Technomyrmex docens
Technomyrmex docens | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Dolichoderinae |
Genus: | Technomyrmex |
Species: | T. docens |
Binomial name | |
Technomyrmex docens Fisher & Bolton, 2007 |
T. docens produces ergatoid queens but worker-queen intercastes are apparently not developed, at least, none has been seen; also, no alate queens are present in the material examined. (Bolton 2007)
Identification
Bolton (2007) - A member of the Technomyrmex textor group. T. docens seems closest related to the similar African species Technomyrmex parviflavus, but the latter has much larger eyes (OI 33 - 37) and longer scapes (SI 110 - 126), and always lacks setae on gastral tergites 1 - 3. Also, the propodeal dorsal length of parviflavus is less than the depth of the declivity to the spiracle.
The only other species on Madagascar that is known to lack setae on the entire dorsum of the head behind the clypeus is Technomyrmex voeltzkowi, but in that species the clypeus has a long narrow median incision, eyes that are located more posteriorly (EPI 80 - 100) and a third gastral tergite that lacks setae.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -13.8° to -19.006727°.
North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Comoros.
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. |
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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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Holotype of Technomyrmex docens. Worker. Specimen code casent0439766. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA. |
Queen
Images from AntWeb
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Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0069938. 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.
- docens. Technomyrmex docens Fisher & Bolton, in Bolton, 2007a: 50 (w.) 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 2.5, HL 0.59, HW 0.52, SL 0.56, PW 0.36, WL 0.80. Indices: CI 88, SI 108,0123, EPI 62, DTI 140.
Dorsum of head behind clypeus entirely lacks setae. Anterior clypeal margin evenly shallowly concave medially. Posterior margin of head in full-face view more or less transverse, shallowly concave when tilted forward slightly from full-face view. Eyes of moderate size and located well in front of the midlength; in full-face view their outer margins fail to touch the outline of the sides. Dorsal surfaces of mesosoma and declivity of propodeum entirely lack setae. Propodeal dorsum approximately flat in profile and meets the declivity through a blunted angle; straight-line length of dorsum distinctly greater than depth of declivity to the spiracle. Gastral tergites 1 - 2 each with a single pair of setae; gastral tergites 3 - 4 each with 2 - 3 pairs of setae present, those on the fourth tergite the longest on the gaster (see notes below). Head, mesosoma, petiole, gaster and legs yellow.
Other worker. TL 2.4 - 2.7, HL 0.58 - 0.64, HW 0.52 - 0.56, SL 0.56 - 0.60, PW 0.34 - 0.37, WL 0.77 - 0.86 (15 measured). Indices: Cl 87 - 91, SI 104 - 109, OI 23 - 25, EPI 62 - 69, DTI 140 - 149.
As holotype but degree of concavity of posterior margin of head is variable, from more or less transverse to shallowly concave medially. The number of gastral setae is variable. Often no setae (or their pits) can be detected on gastral tergite 1 and sometimes the same applies to tergite 2. Gastral tergite 3 always has at least 1 distinct pair (usually 2) and tergite 4 always has 2 - 3 pairs, with very distinct pits. Some of this may be the result of abrasion but most appears to be natural variation. The specimens from Andranobe mentioned below (2 workers only) have two distinct pairs of setae on the second gastral tergite and a less concave median clypeal margin than is seen in most of the type-series.
Type Material
Holotype worker, Madagascar: Provo Antsiranana, Ampasindava, Ambilanivy, 3.9 km. 181° S Ambaliha, 600 m., 13°48'S, 48°10'E, 4-9.iii.2001, ex dead twig above ground, rainforest, CASENT 0439766-3290 (BL Fisher et al.) (California Academy of Sciences). Paratypes. 9 workers with same data but CASENT numbers 0439761-3273, 0439762- 3273, 0439764-3290, 0439767- 3290, 0439768-3290 (CASC).
References
- Bolton, B. 2007. 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.
- Cantone S. 2018. Winged Ants, The queen. Dichotomous key to genera of winged female ants in the World. The Wings of Ants: morphological and systematic relationships (self-published).
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Bolton B. 2007. Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 35(1): 1-150.