Technomyrmex taylori

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Technomyrmex taylori
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dolichoderinae
Genus: Technomyrmex
Species: T. taylori
Binomial name
Technomyrmex taylori
(Santschi, 1930)

Technomyrmex taylori casent0911593 p 1 high.jpg

Technomyrmex taylori casent0911593 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Known only from the type-series, collected from a mangrove stump.

Identification

Bolton (2007) - A member of the Technomyrmex camerunensis group. Easily identified by its unique distribution of setae (see description section below). Each of the 7 syntypes is abraded or damaged in some way (one has the head missing) and no single specimen shows the full setal array. However, summing the setae present on each individual gives the array described above. The complete absence of setae from gastral tergites 1 - 3 appears accurate as no trace of setal pits can be seen on these sclerites in any specimen, whereas they are visible on tergite 4.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -17.895114° to -26.00472°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Mozambique (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.

  • taylori. Engramma tailori Santschi, 1930c: 269 (w.) MOZAMBIQUE. [Also described as new (spelled taylori, justified emendation) by Santschi, in Taylor, J.S. 1931: 42.] Combination in Technomyrmex: Shattuck, 1992c: 161. See also: Bolton, 2007a: 38.

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 3.2 - 3.3, HL 0.78 - 0.82, HW 0.72 - 0.75, SL 0.69 - 0.75, PW 0.52 - 0.54, WL 1.04 - 1.10 (7 measured). Indices: Cl 91 94, SI 96 - 100, OI 27 - 28, EPI 88 - 93, DTI 128 - 136.

Frontal carina with a single seta, just behind the torulus. Dorsum of head posterior to this with only a single pair of setae, located about two-thirds the distance between the level of the posterior margin of the eye and the posterior margin of the head; posterior margin itself without setae. Anterior clypeal margin with a conspicuous wide median notch that is broader than long. Posterior margin of head in full-face view with a very shallow median impression. Eyes moderately large and set just in front of mid length of head (OI & EPI, above). Metathoracic spiracle on a conical tubercle. Number of setal pairs on mesosoma: pronotum 0; mesonotum 1, posteriorly on the sclerite; propodeal dorsum 0; lateral margin of propodeal declivity l. Gastral tergites 1 - 3 lack setae but the fourth gastral tergite with 2 pairs. Pubescence on first gastral tergite sparse, short and scattered, not masking the underlying cuticle. Colour of head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster uniform medium to dark brown. Middle and hind coxae fractionally lighter brown than mesosoma.

Type Material

Bolton (2007) - Syntype workers, Mozambique: (EAP and EA Portug. on data labels), Inhaka, 15.vii.1929, in mangrove stump (Taylor) (Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel) [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.