Strumigenys maxillaris

Strumigenys maxillaris
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Attini
Genus:	Strumigenys
Species:	S. maxillaris
Binomial name
	Strumigenys maxillaris; Baroni Urbani, 2007 Specimen labels
Synonyms
	Epitritus mandibularis Szabó, 1909;

Well collected, this species occurs across a range of forest habitats. No nesting details are known as litter-sampling has been the primary collection method.

At a Glance

• Limited invasive

Identification

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -2.216670036° to -31.65°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Comoros, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania.
Malagasy Region: Madagascar, Mayotte.

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


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Queen

Images from AntWeb


Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0133619. Photographer Erin Prado, 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.

mandibularis. Epitritus mandibularis Szabó, 1909: 27, fig. 2 (w.) TANZANIA. [Junior secondary homonym of mandibularis Smith.] Replacement name: maxillaris Baroni Urbani, in Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 123. Santschi, 1914e: 34 (q.). Combination in Miccostruma: Brown, 1948e: 123; in Smithistruma: Bolton, 1983: 283; in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1673. See also: Bolton, 2000: 304.
maxillaris. Strumigenys maxillaris Baroni Urbani, in Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 123. Replacement name for Epitritus mandibularis Szabó, 1909: 27. [Junior secondary homonym of Strumigenys mandibularis Smith, F. 1860c: 72.]

Description

References

Arnold, G. 1917. A monograph of the Formicidae of South Africa. Part III. Myrmicinae. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 14: 271-402 (page 385, redescription of worker, description of queen)
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. 1983. The Afrotropical dacetine ants (Formicidae). Bull. Br. Mus. (Nat. Hist.) Entomol. 46: 267-416. (page 283, redescription of worker, combination in Microstruma)
Bolton, B. 1995b. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 504 pp. (page 385, catalogue)
Bolton, B. 1999. Ant genera of the tribe Dacetonini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Nat. Hist. 3 33: 1639-1689 (page 1673, Combination in Pyramica)
Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 65: 1-1028 (page 304, redescription of worker)
Donisthorpe, H. 1916b. Epitritus wheeleri, n. sp., an ant new to science; with notes on the genus Epitritus, Emery. Entomol. Rec. J. Var. 28: 121-122 (page 122, redescription of worker, description of queen)
Emery, C. 1924f [1922]. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Myrmicinae. [concl.]. Genera Insectorum 174C: 207-397 (page 327, catalogue)
Szabó, J. 1909. De duabus speciebus novis Formicidarum generis Epitritus Em. Arch. Zool. (Budapest) 1: 27-28 (page 27, worker described)
Wheeler, W. M. 1922j. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 45: 711-1004 (page 920, catalogue)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Bolton B. 1983. The Afrotropical dacetine ants (Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 46: 267-416.
Bolton, B. 2000. The Ant Tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65
CSIRO Collection
IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection