Strumigenys sylvaini

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

Strumigenys sylvaini casent0005639 profile 1.jpg

Strumigenys sylvaini casent0005639 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

Relatively well collected for a Strumigenys, S. sylvaini is known from wet forest habitats and has been found in litter, downed wood and under a root mat.

Identification

Fisher (2000) - A member of the sylvaini complex in the Strumigenys dexis-group. One of the most widely distributed member of the dexis-group in the rainforest region of Madagascar. Distinguished from other members of the sylvaini-complex by having: 1 Erect short simple hairs present on dorsal surfaces of head, alitrunk, waist segments and first gastral tergite. 2 Postpetiole disc reticulate-punctate with feeble longitudinal rugulae. 3 First gastral tergite with standing hairs present between the apical and basal rows.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -14.022° to -22.42167°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Malagasy Region: Madagascar (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Strumigenys sylvaini casent0005640 head 1.jpgStrumigenys sylvaini casent0005640 profile 1.jpgStrumigenys sylvaini casent0005640 dorsal 1.jpgStrumigenys sylvaini casent0005640 label 1.jpg
Paratype of Strumigenys sylvainiWorker. Specimen code casent0005640. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Strumigenys sylvaini casent0005641 head 1.jpgStrumigenys sylvaini casent0005641 profile 1.jpgStrumigenys sylvaini casent0005641 dorsal 1.jpgStrumigenys sylvaini casent0005641 label 1.jpg
Paratype of Strumigenys sylvainiWorker. Specimen code casent0005641. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Queen

Images from AntWeb

Strumigenys sylvaini casent0006033 head 1.jpgStrumigenys sylvaini casent0006033 profile 1.jpgStrumigenys sylvaini casent0006033 dorsal 1.jpgStrumigenys sylvaini casent0006033 label 1.jpg
Paratype of Strumigenys sylvainiQueen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0006033. 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.

  • sylvaini. Strumigenys silvaini Fisher, in Bolton, 2000: 644, fig. 388 (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 2.0, HL 0.65, HW 0.56, CI 87, ML 0.19, MI 30, SL 0.30, SI 54, PW 0.38, AL 0.71. Characters of sylvaini-complex. Entirety of head blanketed with fine, dense reticulate-punctate sculpture, opaque everywhere. Dorsum of head without scale-like hairs that are similar in size to those on the fringing rows. Instead the head dorsally with sparse, minute and inconspicuous decumbent to appressed spatulate hairs, and with a row of 4 short erect hairs close to the occipital margin. Eye with 4-5 ommatidia in the longest row. Dorsal alitrunk, petiole node, and postpetiole disc finely reticulate-punctate, the postpetiole disc with feeble longitudinal rugulae. Pleurae smooth and shining. Short standing hairs present as follows: mesonotum with a single pair, 1 pair posterodorsally on the petiole node, 2 pairs posterodorsally on the postpetiole, transverse rows of hairs present between a basal and an apical row on the first gastral tergite. Lamella of propodeum narrow below the triangular propodeal spines, leaving most of the spine length free. Petiole node in dorsal view broader than long. Disc of postpetiole in dorsal view not completely surrounded by spongiform tissue, the anterolateral angles and anterior halves of the sides free. Basigastral costulae short but well developed and conspicuous.

Paratypes. TL 1.6-2.0, HL 0.60-0.65, HW 0.55-0.56, CI 86-91, ML 0.18-0.19, MI 29-30, SL 0.28-0.29, SI 51-53, PW 0.34-0.37, AL 0.67-72 (4 measured) As with holotype.

Measurements of this material extends the range shown by the type-series: HL 0.59-0.67, HW 0.52 - 0.57, CI 85-88, ML 0.18-0.19, MI 28-31.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Madagascar: 38 km. S Ambalavao, Res. Andringitra 22°12'S, 46°58'E, 1680 m., 24.x.1993, ex root mat, montane rainforest #827-2 (B. L. Fisher) (Museum of Comparative Zoology).

Paratypes. 1 worker and 1 queen (dealate) with same data as holotype; 3 workers with same data as holotype but 23.x.1993 #830 (50)-3, #830 (36)-8, and #830 (40)-5 (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 644, 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.
  • Fisher, B. 2002. Ant diversity patterns along an elevational gradient in the Reserve Speciale de Manongarivo, Madagascar. in Gautier, L. and S.M. Goodman, editors, Inventaire Florestique et Faunistique de la Reserve Speciale de Manongarivo (NW Madagascar)