Acropyga rubescens

Nothing is known about the biology of this ant.

Identification
Worker: 11 segmented antennae; mandible with 5 teeth and indistinct ridges that run along dorsal surface fading toward median portion of mandibles; scapes > 0.9 mm; many erect hairs on head, mesosoma and gaster giving ant a "spiky appearance." Queen: As in worker with modifications expected for caste. Male: As in Acropyga acutiventris, except hairier and penis valve differences. Compare with Acropyga acutiventris.

This species is the largest known Acropyga species, and is closely related to Acropyga acutiventris.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India, Sri Lanka.

From LaPolla (2004): This species is presently known from only 3 localities in Sri Lanka and one locality in India.

Nomenclature

 *  rubescens. Acropyga acutiventris var. rubescens Forel, 1894c: 418 (w.q.m.) INDIA. Senior synonym of rubens: Emery, 1925b: 28. Raised to species and senior synonym of bugnioni: LaPolla, 2004a: 33.
 * bugnioni. Acropyga acutiventris subsp. bugnioni Forel, 1911i: 226 (w.q.) SRI LANKA. Junior synonym of rubescens: LaPolla, 2004a: 33.
 * rubens. Acropyga acutiventris subsp. rubens Forel, 1911e: 286 (w) no locality stated. [This name most probably in error for rubescens.] Junior synonym of rubescens: Emery, 1925b: 28.

Lapolla (2004) - Acropyga rubescens has been elevated to species status based on 6 points of distinction from A. acutiventris: 1) setation of A. rubsecens is distinct: a) much denser hairs in general found across body; b) hairs on posterior margin of head often very long, much longer than seen in A. acutiventris; c) mesosomal hairs longer and denser; 2) A. rubescens larger overall; 3) with longer scapes (higher SI); 4) dorsal mandibular striate sculpture thinner disappearing about mid-way toward mandible articulation point with head; 5) shapes of penis valves differ; 6) both "forms" are sympatric in India/Sri Lanka region.

Worker
From LaPolla (2004) - Head: brownish-yellow to reddish-yellow; head about as broad as long; posterior margin concave; covered in a thick layer of appressed hairs, with many scattered, long erect hairs especially along posterior margin; eyes relatively large, placed at lower 114 of head; 11 segmented, incrassate antennae; scape nearly reaches or surpasses posterior margin up to length of pedicel; clypeus broad, slightly convex medially with many erect hairs, the longest ones along anterior clypeal margin; mandible with 5 uneven teeth; 3rd and 5th tooth (from apical to basal) smaller than others; dorsal surface of mandible covered in many erect hairs and with indistinct ridges originating near base of teeth and fading entirely toward middle of mandible; slight gap present between inner mandibular surface and anterior clypeal margin. Mesosoma: brownish-yellow to reddish-yellow; mesosoma covered throughout in dense layer of appressed hairs with scattered erect hairs of varying lengths; pronotum in lateral view typically with short shelf before rising sharply toward mesonotum; mesonotum rounded with many long erect hairs (many times longer than shortest erect hairs); metanotal area distinct; propodeum rounded, below level of mesonotum, propodeal dorsum flat before steep declivity; propodeum with dense layer of erect and appressed hairs. Gaster: brownish-yellow to reddish-yellow, darker than head and mesosoma; petiole thick and erect reaching height of propodeum; yellow to light brownish-yellow; gaster covered in thick layer of appressed hairs with many scattered erect hairs throughout giving a "spiky" appearance.

Measurements (n=7): TL: 3.39-5.11; HW: 0.891-1.16; HL: 0.915-1.06; SL: 0.914-1.16; ML: 1.07-1.31; GL: 1.35-2.74; CI: 91.53-109.43; SI: 97.39-106.67.

Queen
From LaPolla (2004) - As in worker with modifications expected for caste.

Measurements (n= l): TL: 6.16; HW: 1.36; HL: 1.36; SL: 1.34; ML: 2.23; GL: 2.57; CI: 100; SI: 98.53.

Male
From LaPolla (2004) - Head: brownish-yellow to reddish-yellow, darker around three prominent ocelli; head about as broad as long; covered in layer of appressed hairs with suberect to erect hairs; eyes large, breaking outline of head in full frontal view; 12 segmented, slightly incrassate antennae; scape surpasses posterior margin by about length of first two funicular segments; clypeus broad, relatively flat, with scattered short erect hairs; mandible with 4 teeth; a gap exists between inner mandibular margin and anterior clypeal margin. Mesosoma: light brownish-yellow to reddish-yellow; pronotum short and collar-like; mesonotum large, rounded anteriorly; mesonotum dorsum flat, with layer of shorter appressed hairs and scattered longer erect hairs throughout; propodeum lower than mesonotum and scutellum; declivity not distinct from propodeum. Gaster: petiole thick and erect; gaster brownish-yellow to reddish-yellow, darker dorsally; covered in dense layer of appressed hairs with scattered erect hairs throughout. Genitalia: in lateral view parameres thick, tapering to a rounded apex; parameres with medial dorsolateral extensions; cuspi short, bent toward approximately middle of digiti, where they meet with short, peg-like teeth at apex; digiti long and erect with short peg-like teeth where cuspi meet, apex rounded.

Measurements (n= l ): TL: 3.52; HW: 0.644; HL: 0.665; SL: 0.611 ; ML: 1.25; GL: 1.6; CI: 96.84; SI: 94.88.

Type Material
Acropyga acutiventris rubescens Forel, 1894: 418, (w.q.m.). 10 syntype workers, 2 syntype queens, 3 syntype males, INDIA: Kanara (Bell) (AMNH) (BMNH) (MCZC) [examined]. The designated lectotype is a worker labeled JSL TYPE # 111 and is deposited at MCZC.

Acropyga acutiventris bugnioni Forel, 1911c: 226 (w.q.). 2 syntype workers, SRI LANKA: no specific locality given (NHMB) [examined]. NEW SYNONYM.

Acropyga acutiventris rubens Forel, 19l1a: 286 (w.). Holotype worker, no locality provided (depository unknown) [not examined]. Synonym of A. rubescens by Emery, 1925 [probably a miss-spelling of rubescens (Bolton, 1995)] (here confirmed).

Additional References

 * Biinzli, G.H. 1935. Untersuchungen iiber coccidophile Ameisen aus den Kaffeefelden von Surinam. Mitteilungen der Schweizerischen Entomologischen Gesellschaft 16:455-593.


 * Brown, W.L., Jr. 1945. An unusual behavior pattern observed in a Szechuanese ant. Journal of the West China Border Research Society 15:185-186.


 * Buschinger, J., J. Heinze & K. Jessen. 1987. First European record ofa queen ant carrying a mealybug during her mating flight. NatUlwissenschaften 74:139-140.


 * Eberhard, W.G. 1978. Mating swarms ofa South American Acropygia [sic.] (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Entomological News 89(1 & 2):14-16.


 * Eisner, T. 1957. A comparative morphological study ofthc proventriculus of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin ofthe Museum of Comparative Zoology 116:439-490.


 * Holldobler B . & E.O. Wilson. 1990. The Ants. Belknap Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 732 pp.


 * Johnson, c., D. Agosti, J.H. Delabie, K. Dumpert, OJ. Williams, M. von Tschimhaus & U. Maschwitz. 2001 . Acropyga and Azteca Ants with Scale Insects: 20 Million Years ofIntimate Symbiosis. American Museum Noviates 3335:1-18.


 * LaPolla, J.S., S.P. Cover & U.G. Mueller. 2002. Natural history of the mealybug-tending ant Acropyga epedana, with descriptions of the male and queen castes. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 128(3):367-376.


 * Prins, AJ. 1982. Review of Anoplolepis with reference to male genitalia, and notes on Acropyga. Annals of the South African Museum 89:215-247.


 * Weber, N.A. 1944. The Neotropical coccid-tending ants of the genus Acropyga Roger. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 37:89-122.


 * Wheeler, G.C. & J.C. Wheeler. 1953. The ant larvae of the subfamily Formicinae. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 46:126-171.


 * Wheeler, W.M. 1935b. Ants of the genus Acropyga Roger, with description ofa new species. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 43:321-329.


 * Williams, D J . 1998. Mealybugs of the genera Eumyrmococcus Silvestri and Xenococcus Silvestri associated with the ant genus Acropyga Roger and a review of the subfamily (Hemiptera, Coccoidea, Pseudoccidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History)(Entomology) 67:1-64.