Zasphinctus siamensis

Zasphinctus siamensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Dorylinae
Genus:	Zasphinctus
Species:	Z. siamensis
Binomial name
	Zasphinctus siamensis; (Jaitrong, 2016) Specimen Label

The type series was collected from the surface of the soil in a shifting agricultural area at an elevation of about 800 m above sea level near a hill-evergreen forest during the dry season. (Jaitrong 2016)

Identification

Jaitrong (2016) - Most similar to Sphinctomyrmex trux (Australian species) in general appearance as they share the pygidium truncate when seen in dorsal view, 12-segmented antenna, subtriangular subpetiolar process, and somewhat smooth and shiny dorsa of mesosoma and petiolar node. However, Z. siamensis is easily separated from S. trux by the following conditions: much smaller body (HW 0.54-0.58 mm, WL 0.89-0.92 mm Z. siamensis while HW 0.74-0.84 mm, WL 1.12-1.26 mm in S. trux); relatively longer head (CI 77-83 vs 87-89); complete lack of eyes (in S. trux the eyes are present as pigmented dots in the middle of the side of the head); possession of a distinct tubercle in median portion of clypeus (tubercle absent in S. trux); and relatively longer petiole.

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Thailand (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.

Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

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

siamensis. Sphinctomyrmex siamensis Jaitrong, in Jaitrong, Wiwatwitaya & Sakchoowong, 2016: 6, figs. 5-8 (w.) THAILAND.
- Type-material: holotype worker, 5 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype Thailand: Chiang Mai Prov., Mae Tang Dist., 26.iv.2000, no. WJT00-TH01, secondary forest (W. Jaitrong); paratypes with same data.
- Type-depository: TNHM.
- Combination in Zasphinctus: Borowiec, M.L. 2016: 243.
- Distribution: Thailand.

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 3.95 mm, HL 0.66 mm, HW 0.54 mm, SL 0.36 mm, WL 0.86 mm, PL 0.36 mm, PW 0.30 mm, CI 83, SI 67. Paratypes (n = 5): TL 3.85-3.95 mm, HL 0.66–0.73 mm, HW 0.54–0.58 mm, SL 0.35–0.36 mm, WL 0.89–0.92 mm, PL 0.33–0.36 mm, PW 0.30–0.36 mm, CI 77–83, SI 62–65.

(Holotype and paratypes). Head in full-face view clearly longer than broad, subrectangular, slightly broader anteriorly with side weakly convex and posterior margin concave; posterior corners of head bluntly angular; occipital margin bearing a distinct carina. Eyes absent. Antenna 12-segmented; antennal scape relatively short, not reaching midlength of head; antennal segment II almost as long as broad; III-X each shorter than broad; XII almost as long as VIII+IX+X+XI or slightly longer. Frontal carina short, extending beyond level of posterior margin of torulus, well developed anteriorly and poorly developed posteriorly, curved anterior extension of frontal carinae bearing 2 denticles in front of antennal socket; parafrontal ridge extending posteriorly less than 1/3 of head length. Clypeus narrowly inserted between frontal carinae; median portion of clypeus with a distinct tubercle. Mandible subtriangular, with basal margin rounding into masticatory margin; the latter apparently edentate, but there may be a few small inconspicuous denticles near basal angle.

Mesosoma twice as long as broad, in profile with almost flat dorsal outline or feebly convex; promesonotal suture and metanotal groove obliterated; katepisternum clearly demarcated from anepisternum by a distinct carina; metapleuron demarcated from mesopleuron and lateral face of propodeum by carinae; propodeal junction nearly right-angled; declivity of propodeum shallowly concave and encircled with a thin rim.

Petiole sessile, slightly longer than broad, its dorsal outline weakly convex, anterior face flat encircled with an indistinct ridge but posterior face slightly convex and tergite clearly demarcated from sternite by a distinct ridge; subpetiolar process well developed, subtriangular with a small window at middle, its apex truncate and directed downward, anterior margin convex, while posterior margin strongly concave.

Gaster elongate, gastral segments I and II clearly separated by distinct constrictions, segments III, IV, and V separated from each other by deeply impressed, short constrictions; in dorsal view, gastral segment I (abdominal segment III) narrower than segments II, III, and IV but slightly broader than petiole; segments II, III, and IV nearly equal to one another in width and length; dorsum of pygidium flat with 1–2 rows of spines laterally, pygidial apex truncate as seen from above.

Dorsum and lateral face of head with dense foveolae, areas between foveolae smooth and shiny; venter of head smooth and shiny; dorsum of mesosoma smooth and shiny with sparse, very shallow foveolae; lateral face of pronotum partly superficially shagreened but shiny; mesopleuron, metapleuron and lateral face of propodeum smooth and shiny; propodeum declivity superficially reticulate but shiny; petiolar node smooth and shiny; each gastral tergite with dense hair pits but areas between hair pits smooth and shiny.

Pilosity comparatively dense; dorsum and lateral faces of head with dense apprised to decumbent hairs; venter of head with sparse apprised hairs; dorsum of mesosoma with dense, very short decumbent hairs; petiole and gaster with dense, longer decumbent hairs; pygidium and hypopygium with dense erect hairs.

Body reddish brown to dark brown; legs, terminal segment of antenna (XI) and tip of gaster yellowish brown; 2/3 of head, dorsa of mesosoma and petiole darker than elsewhere.

Type Material

Holotype – worker (THNHM-I-00007), Thailand: Chiang Mai Province, Mae Tang District, secondary forest, 26.IV 2000, W. Jaitrong leg., colony no. WJT00-TH01. Paratypes: 5 workers (THNHM-I-00008, THNHM-I-00009, THNHM-I-00010, THNHM-I-00011, THNHM-I-00012, Natural History Museum of the National Science Museum), same data as holotype.

Etymology

The scientific name is an adjective meaning ‘of Siam (old name of Thailand)’.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Borowiec M. L. 2016. Generic revision of the ant subfamily Dorylinae (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 608: 1–280.
Jaitrong W., D. Wiwatwitaya, and W. Sakchoowong. 2016. Review of the Thai species of the genus Sphinctomyrmex Mayr, 1866 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Dorylinae), with description of a new species. Far Eastern Entomologist 305: 1-9.