Vollenhovia benzai

Vollenhovia benzai
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Vollenhovia
Species:	V. benzai
Binomial name
Vollenhovia benzai Terayama & Kinomura, 1997

Common Name
Tatenashi-umematsu-ari
Language:	Japanese

This species is polygynous. It nests in decaying wood or in the soil in forests. Wingless ergatoid females are known from the Amami-oshima Island population, in which normal winged females are also present. Further studies are needed to clarify their possible taxonomic implications and biological significance. [1]

At a Glance

• Polygynous

Identification

Terayama & Kinomura (1997) - Among the 4 described species is distinguishable as follows: differs V. benzai from Vollenhovia emeryi of Japan and Vollenhovia pyrrhoria of China by having a low and small subpetiolar process, dully angulate posterodorsal corner of propodeum, lacking large brown spot on frons, and smaller body size (HL 0.50-0.53 mm and HW 0.43-0.48 mm in benzai workers; HL 0.55-0.59 mm and HW 0.50-0.54 mm in emeryi workers (n = 10), and HL 0.60 mm and HW 0.55 mm in pyrrhoria worker (one paratype is measured): V. benzai differs from Vollenhovia satoi, from Taiwan by having less incised metanotal groove (deeply incised dorsally in satoi); and V. benzai differs from Vollenhovia nipponica, which is a workerless social parasitic species by having a low and small subpetiolar process and a dully angulate posterodorsal corner of the propodeum in female. It is also distinguished from the other Japanese congeners in workers by the following characteristics: 1) frons without large brown spot; 2) dorsum of promesonotum coarsely punctate, without unsculptured longitudinal band medially; 3) propodeal teeth absent; 4) subpetiolar process low, longer than high; 5) postpetiole highest at midlength in profile.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Vollenhovia of Japan

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 31.96666667° to 29.54°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Japan (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.

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.

Nomenclature

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

• benzai. Vollenhovia benzai Terayama & Kinomura, 1997: 2, figs. 2, 6 (w.q.) JAPAN.

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

Description

Worker

Holotype. Worker. HL 0.53 mm; HW 0.48 mm; SL 0.29 mm; CI 90; SI 60; WL 0.60 mm; PL 0.23 mm; PH 0.21 mm: DPW 0.14 mm: TL 2.0 mm.

Head slightly longer than wide, with subparallel sides and weakly concave posterior margin in frontal view. Mandibles with 7 teeth; basalmost tooth minute. Clypeal carinae subparallel. Antennae with 12 segments; scape 0.55 x head length. Eyes 0.13 mm in diameter.

Dorsum of promesonotum straight in profile: metanotal groove not incised dorsally; posterodorsal corner of propodeum dully angulated, without a dorsal tooth in profile.

Petiole higher than long, with convex dorsal outline in profile; anterodorsal corner rounded, not forming distinct angle. Subpetiolar process low and small; its thin lamellar wall ca. 0.12 mm in height. Postpetiole as long as high and highest at midlength, with convex dorsal outline in profile; posterodorsal margin convex.

Head shagreened with large coarse punctures; space between punctures less than 0.5 x their own diameters; dorsum of alitrunk coarsely punctated with numerous longitudinal ruglae and without unsculptured longitudinal band medially; mesopleura. Propodeum and petiole reticulate; sculpture on petiole weaker than that on propodeum; postpetiole smooth in most part gaster and legs smooth and subopaque.

Color: reddish brown; mandibles, antennae, and legs yellowish brown; frons without dark brown spot.

Queen

Paratype. HL 0.53 mm: HW 0.50 mm; SL 0.35 mm: CI 95; SI 70; WL 0.78 mm: PL 0.25 mm; PH 0.24 mm; DPW 0.35 mm; TL 2.5 mm (one measured).

Head slightly longer than wide. with weakly concave posterior margin in frontal view; eyes 0.13 mm in diameter; ocelli small. forming a right angled triangle.

Alitrunk 0.48 mm in maximum dorsal width; dorsum of metanotum coarsely punctated with longitudinal unsculptured band medially; interspaces among punctures smooth; posterodorsal corner of propodeum dully angulate, not forming a distinct tooth in profile.

Petiole almost as long as wide, with strongly convex dorsal margin in profile: subpetiolar process low and small. Postpetole with convex dorsal margin highest at midlength in profile: posterodorsal margin convex.

Color: reddish brown: ocellar triangular area blackish brown: frons without dark brown spot.

Variation. Five paratype workers with the following measurements and indices: HL 0.50-0.53 mm; HW 0.43-0.48 mm: SL 0.29-0.31 mm; CI 93-95; SI 63-64; WL 0.60-0.63 mm; PL 0.2D-0.24 mm; PH 0.19-0.21 mm: DPW 0.14-0.16 mm: TL 2.0-2.2 mm.

Eye diameter varied from 0.12 to 0.13 mm.

Type Material

Holotype. Worker, Onoma, Yaku-shima. Kagoshima Pref., 16.VIII.1986, K. Kinomura leg. Paratypes. 2 females, 4 workers, same data as holotype; 2 females 4 workers, same locality, 17.VIII.1986, K. Kinomura leg.; 1 female, 2 workers, Nagata, Yaku-shima, Kagoshima Pref., 14.VIII.1986, K. Kinomura leg.; 3 workers, Yaku-shima, Kagoshima Pref., 19.III.1991, T. Satoh leg.; 1 female, 3 workers, Yaku-shima, Kagoshima Pref., 25.III.1981, M. Terayama leg.

The holotype and some paratypes are deposited in the Museum of Nature and Human Activities. Hyogo. and the other paratypes are in the National Institute of Agro-Environmental Sciences, Tsukuba, and National Science Museum, Tokyo.

Etymology

One of the seven deities of good fortune in Japanese folklore.

Determination Clarifications

This species corresponds to Vollenhovia sp. 6 ("Tatenashi-umematsuari" in Japanese) in Terayama and Yamauchi (1992).

References

• Terayama, M., Kinomura, K. 1997. Taxonomic studies of Japanese Formicidae, part 3. Genus Vollenhovia Mayr. Nature and Human Activities. 2:1-8. (page 2, figs. 2, 6 worker, queen described)
• Dhadwal, T., Rilta, J. S., Bharti, H. 2023. Taxonomic studies on the genus Vollenhovia Mayr, 1865 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Five new species from India. Sociobiology 70(3), e9103 (doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v70i3.9103).
• Imai, H.T., Kihara, A., Kondoh, M., Kubota, M., Kuribayashi, S., Ogata, K., Onoyama, K., Taylor, R.W., Terayama, M., Yoshimura, M., Ugawa, Y. 2003. Ants of Japan. 224 pp, Gakken, Japan.
• Iwata, K., Eguchi, K., Yamane, S. 2005. A case study on urban ant fauna of southern Kyusyu, Japan, with notes on a new monitoring protocol (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 8, 263-272.
• Park, S.-H., Hosoishi, S., Ogata, K., Kasuya, E. 2014. Changes of species diversity of ants over time: A case study in two urban parks. Journal of the Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University 59(1), 71–76.
• Park, S.-H., Hosoishi, S., Ogata, K., Kuboki, Y. 2014. Clustering of ant communities and indicator species analysis using self-organizing maps. Comptes Rendus Biologies 337, 545–552 (doi:10.1016/j.crvi.2014.07.003).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Fukumoto S. and Sk. Yamane. 2015. Records of ants from Uke–jima, Amami Islands, Japan (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Nature of Kagoshima 41: 195–197.
• Fukumoto S., Jaitrong W. and Yamane S.K. 2013. Ant Fauna of Kuro-shima, Iwo-jima and Take-shima islands, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. Nature of Kagoshima 39: 119-125
• Fukumoto S., R. Satria, T. Maeda, and S. Yamane. 2014. Ant fauna of Gaja-jima, Tokara Islands, southwestern Japan. Nature of Kagoshima 40: 127–131.
• Fukumoto S., Sk. Yamane, and M. Hira. 2016. Records of ants from Yoro-Shima, Amami Gunto, Japan (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Nature of Kagoshima 42: 461–464.
• Fukumoto S., W. Jaitrong, and S. Yamane. 2013. Ant fauna of Take-shima, Iwo-jima and Kuro-shima islands, Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. Nature of Kagoshima 39: 99-105.
• Harada Y. 2000. Ant fauna of the forest floor of the Koshikijima Islands, Kagoshima-ken, southern Japan. Ari 24: 4-11.
• Harada Y., D. Fukukura, R. Kurisu, and S. Yamane. 2013. Ants of Ports, monitoring of alien ant species. Bull. Biogeogr. Soc. Japan 68: 29-40.
• Harada Y., H. Yadori, M. Yoneda, R. Takinami, K. Nagahama, Y. Matsumoto, A. Oyama, S. Maeda, and S. Yamane. 2009. Ant fauna of Tanegashima (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Nankiseibutu, the Nanki Biological Society 51(1): 15-21.
• Harada Y., K. Nishikubo, K. Matsumoto, M. Matsuda, Y. Inazawa, Y. Ozono, S. Koto, N. Kawaguchi, and S. Yamane. 2011. Ant fauna of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata) forests in southwestern Japan. Bull. Biogeogr. Soc. Japan 66: 115-127.
• Harada Y., M. Enomoto, K. Nishimuta, and H. Mizumata. 2015. Ants of the Amami Islands, central Ryukyus, Japan. Nature of Kagoshima 41: 199–208.
• Harada Y., M. Enomoto, N. Nishimata, and K. Nishimuta. 2014. Ants of the Tokara Islands, northern Ryukyus, Japan. Nature of Kagoshima 40: 111–121.
• Harada Y., Y. Matsumoto, S. Maeda, A. Oyama, and S. Yamane. 2009. Comparison of ant fauna among different habitats of Yaku-shima Island, southern Japan. Bull. Biogeogr. Soc. Japan 64: 125-134.
• Hosoichi S., M. Yoshimura, Y. Kuboki, and K. Ogata. 2007. Ants from Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture. Ari 30: 47-54.
• Hosoishi S. 2006. Ant fauna of Noko Island. pp99-107. In: The floristic and faunistic surveys of the Noko Island.
• Hosoishi S., M. Yoshimura, Y. Kuboki, and K. Ogata. 2007. Ants from Yakushima Island , Kagoshima Prefecture. Ari 30: 47-54.
• Ikudome S. and S. Yamane. 2007. Ants, wasps and bees of Iwo-jima Northern Ryukyus, Japan (Hymenoptera, Aculeata). Bull. Inst. Minami-Kyushu Reg. Sci. (Kagoshima Women's Jr. Coll.) 23: 1-7.
• Katayama M., T. Hosoya, and W. Toki. 2013: First survey of ground-dwelling ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on the uninhabitedGaja-jima Island, theRyukyu archipelago, Japan.—Entomol. Fennica 24: 216–222.
• Kobayashi K., H. Tamura, M. Okamoto, E. Hasegawa, K. Ohkawara. 2012. Phylogenetic relationships among populations of Vollenhovia ants, with particular focus on the evolution of wing morphology. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 105(3):454-461.
• Matsumura S. and Yamane Sk. 2012. Species composition and dominant species of ants in Jigenji Park, Kagoshima City, Japan. Nature of Kagoshima 38: 99–107
• Matsumura S., and S. Yamane. 2012. Species composition and dominant species of ants in Jigenji Park, Kagoshima City, Japan. Nature of Kagoshima 38: 99-107.
• Park S. H., S. Hosoishi, K. Ogata, and Y. Kuboki. 2014. Clustering of ant communities and indicator species analysis using self-organizing maps. Comptes Rendus Biologies http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.crvi.2014.07.003
• Shimono A., and S. Yamane. 2003. Ant species diversity on Okinoerabu-jima, the Ryukyus, southern Japan. For the Establishment of Remote Islands Study (Kagoshima Univ.) 3: 11-29.
• Terayama M., S. Kubota, and K. Eguchi. 2014. Encyclopedia of Japanese ants. Asakura Shoten: Tokyo, 278 pp.
• Yamane S. 2016. How many species of Ants in Amami Islands? (in Japanese). Part 2, chapter 1 in How many species of Ants in Amami Islands? Pp. 92-132.
• Yamane S. 2019. Seasonal change in the foraging activity of ants in a residential area of mainland Kagoshima, Southwest Japan (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Nature of Kagoshima 45: 361–366.
• Yamane S. 2019. Seasonal change in the foraging activity of ants in a residential area of mainland Kagoshima, Southwest Japan (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Nature of Kagoshima 45: 361–366.
• Yamane S., S. Ikudome, and M. Terayama. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp, 138-317.
• Yamane S., Y. Harada, and K. Eguchi. 2013. Classification and ecology of ants. Natural history of ants in Southern Kyushu. 200 pages
• Yamane S., and S. Ikudome. 2008. Ants, wasps and bees of Kuro-shima Northern Ryukyus, Japan (Hymenoptera, Aculeata). Bull. Inst. Minami-Kyushu Reg. Sci. (Kagoshima Women's Jr. Coll.) 24: 1-9.
• Yamane S.; Ikudome, S.; Terayama, M. 1999. Identification guide to the Aculeata of the Nansei Islands, Japan. Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press, xii + 831 pp. pp138-317.