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Technomyrmex arnoldinus
| Technomyrmex arnoldinus | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Dolichoderinae |
| Genus: | Technomyrmex |
| Species: | T. arnoldinus |
| Binomial name | |
| Technomyrmex arnoldinus Forel, 1913
| |
The species has been swept from low vegetation and also collected in pitfall traps, so, like many other species in this genus, arnoldinus probably nests in the earth, either directly or under stones, and forages both terrestrially and on plants. (Bolton 2007)
Identification
Bolton (2007) - T. arnoldinus is quite distinct among the Afrotropical fauna. The presence of transverse fine rugulose sculpture on the propodeal declivity is unique and immediately isolates the species. Beyond that its relationships are harder to decide. In terms of reduced sculpture on the head, pronotum and gaster it resembles Technomyrmex strenuus and its allies from the Oriental and Malesian regions, but the depth of the clypeal notch in arnoldinus exceeds what is usually seen in those species. The presence of setae on the propodeal dorsum, universal in the strenuus group, does not occur in arnoldinus.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -5.732599° to -24.96027°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: United Republic of Tanzania, Zimbabwe (type locality), Zimbabwe (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
Worker
Images from AntWeb
   
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| Syntype of Technomyrmex arnoldinus. Worker. Specimen code casent0903056. Photographer Z. Lieberman, 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.
- arnoldinus. Technomyrmex arnoldinus Forel, 1913j: 222 (w.) ZIMBABWE. See also: Bolton, 2007a: 21.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Bolton (2007) - TL 2.6 3.2, HL 0.62 - 0.73, HW 0.56 - 0.66, SL 0.54 - 0.60, PW 0.38 - 0.46, WL 0.80 - 0.90 (7 measured). Indices: CI 86 - 90, SI 91 - 100, or 29 - 31, EPI 84 - 89, DTI 120 - 136.
Frontal carina with 3 - 4 setae: in profile always one above the torulus, one at level of anterior margin of eye and another at level of posterior margin of eye. Behind this the dorsum with a pair of setae (very rarely 2) about midway to posterior margin, and a final pair at the posterior margin. Anterior clypeal margin with a conspicuous median impression or notch, semicircular or nearly so; depth of notch is variable but it is always distinct. Eyes relatively large and conspicuous, located close to midlength and their outer margins just fail to break, or just touch, the outline of the sides in full-face view. Head weakly shining, the little sculpture that is present is weak and superficial, almost vestigial; without blanketing fine shagreenate or microreticulate scu1pture. Pronotal dorsum more or less smooth, with only traces of superficial sculpture. Mesonotum and propodeaJ dorsum more strongly sculptured, shallowly reticulate-punctate. Declivity of propodeum with fine transverse ru&Ulae at least on basal two-thirds but often over the entire surface. Number of setal paIrs on mesosoma: pronotum 2 - 4; mesonotum 2; propodeal dorsum 0; lateral margins of declivity 2 - 3, Gastral tergites 1 - 4 each with setae, the longest on the first tergite at least equal to the maximum diameter of the eye and frequently longer. First gastral tergite only feebly superficially sculptured, shiny. Pubescence on gastral tersites 1 - 4 sparse but long, reclinate to somewhat elevated. Head, mesosoma and petiole yellow to brown; gaster may be the same colour but is usually darker. Legs uniformly yellow to brown, usually slightly lighter than the mesosoma.
Type Material
Bolton (2007) - Syntype workers, Zimbabwe: Bulawayo (G. Arnold) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève) [examined].
References
- Bolton, B. 2007b. Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute. 35(1): 1-149.
- Forel, A. 1913k. Ameisen aus Rhodesia, Kapland usw. (Hym.) gesammelt von Herrn G. Arnold, Dr. H. Brauns und Anderen. Dtsch. Entomol. Z. 1913(Su Suppl: 203-225 (page 222, worker described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
- Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004