Strumigenys mnemosyne

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

Known from rainforest litter-samples.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the Strumigenys mnemosyne-group. The species Strumigenys daspleta, mnemosyne and Strumigenys runa, each known only from a holotype worker and all occurring in Borneo, form an exceptionally close complex. They hold most features in common but show some interesting differences that lead me to conclude that three distinct species are present rather than three individuals of a single variable form. Comparative characters that isolate the three species are as follows.

Elongate straight freely projecting hairs are present on the leading edge of the scape in both daspleta and runa; such hairs are absent in mnemosyne. In mnemosyne and runa the posterior margin of each occipital lobe has a minute indentation in the outline about half way between the end of the median collar and the lateral angle of the lobe; this indentation is covered and partly concealed by the fine cuticular carina that runs along the margin. In daspleta the indentation is much longer and deeper, and the cuticle spanning it forms an elongate fenestra or blister that occupies more than half the length between the median collar and the posterior angle.

Pilosity on the dorsum of the head and alitrunk is much denser in daspleta than in the other two and is short and stubbly, the hairs being too closely crowded to be counted easily. In mnemosyne hairs are much sparser, longer and blunted; they are few enough to be easily distinguished and counted on the dorsal head, and are arranged in pairs on the alitrunk. The situation in runa is intermediate between these two extremes, but in this species the dorsal outline of the pronotum in profile is concave in its posterior half while the other two are shallowly convex in this area. Finally, the petiole node in profile forms a high narrowly rounded anterior peak in mnemosyne and runa, posterior to which the dorsum slopes steeply away. In daspleta the entire dorsal node is more broadly and evenly rounded, without an obvious anterior peak.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Strumigenys of East Asia (as Pyramica)

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 4.95° to 4.95°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Borneo (type locality), Indonesia, Malaysia.

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

Expand 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. ‎

Castes

Images from AntWeb

Holotype of Pyramica mnemosyne. Worker. Specimen code casent0900146. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by NHMUK, London, UK.

Nomenclature

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

• mnemosyne. Pyramica mnemosyne Bolton, 2000: 446, figs. 266, 291 (w.) BORNEO. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 124

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 1.4, HL 0.38, HW 0.30, CI 79, ML 0.07, MI 18, SL 0.16, SI 53, PW 0.18, AL 0.36. Leading edge of scape without elongate straight hairs that project anterodorsally. With head in full-face view the lateral margin from the frontal lobe to the occipital corner with 4 freely projecting stiff hairs. Posterior margins of occipital lobes in full-face view with a minute indentation on each side that is spanned by a small strip of cuticle. Standing hairs on dorsum of head sparse, straight to very slightly curved and appearing blunt apically. Cephalic hairs apparently arranged as follows, though some loss by abrasion may have occurred: an anterior pair (or broken transverse row) at about the level of the eye; a transverse row just in front of the highest point of the vertex; an irregular arched transverse row in front of the occipital margin. Dorsum and sides of head entirely unsculptured. Eye minute and inconspicuous, of a single tiny ommatidium. Upper scrobe margin not sharply defined posteriorly, rounded, especially behind the level of the eye; the scrobe itself shallow and indistinct. Pronotal dorsum evenly shallowly convex in profile. Alitrunk entirely smooth, standing hairs on the dorsum sparse, short and bristly, arranged in distinct pairs. Lamina on propodeal declivity narrowing dorsally, reaching higher than level of top of spiracle. Freely projecting long hairs on middle and hind tibiae and basi tarsi very conspicuous. Node of petiole in profile narrowly rounded, forming an anterior peak behind which the dorsum slopes steeply downward. Straight to weakly curved standing hairs numerous on waist segments and first gastral tergite. Petiole and disc of postpetiole unsculptured, first gastral tergite unsulptured except for the basigastral costulae. Petiole node in dorsal view broader than long, without a posterior collar.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Malaysia: Sarawak, 4th. Division, Gn. Mulu Nat. Pk RGS Expd., Long Pala, 26.ix.1977, lowl. rainforest leaf litter (B. Bolton) (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 446, figs. 266, 291 worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Pfeiffer M., and D. Mezger. 2012. Biodiversity Assessment in Incomplete Inventories: Leaf Litter Ant Communities in Several Types of Bornean Rain Forest. PLoS ONE 7(7): e40729. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0040758
• Pfeiffer M., and D. Mezger. 2012. Biodiversity Assessment in Incomplete Inventories: Leaf Litter Ant Communities in Several Types of Bornean Rain Forest. PLoS ONE 7(7): e40729. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0041062
• Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58