Leptogenys mangabe

Foraging activity by individual workers is usually on the ground surface and rarely in leaf litter. Colonies have been recorded from rotten logs.

Identification
A member of the attenuata species group. Rakotonirina and Fisher (2014) - Worker. Third antennal segment of normal length, less than twice the length of the second; eye breaking outline of side of head; mandible smooth and shining apart from scattered piligerous punctures; in profile, lower half of propodeum from level of metathoracic spiracle and level of propodeal spiracle generally smooth; with petiole in profile, posterodorsal angle of node not projecting posteriorly nor overhanging posterior margin of node; in dorsal view, node much longer, roughly twice as long as wide.

Leptogenys mangabe can be separated from Leptogenys johary by its shorter third antennal segment, which is less than twice the length of the second segment; and from Leptogenys variabilis and Leptogenys fasika by its much longer petiolar node, which is twice as long as broad in dorsal view.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Habitat
Ant surveys conducted on Madagascar indicate that L. mangabe has a discontinuous spatial distribution across forest habitats on the island. It has been collected from the lowland rainforests of Ambanitaza in northeastern Madagascar, the montane rainforest of the RS Ambohijanahary in the mid-west and the dry transitional forest of the PN Zombitse in the southwest of the island.

Nomenclature

 *  mangabe. Leptogenys mangabe Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2014: 57, figs. 10B, 20D, 30A, 69, 82 (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
(7 specimens). HW: 1.07–1.17, HL: 1.55–1.66, CI: 69–71, SL: 1.50–1.69, SI: 140–146, PW: 0.85–0.97, WL: 2.41–2.59, PNH: 0.65–0.73, PNL: 0.81–0.87, PNW: 0.51–0.57, DNI: 61–67, LNI: 77–90.

Head longer than broad; maximum width of head at about level of eyes; side very weakly convex posteriorly rounding to medially slightly concave posterior margin. Eye medium, maximum diameter about one-fourth the length of lateral cephalic border; in cephalic full-face view, small portion of eye extending beyond side line of head. Antennal scape long, more than one-third of its apical section surpassing posterior margin of head. Length of third antennal segment regular, less than twice the length of the second. Propodeal lobe vestigial or absent. In dorsal view, petiolar node relatively long, about twice as long as broad; anterior portion slightly compressed laterally. With petiole in profile, node inclined anteriorly, anterior margin shorter and posteriorly sloped compared to the relatively vertical posterior margin; dorsal outline broadly convex and rounding to both margins. Mandible with surface smooth and shiny, interspersed by few punctures. Body dorsum generally smooth and glossy apart from scattered piligerous small punctures. Lateral portion of mesosoma smooth and shining; declivitous surface smooth, without transverse striation. Dorsum of head and body covered with whitish-yellow erect hairs and pubescence. Body black with bluish reflection; appendages dark brown, with light brown apices; tip of gaster of much lighter color.

Type Material
Holotype worker: Madagascar, Toliara, RS Ambohijanahary, Forêt d'Ankazotsihitafototra, 35.2 km 312° NW Ambaravaranala, -18.26667, 45.40667, 1050 m, montane rainforest, ex rotten log, 13–17 Jan 2003 (Fisher, Griswold et al.) collection code: BLF07090, specimen code: CASENT0196537. Paratype worker: with same data as holotype but specimen coded as: CASENT0496843 (CASC).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Rakotonirina J. C., and B. L. Fisher. 2014. Revision of the Malagasy ponerine ants of the genus Leptogenys Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 3836 (1): 001163.