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Strumigenys minima
| Strumigenys minima | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Strumigenys |
| Species: | S. minima |
| Binomial name | |
| Strumigenys minima (Bolton, 1972)
| |
Known from litter samples collected from a number of forest habitats (moist evergreen, rainforest and tropical wet forest).
Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the argiola complex in the Strumigenys argiola group. Antenna 4-segmented. Apicodorsal tooth of mandible short and insignificant. Mandible without preapical teeth but dorsum of each mandible with 2 large flattened hairs present. Inner pair of large flattened hairs that project from anterior clypeal margin as long as, or slightly longer than, the outer pair. Cephalic dorsum with orbicular hairs present from posterior clypeal margin to occipital margin. A conspicuous ventral spongiform lobe present on postpetiole. See also notes under species-group and under Strumigenys laticeps.
Bolton (1983) - S. minimus is easily separated from its Afrotropical congeners by its 4-merous antennae, small size and strongly developed spongiform ventral lobes on the postpetiole.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun, Ghana (type locality), Uganda.
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. |
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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. |
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Biology
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- minima. Epitritus minimus Bolton, 1972: 205, figs. 1, 2 (w.) GHANA. Combination in Pyramica: Bolton, 1999: 1672; in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 124. See also: Bolton, 1983: 355; Bolton, 2000: 290.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Bolton (1983) - TL 1.2, HL 0.29, HW 0.29-0.31, CI 100-107, ML 0.09, MI 31, SL 0.17, SI 55-59, PW 0.20-0.21, AL 0.32 (2 measured).
Mandibles without pre apical teeth and without an elongate spiniform tooth at the dorsal apex. Apical armament of mandible: a more or less vertical series of 6 small denticles of which the basalmost is the largest, the pre basal approximately half this length and the upper group of 4 only about a quarter the length of the basal. Dorsal surfaces of each mandibular blade with two large flattened hairs, the distal hair slightly smaller than the proximal. Anterior clypeal margin with 4 large flattened hairs which project anteriorly, and with a pair of smaller hairs. Clypeus with minute scale-like hairs only. Dorsum of head with numerous large orbicular hairs which occur from the posterior clypeal margin to the occiput, the dorsum with a narrow median longitudinal strip which is free from such hairs. Head without any other form of pilosity. Antennae with 4 segments, the scape with a very strongly prominent subbasal lobe and fringed with large flattened to spoon-shaped projecting hairs. Eyes minute, of a single ommatidium. Anteromedian portion of clypeus shining, the remainder of the head finely and very densely punctulate-granular and dull. Promesonotum fused in profile, the point of junction marked by a slight impression. Mesonotum behind the impression shallowly convex and weakly inflated, ending posteriorly on a slightly higher level than the propodeum. Propodeal dorsum convex and sloping downwards posteriorly, without teeth or spines but the declivity margined by a conspicuous lamella on each side. Dorsum of pronotum, and to a lesser extent the mesonotum, with scattered minute stubble-like erect hairs which are shorter than the diameter of the propodeal spiracular orifice. In dorsal view the alitrunk densely and finely punctulate-granular everywhere, the shallow impression separating pronotum and mesonotum feebly visible medially, but the mesonotum and propodeum separated by a distinct transverse line. Petiole and postpetiole both broader than long in dorsal view, the latter much broader than the former; the petiole without spongiform appendages and such appendages restricted on the postpetiole to a posterior transverse strip which is broadly interrupted medially. In profile the petiole peduncle ventrally with a small anteriorly situated lamella, without spongiform material. Postpetiole in profile with moderately developed spongiform appendages posterolaterally and with a conspicuous ventral spongiform lobe. Petiole and postpetiole punctulate-granular, with sparse minute hairs such as are present on the pronotum. Gaster with short weak basal costulae, with short erect weakly clavate straight hairs. Colour dull yellow to yellowish brown.
Type Material
Bolton (1983) - Holotype and paratype workers, GHANA: Eastern Region, Akwapim Dist., Mampong, litter sample in cocoa farm, 27.vii.1970 (P. M. Room) (The Natural History Museum; Museum of Comparative Zoology) [examined].
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. 1972. Two new species of the ant genus Epitritus from Ghana, with a key to the world species (Hym., Formicidae). Entomol. Mon. Mag. 107: 205-208. (page 205, figs. 1, 2 worker described)
- Bolton, B. 1983. The Afrotropical dacetine ants (Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology. 46:267-416.
- Bolton, B. 1999. Ant genera of the tribe Dacetonini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Natural History. 33:1639-1689. (page 1672, combination in Pyramica)
- Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 65:1-1028. (page 290, redescription of worker)
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