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Strumigenys rongi
| Strumigenys rongi | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Strumigenys |
| Species group: | leptothrix |
| Species complex: | leptothrix |
| Species: | S. rongi |
| Binomial name | |
| Strumigenys rongi Tang & Guénard, 2023 | |
Strumigenys rongi has been collected in mature forests at elevations from 2000 to 2200 m in Vietnam.
Photo Gallery
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Identification
Tang and Guénard (2023) - A member of the Strumigenys leptothrix-group that is provisionally assigned to the elegantula complex. Strumigenys rongi can be distinguished from other species in the S. leptothrix-group by a combination of the following characters:
- cephalic dorsum with appressed spatulate setae only
- clypeal and mandibular dorsum with small spatulate to obovate setae
- without any laterally-projecting seta in full-face view
- pronotum marginated dorsolaterally
- pronotal humeral seta absent
- side of mesosoma mostly smooth and shining
- in profile view, propodeal spines subtended by narrow lamellae
- lateral lobe of petiole small and not reaching midpoint of node in profile
- femora, tibiae and basitarsi with decumbent to appressed setae only
The type specimens of this species all have fully-closed mandibles and the view is obscured by setae along the inner margin of the mandible. Placing the specimen against backlight suggests the presence of a principal dental row of around 7 teeth, followed by around 2 small teeth and 4 denticles, terminating in a small apical tooth. The assignment of this species to the elegantula complex should be confirmed using specimens with open mandibles.
Aside from Strumigenys rongi, there are three other South East Asian species from the same species group (Strumigenys japonica, Strumigenys megaera and Strumigenys scolopax) that share the following characters: cephalic dorsum covered with appressed spatulatiform (plank-like, linear, elliptic, subspatulate, spatulate, oblanceolate, obovate or ovate) setae only, head without laterally-projecting seta in full-face view, propodeal spines present and subtended by narrow lamellae or carinae (Table 6). Unlike all of the above three species, for S. rongi the side of the mesosoma is mostly smooth and shining (instead of fully sculptured as in S. megaera and S. scolopax, or mostly sculptured with a partially-smooth mesopleuron as in S. japonica).
The type specimens of this new species have previously been reported as S. japonica due to their similarity (Bui & Eguchi 2003). With the recognition of this new species, it is recommended that any other specimen collected from Vietnam that has previously been identified as S. japonica should be reexamined.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 22.4° to 22.4°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: Tang & Guénard, 2023
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Vietnam (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. |
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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.
- rongi. Strumigenys rongi Tang & Guénard, 2023: 105, fig. 36, tables 2, 6 (w.) VIETNAM.
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 3.1, HL 0.78, HW 0.51, MandL 0.13, SL 0.42, EL 0.109, PW 0.28, ML 0.88, PL 0.35, PH 0.19, DPW 0.15, PPL 0.16, GL 0.84, CI 65, MI 16, SI 82, OI 22, LPI 53, DPI 44.
Paratype TL 3.1, HL 0.78, HW 0.50, MandL 0.13, SL 0.41, EL 0.095, PW 0.27, ML 0.85, PL 0.33, PH 0.17, DPW 0.15, PPL 0.21, GL 0.80, CI 65, MI 16, SI 81, OI 19, LPI 51, DPI 46 (n= 1).
HEAD. In full-face view, occipital margin broadly concave; occipital corners well developed and bluntly angular; occipital carina narrow. Clypeus slightly broader than long, around 1.1–1.3 times as long, roughly resembling inverted diamond; anterior clypeal margin bluntly angular around midline. Scapes subcylindrical, marginated but not converging anteriorly to form thin lamella at leading edge. Mandibles in full-face view triangular; masticatory margins engaged across entire length, without diastema or gap between mandibles. In profile view, eye with five ommatidia in diameter.
MESOSOMA. In profile view, promesonotal dorsum broadly convex, propodeum more or less flat transversely; pronotum marginated dorsolaterally. In dorsal view, lateral margins of pronotum evenly convex. In profile view, propodeal spines elongated-triangular, subtended on each side by narrow lamella with concave posterior margin that broadens slightly basally into small rounded convex propodeal lobe. Metapleural gland bulla well developed.
METASOMA. In profile view, petiolar peduncle not grading evenly into node, but anterior face of petiolar node short and inconspicuous; petiolar node with broadly convex posterior face; petiolar peduncle about as long as node. In dorsal view, petiolar node slightly longer than broad, around 1.2–1.3 times as long; disc of postpetiole broader than long, around 1.5–1.7 times as long. Areolate processes (spongiform tissues) present on both petiole and postpetiole; ventral lobes of petiole and postpetiole extensive; lateral lobe of petiole merely small flap at posterolateral angle of node in profile and not reaching midpoint of node; in dorsal view, processes present along posterior margin of petiolar node, and surrounding disc of postpetiole, thicker along lateral margins than on anterior or posterior margin.
PILOSITY. Surface of scape with appressed subspatulate to spatulate setae; funiculus covered with appressed acicular to fine setae; cephalic dorsum covered with small spatulate setae; clypeal and mandibular dorsum covered with small spatulate to obovate setae; masticatory margins each with row of medially-directed fine setae. Leading edge of the scapes with decumbent setae. In full-face view, dorsolateral margin of head without any laterally-projecting seta. Pronotal humeral seta absent. In dorsal view, promesonotal dorsum sparsely with appressed subspatulate setae; lateral margins with posteriorly-directed decumbent setae. In profile view, cephalic dorsum without any erect seta; suberect to erect stout setae restricted to a few pairs on the mesonotal dorsum, petiolar node and disc of postpetiole, and all over gastral tergites; similar but suberect setae also present on gastral sternites; ventral surface of head with appressed to decumbent setae. Hairwheel present at mesopleural excavation, slightly elongated. Surfaces of femora, tibiae and basitarsi with decumbent to appressed stout setae, without any laterally-projecting erect seta.
SCULPTURE. Cephalic dorsum densely areolate-rugulose; surface of antennal scrobe, antenna and legs densely areolate. Pronotal dorsum predominantly, relatively weakly areolate, with weak longitudinal rugulae and long, weak, longitudinal median striation; dorsum of mesonotum, propodeum and petiolar node densely areolate-rugulose; side of mesosoma mostly smooth and shining with vestiges of sculpture around margins. Disc of postpetiole smooth and shining. Basigastral costulae absent to inconspicuous; rest of gaster smooth and shining.
Type Material
- Holotype worker: VIETNAM • Lào Cai Province, Sa Pa, Cổng trời (B); 2000 m a.s.l.; 26 Apr. 2002; K. Eguchi leg.; mature forest; LKCNHM ANTWEB1010903 (collection code KUM Eg02-VN-098).
- Paratype worker: VIETNAM • 1 worker; Lào Cai Province, Sa Pa, Cổng trời (E); 2100–2200 m a.s.l.; 2 May 2002; K. Eguchi leg.; mature forest; KUM ANTWEB1010904 (collection code KUM Eg02-VN-243).
Etymology
The species is named after mythological Vietnamese dragons (rồng) owing to its Vietnamese origin. The name was created by adding a suffix -i to the Vietnamese noun ‘rong’ for ease of pronunciation.