Strumigenys mola

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

A rainforest species, little is known about the biology of S. mola.

Identification

Bolton (2000) - A member of the abdera complex in the Strumigenys arnoldi-group. Of the species known of this group which lack pronotal humeral hairs and lack spoon-shaped or scale-like hairs on the posterior third of the dorsum of the head, mola is immediately identifiable by the presence of a pair of hairs on the anterior margin of the mesonotum.

Keys including this Species

Key to Malagasy Strumigenys

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -22.23333° to -22.23333°.


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


Holotype of Strumigenys mola. Worker. Specimen code casent0005608. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by MCZ, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Queen

Images from AntWeb


Paratype of Strumigenys mola. Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0005606. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.


Paratype of Strumigenys mola. Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0005607. 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.

mola. Strumigenys mola Fisher, in Bolton, 2000: 635 (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 1.9, HL 0.44, HW 0.41, CI 91, ML 0.16, MI 36, SL 0.23, SI 56, PW 0.25, AL 0.52. Characters of abdera-complex. Right mandible with a long proximal and a small distal preapical tooth; left mandible with a long proximal preapical tooth and a distal preapical denticle. Cephalic dorsum posterior of clypeal margin with spoon-shaped hairs on anterior two thirds; upper scrobe margin with spoon-shaped hairs. Posterior margin of vertex with a row of 4 erect, narrowly clavate hairs. Pronotal humeral hair absent; anterior margin of mesonotum with a pair of short standing hairs. In profile, promesonotum shallowly convex; metanotal groove a shallow concave depressi on. Propodeal dorsum convex anteriorly, sloping posteriorly to the declivity and posteriorly rounding into the sides. Propodeal dorsum meeting the declivity in a blunt angle without a noticeable tooth. In profile, spongiform lamella on propodeal declivity narrow, increasing in width at base of declivity. Ventral spongiform tissue well developed and conspicuous on petiole and postpetiole. Ventral lobe on petiole small. Base of first gastral tergite with a continuous row of well defined basal costulae, remainder of gaster smooth and shiny. Pilosity of postpetiole and gaster filiform to narrowly clavate. Color dull yellow to pale brown.

Paratypes. TL 1.7-1.9, HL 0.41-0.44, HW 0.38-0.40, CI 90-96, ML 0.15-0.16, MI 35-40, SL 0.19-0.24, SI 48-60, PW 0.23-0.25, AL 0.42-0.47 (6 measured). As holotype.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Madagascar: 43 km. S Ambalavao, Res. Andringitra 22°14'S, 47°00'E, 825 m., 5.x.1993, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), rainforest #747 (7)-7 (B. L. Fisher) (Museum of Comparative Zoology).

Paratypes. 6 worker and 2 queens (deal ate) with same data as holotype but coded (2)-11, (8)-12, (19)-12, (31)-8, (26)-12, (42)-15, (43)-11 (The Natural History Museum, South African 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 635, 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.