Technomyrmex grandis

Technomyrmex grandis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Dolichoderinae
Genus:	Technomyrmex
Species:	T. grandis
Binomial name
	Technomyrmex grandis; Emery, 1887 Specimen Labels
Synonyms
	Technomyrmex grandis bandarensis Forel, 1913;

Jaitrong & Yamane (2014) report that this species tends to be restricted to rainforests. It nests in bamboo stems and under bark of trees. In Thailand, alate queens and males appear during September to December, during the rainy season (WJT07-TH-2059 that was collected in September contained several alate queens).

Identification

Bolton (2007) - A member of the Technomyrmex grandis group. This spectacularlv setose, large species is one of the most easily recognised in the region. Its extremely dense long setae, coupled with its large posteriorly located eyes, long scapes and the presence of elevated setae on the scares and tibiae, render it unmistakable, The only other species of the same group in this region is Technomyrmex wheeleri, but this is smaller, has more anteriorly located eyes and a much shorter and more narrowly rounded propodeum. The setae of wheeleri are much sparser and shorter than those of grandis, For example the outstanding setae on the scapes and tibiae are shorter than the width of the segment from which they arise in wheeleri, longer in grandis; the longest setae on the first gastral tergite are always much longer than the maximum diameter of the eye in grandis usually shorter than the maximum diameter of the eye in wheeleri.

Jaitrong & Yamane (2024), Fig. 1. Characters used in the key to the Thai and Lao Technomyrmex species. A–E, head in profile view showing condition of setae; F–H, clypeus in full-face view. A, F, T. pratensis; B, G, T. grandis; C, H, T. albipes; D, T. obscurior; E, T. reductus. Red triangles on fig. A–C dedicated to long erect setae, D–E without erect setae. Photos by Yudthana Samung.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 12.766089° to -2.079621°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia (type locality), Malaysia, Philippines.

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Jaitrong & Yamane (2024), Fig. 33. Distribution of Technomyrmex grandis and T. wheeleri in Thailand.

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

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb


Syntype of Technomyrmex grandis. Worker. Specimen code casent0905064. Photographer Z. Lieberman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by MSNG, Genoa, Italy.

Jaitrong & Yamane (2024), Fig. 32. Technomyrmex grandis (worker and queen). A–C, worker; D–F, queen; A, D, head in full-face view; B, E, body in profile; C, F, body in dorsal view. Photos by Yudthana Samung.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

grandis. Technomyrmex grandis Emery, 1887a: 248 (w.) INDONESIA (Sumatra). Senior synonym of bandarensis: Bolton, 2007a: 83.
bandarensis. Technomyrmex grandis var. bandarensis Forel, 1913k: 96 (w.) INDONESIA (Sumatra). Junior synonym of grandis: Bolton, 2007a: 83.

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 3.8 - 4.8, HL 0.85 - 1.05, HW 0.74 - 0.96, SL 0.98 – 1.18, PW 0.54 - 0.72, WL 1.26 - 1.58 (20 measured). Indices: CI 85 - 91, SI 123 - 134, OI 28 - 31, EPI 100 - 120, DTI 132 - 145.

Large, conspicuous and very densely setose species. Dorsum of head in profile with abundant setae of varying lengths everywhere; longest pair, which is usually at least equal to the maximum dIameter of the eye, located about half-way between level of posterior margin of eye and posterior margin of head. Ventral surface of head with short setae present. With head in full-face view the posterior margin and sides with numerous outstanding short setae, those on the sides inclined anteriorly. Anterior clypeal margin almost transverse. at most with a hint of a shallow median concavity; posterior margin of head impressed. Eyes located relatively far back on head (EPI 100 or more), their outer margms strongly convex and breaking the outline of the sides of the head. Scapes with abundant setae on all surfaces, the longest slightly longer than the width of the scape. All dorsal surfaces of mesosoma with numerous setae of varying length. Propodeum in protlle with the dorsum long and convex, rounding broadly and evenly into the declivity. Gastral tergites 1 - 4 each with an abundant mixture of long and short setae, and also with dense long pubescence; longest setae are distinctly longer than the maximum diameter of the eye. Middle and hind tibiae with numerous suberect projecting setae, the longest about equal to the maximum tibial width. Setae also present on dorsal surfaces of middle and hind femora. Colour medium brown to black, sometimes with the gaster slightly darker than the mesosoma. Legs usually slightly lighter than mesosoma.

Type Material

Bolton (2007) - Syntype workers, Indonesia: Sumatra, KajuTanam, viii-ix.1878 (O. Beccari) (Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Genoa) [examined].

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.
Emery, C. 1887b [1886]. Catalogo delle formiche esistenti nelle collezioni del Museo Civico di Genova. Parte terza. Formiche della regione Indo-Malese e dell'Australia. [part]. Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. 24[=(2)(4): 241-256 (page 248, worker described)
Jaitrong, W., Yamane, S. 2024. A revision of the ants Technomyrmex Mayr, 1872 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dolichoderinae) in Thailand and Laos. Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society 66 (1): 29–118.
Khachonpisitsak, S., Yamane, S., Sriwichai, P., Jaitrong, W. 2020. An updated checklist of the ants of Thailand (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 998, 1–182 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.998.54902).
Kreider, J.J., Chen, T.W., Hartke, T.R., Buchori, D., Hidayat, P., Nazarreta, R., Scheu, S., Drescher, J. 2021. Rainforest conversion to monocultures favors generalist ants with large colonies. Ecosphere 12 (doi:10.1002/ecs2.3717).
Yamane, S., Tanaka, H.O., Hasimoto, Y., Ohashi, M., Meleng, P., Itioka, T. 2021. A list of ants from Lambir Hills National Park and its vicinity, with their biological information: Part II. Subfamilies Leptanillinae, Proceratiinae, Amblyoponinae, Ponerinae, Dorylinae, Dolichoderinae, Ectatomminae and Formicinae. Contributions from the Biological Laboratory, Kyoto University 31, 87–157.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Baroni Urbani C. 1977. Katalog der Typen von Formicidae (Hymenoptera) der Sammlung des Naturhistorischen Museums Basel (2. Teil). Mitt. Entomol. Ges. Basel (n.s.) 27: 61-102.
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.
Bolton, B. "Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste." Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 35, no. 1 (2007): 1-149.
Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
Crawley W.C. 1924. Ants from Sumatra, with biological notes by Edward Jacobson. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (9)13: 380-409
Emery C. 1887. Catalogo delle formiche esistenti nelle collezioni del Museo Civico di Genova. Parte terza. Formiche della regione Indo-Malese e dell'Australia. [part]. Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. 24(4): 209-258.
Emery C. 1913. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Dolichoderinae. Genera Insectorum 137: 1-50.
Emery C. Formiche raccolte da Elio Modigliani in Sumatra, Engano e Mentawei. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale 40: 661-722.
Emery, C. "Catalogo delle formiche esistenti nelle collezioni del Museo Civico di Genova. Parte terza. Formiche della regione Indo-Malese e dell'Australia." Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria (Genova) (2) 4, no. 24 (1887): 209-258.
Emery, C. "Formiche raccolte da Elio Modigliani in Sumatra, Engano e Mentawei." Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria (Genova) (2) 20, no. 40 (1900): 661-722.
Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58
Shattuck S. O. 1994. Taxonomic catalog of the ant subfamilies Aneuretinae and Dolichoderinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). University of California Publications in Entomology 112: i-xix, 1-241.