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.