Xenomyrmex floridanus skwarrae

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Xenomyrmex floridanus skwarrae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Xenomyrmex
Species: X. floridanus
Subspecies: X. floridanus skwarrae
Trinomial name
Xenomyrmex floridanus skwarrae
Wheeler, W.M., 1931

Xenomyrmex-floridanus-skwarrae-MCZ001L.jpg

Xenomyrmex-floridanus-skwarrae-MCZ001D.jpg

Specimen Label

Synonyms

The types were "found nesting in hollow spines of Acacia spadicigera in the savanna country about Cameron in the State of Veracruz, Mexico". Types of a synonymized form were found in the epiphyte (Tillandsia circinnata). (Wheeler 1931)

Identification

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 19.017° to 19.017°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Mexico (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.

  • skwarrae. Xenomyrmex stolli subsp. skwarrae Wheeler, W.M. 1931a: 137, fig. 2 (w.q.m.) MEXICO.
    • Senior synonym of castus: Creighton, 1957c: 8.
    • Currently subspecies of floridanus: Creighton, 1957c: 8.
  • castus. Xenomyrmex stolli subsp. castus Wheeler, W.M. 1931a: 138 (w.q.m.) MEXICO.
    • Junior synonym of skwarrae: Creighton, 1957c: 8.

Type Material

  • Xenomyrmex stolli skwarrae: Syntype, numerous workers, 3 queens, 4 males, Cameron, Veracruz, Mexico, 2 May 1929, Elisabeth Skwarra, (location of specimens unknown); nesting in hollow spines of Acacia spadicigera in the savanna country.
  • Xenomyrmex stolli skwarrae: Syntype, 1 worker, Cameron, Veracruz, Mexico, 2 May 1929, Elisabeth Skwarra, Museum of Comparative Zoology; nesting in hollow spines of Acacia spadicigera in the savanna country.
  • Xenomyrmex stolli castus: Syntype, 6 workers, 1 queen pupa, 1 male, Mirador, Veracruz, Mexico, 6 May 1929, Elisabeth Skwarra, Museum of Comparative Zoology; in epiphyte Tillandsia streptophylla.

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

Description

Worker

Length 1.4-1.7 mm.

Differing from the preceding forms of stolli in its smaller average size, less swollen femora, in having the petiole as broad as long and in lacking erect hairs on the body. The body is very smooth and shining, yellow throughout, except for a brown subapical ring on the middle and hind tibiae, a brown terminal joint to the antennal club and a spot of the same color on each side of the first to third gastric segments. The fourth segment is indistinctly brownish throughout.

Queen

Length 3.5-3.7 mm.

Decidedly smaller than the females of floridanus and rufescens, with less swollen and more compressed femora, shorter petiole and much less abundant pilosity. Yellow like the worker, with the ocellar triangle, mandibular teeth, wing-insertions and metanotum blackish, the brown spots on the sides of the first to third segments large and conspicuous and the fourth with a broad transverse brown band. The spots on the second and third segments are really the lateral portions of medially interrupted bands. Terminal joint of antennal club fuscous; femora scarcely infuscated. Wings colorless, with yellow veins and pterostigma.

Male

Length 1.3-1.5 mm.

Head distinctly broader than long, somewhat broader behind than in front, with nearly straight posterior border, rounded sides and dorsal surface. Anteriorly placed eyes convex, nearly half as long as the sides of the head. Clypeus convex, with bidenticulate anterior border. Mandibles small, narrow, quadridenticulate. Antennal scape as long as the first and second funicular joints together, first funicular small and globular; joints 2 to 6 slightly longer than broad, the last four decidedly longer, the terminal joint somewhat thicker than the penultimate and twice as long.

Thorax stout anteriorly, narrowed posteriorly to the small epinotum, which is convex and rounded, without distinct base and declivity; mesosterna very convex. Petiole slightly longer than broad, with a low, rounded node above. Postpetiole and gaster shaped much as in the worker.

Shining; head more subopaque, finely striate-punctate. Pilosity sparse, delicate, whitish, short and suberect, as abundant on the legs as on the dorsum of the body. Black or deep piceous brown; appendages and mandibles pale whitish yellow; femora infuscated; wings colorless as in the female, with pale brownish pterostigma.

References