Strumigenys manga

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

A soil nest of this species was found in a disturbed forest.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the abdera complex in the Strumigenys arnoldi-group. S. manga is separated from the other species in the arnoldi-group with 6 antennal segments by the presence of an erect pronotal humeral hair, presence of hairs on anterolateral margin of mesonotum, and the shape of the alitrunk in profile which is convex anteriorly and more or less flat posteriorly.

Keys including this Species

Key to Malagasy Strumigenys

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -20.76833333° to -20.777°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Malagasy Region: Madagascar (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

Worker

Images from AntWeb


Worker. Specimen code casent0005601. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Queen

Images from AntWeb


Paratype of Strumigenys manga. Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0005600. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Nomenclature

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

manga. Strumigenys manga Fisher, in Bolton, 2000: 634 (w.q.) MADAGASCAR.

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 2.4, HL 0.56, HW 0.49, CI 88, ML 0.22, MI 40, SL 0.26, SI 53, PW 0.29, AL 0.63. Characters of abdera-complex. Left mandible with a distal preapical denticle and a proximal preapical tooth; right mandible with a small distal preapical tooth and a proximal preapical tooth. Cephalic dorsum posterior of clypeal margin and upper scrobe margin with clavate to spoon-shaped hairs that are distinctly narrower than the hairs on leading edge of scape. Cephalic dorsum with a transverse row of 4 erect, short clavate hairs close to the occipital margin. Pronotal humeral hair present, stiffly projecting; mesonotum with a short clavate hair on lateral anterior margin. In profile, outline of alitrunk convex in anterior half, more or less flat in posterior half; anterior mesonotal dorsum steeply descending to its posterior half. Propodeal dorsum more or less flat and meeting the declivity in rounded angle without a noticeable cuticular tooth. In profile, spongiform lamella continuous down propodeal declivity and marginate medially, forming a triangular tooth at apex of declivity. Ventral spongiform tissue and lateral lobes well developed and conspicuous on petiole and postpetiole; petiolar lamella notched medially. Base of first gastral tergite with basal costulae arising on each side of a central clear area. Dorsal surfaces of petiole, postpetiole, and gaster with clavate standing hairs. Color brown.

Paratypes. TL 2.5, HL 0.56-0.57, HW 0.51-0.52, CI 90-91, ML 0.22, MI 39, SL 0.30 SI 59-60, PW 0.30-0.31, AL 0.65-0.67 (2 measured). As holotype.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Madagascar: Foret d' Ankazomivady, 29 km. SSW Ambositra, 1700 m., 20°46'36"S, 47°9'54"E, 8.i.1998, disturbed forest, nest 3 cm. below leaf-litter covered soil surface found by digging SAM#011226 (H.R. Robertson) (South African Museum).

Paratypes. 2 worker and 1 queen (dealate) with same data as holotype (The Natural History Museum).

References

Fisher, B.L. 2000. The Malagasy fauna of Strumigenys. Pp. 612-696 in: Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 634, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
Fisher B. L. 2003. Formicidae, ants. Pp. 811-819 in: Goodman, S. M.; Benstead, J. P. (eds.) 2003. The natural history of Madagascar. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, xxi + 1709 pp.
Fisher, B.L. and H.G. Robertson. 2002. Comparison and Origin of Forest and Grassland Ant Assemblages in the High Plateau of Madagascar (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Biotropica 34(1):155-167.