Harpegnathos venator

Harpegnathos venator is rare in Vietnam. It probably occurs in forest edges and relatively sparse forests. We found an undergound nest along a dirt trail in a sparse forest. (Eguchi et al. 2014)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore. Oriental Region: Bangladesh, India, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam. Palaearctic Region: China.

Nests are complex constructions as in Harpegnathos saltator. In northern Thailand, the entrance is funnel-shaped and raised above the ground (C. Peeters & F. Ito, unpubl.). See Malagidris sofina for comparison



Nomenclature

 *  venator. Drepanognathus venator Smith, F. 1858b: 82 (w.) INDIA. Forel, 1900c: 64 (q.m.). Combination in Harpegnathos: Emery, 1889b: 494. Current subspecies: nominal plus chapmani, rugosus. See also: Bingham, 1903: 51.

Drepanognathus venator

Holotype worker in. Labelled “Madras. 50/103.” Acc. Reg.: “1850 no. 103. Madras (French rocks). Presented by Mrs Capt. Hamilton.”

Description
Worker

Bingham (1903): Black; mandibles, clypeus, antennal cariute and legs brownish yellow, antennae castaneous, apex of the abdomen ferruginous; head and thorax closely coarsely cribrate punctate; abdomen finely densely reticulate punctate, opaque, with some large shallow punctures. Head, thorax and abdomen covered with rather sparse, short, erect pale hairs; pubescence miuute but fairly plentiful, to be seen only in certain lights. For the rest the characters of the genus.

Length: 16 - 18 mm

Queen

Bingham (1903): Similar to the worker, but the abdomen with long oblong punctures, the ocelli in the middle of the front. Thorax and abdomen more massive and as in D. saltator.

Length: 18 - 20 mm

Male

Bingham (1903): '"Mandibles broad at the base, attenuate, narrow and slender towards the apex, which is directed forwards. Head rectangular, somewhat rounded, broader than long. Eyes rather smaller than in the queen. Short depression between the mesonotum and scutellum. bordered by carinas and strongly striate inside. Smooth and shining, save the thorax, which is coarsely rugose, punctate or striate (longitudinally on the metanotum). Covered by a tine yellowish pilosity, dense on the legs, less abundant elsewhere. Pubescence very sparse. The 1st abdominal segment is pyriform and has the appearance of forming a 2nd node to the pedicel, a slight constriction between the 2nd and 3rd segments. Thorax and pedicel of a brownish black, head and basal segment of the abdomen reddish yellow. Rest of the abdomen yellow with a tinge of red. Legs and antennae very pale testaceous."

Length: 10 mm

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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