Tetramorium manobo

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Tetramorium manobo
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Tetramorium
Species: T. manobo
Binomial name
Tetramorium manobo
(Calilung, 2000)

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This ant is associated with the aphid, Toxoptera odinae (van der Goot). It was found alone underneath leaves of Arundo donax Linn. (Poaceae). It solicits honeydew from the aphid by brushing with its antennae the posterior end of the aphid's abdomen. When the aphid raises its abdomen, honeydew is excreted. (Calilung 2000)

Identification

Calilung (2000) - Mandible with seven visible teeth; clypeus with apical margin slightly lobed; antennae 12-segmented, with 3-segmented club; promesonotal and mesopropodeal suture markedly impressed; propodeum laterally armed with a pair of long spines pointing backwards and with a pair of small spines ventrally; petiole and post petiole subequally rounded but petiole pedunculate anteriorly; only first gasteral segment visible dorsally.

Distribution

Mindanao.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Philippines (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.

  • manobo. Apomyrmex manobo Calilung, 2000: 66, fig. 1 (w.) PHILIPPINES (Mindanao). Combination in Tetramorium: Bolton, 2003: 269. See also: Schlick-Steiner, Steiner & Zettel, 2006: 183.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Body 4 mm long, shining dark brown. Head subquadrangular, heavily sculptured, with few very long simple setae; mandibles long, triangular with seven visible teeth; clypeus slightly bilobed at apical margin, basal margin subtriangular, carinate; antennae 12-segmented with 3-segmented club; outer sides of antennal sockets near basal clypeal margin, up to dorsal or head vertex carinate; eyes large, length as long as first funicular segment, elevated, rounded and positioned at mid lateral sides of the head; occiput slightly depressed.

Alitrunk heavily sculptured, longer than broad, narrow with numerous very long simple setae; promesonotal and mesopropodeal sutures markedly impressed; propodeum armed with a pair of long spines laterally and a pair of small spines ventrally; legs short and robust; front tibial spur large, with long fringed hairs ventrally.

Petiole heavily sculptured, pedunculate anteriorly, subequally rounded as post petiole, with several very long simple setae; gaster oval, shiny and smooth without any scuplturing, with numerous very long simple setae; only first gastral segment visible dorsally; basal portion longitudinal striated.

Type Material

HOLOTYPE: Worker, Mindanao: North Cotabato: Kidapawan: Agco, Mt. Apo, underneath leaves of Arundo donax Linn., 02.v.1988 (MV:J. Calilung, MVJC 021) (UPLB-MNH).

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from Manobo, the name of the indigenous tribe living in Mt. Apo.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Calilung, M.V.J. 2000. A new genus, two new species and a new subspecies of Philippine ants. Philipp. Entomol. 14: 65-73
  • Schlick-Steiner B. C.; F.M. Steiner, and H. Zettel. 2006. Tetramorium pacificum Mayr, 1870, T. scabrum Mayr, 1879 sp.rev., T. manobo (Calilung, 2000) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) – three good species. Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8:181-191.