Technomyrmex nitens

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Technomyrmex nitens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dolichoderinae
Genus: Technomyrmex
Species: T. nitens
Binomial name
Technomyrmex nitens
Bolton, 2007

Technomyrmex nitens casent0172028 profile 1.jpg

Technomyrmex nitens casent0172028 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

Most material examined was obtained by litter sampling or in pitfall traps. However, some specimens were collected by pyrethrum knock-down from trees (including the holotype), which indicates that this species forages as extensively as many others in the genus. (Bolton 2007)

Identification

Bolton (2007) - A member of the T. sophiae complex in the Technomyrmex albipes group.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -15.80000019° to -18.99°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (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

Nomenclature

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

  • nitens. Technomyrmex nitens Bolton, 2007a: 115, fig. 65 (w. w-q intercaste) AUSTRALIA.

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 2.9, HL 0.68. HW 0.64, SL 0.66, PW 0.45, WL 0.92. Indices: CI 94, SI 103,0127, EPI 94, DTI 129.

Answering the description of Technomyrmex sophiae but the head with fewer setae. In particular, in profile the dorsum of the head lacks setae between the longest pair and the posterior margin (as in sophiae the longest pair is located just less than the length of the maximum diameter of the eye from the posterior margin of the head); with head tilted slightly back from full-face view the posterior margin lacks setae. Colour of funiculi and legs different from sophiae: first funicular segment lighter in colour than segments 2 - 5; middle and hind coxae yellow, strikingly lighter in colour than the mesosoma; hind femur not uniformly coloured, instead yellow basally, the same colour as the trochanter.

Other workers. TL 2.7 - 3.1, HL 0.64 - 0.70, HW 0.58 - 0.64, SL 0.58 - 0.68, PW 0.41 - 0.47, WL 0.80 - 0.94 (10 measured). Indices: CI 90 - 95, SI 95 - 108, 0126 28, EPI 94 – 100, DTI 124 - 136. As holotype but one worker from Mt Finnigan has the middle and hind coxae darker than in the other two specimens on the same pin and its first funicular segment is not as obviously lighter than segments 2 - 5 as in other workers. The eyes of nitens appear to be somewhat larger than either sophiae or Technomyrmex furens, with nitens OI 26 - 28, as opposed to OI 22 - 23 in furens and OI 23 - 25 in sophiae. See also notes under sophiae.

Type Material

Holotype worker (upper specimen of two on pin), Australia: N. Queensland, Hugh Nelson Ra., 2.5 km. S. Crater N.P., 1100 m., 5.xii.1988, pyrethrum logs trees (Monteith & Thompson) (Australian National Insect Collection). Paratypes. 1 worker-queen intercaste (lower specimen on same pin as holotype); 5 workers and 1 worker-queen intercaste, Australia: NE. Queensland, Mt Hemmant, 6 km. SW Cape Tribulation, 25.iv.1983, QM Berlesate No. 541, 16.07 S, 145.25 E, rainforest, 880 m., seived litter (G.B. Monteith & D. Cook) (ANIC).

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.

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.