Acanthostichus arizonensis

Acanthostichus are subterranean, predaceous ants and are infrequently collected. The type series of A. arizonensis was associated with termites. Workers have been collected from chambers found under stones that occurred at elevations ranging from 1070 - 1780m. Little is know about this species or the biology of any species in this genus.

Identification
Workers (MacKay 1996): The densely punctate petiolar node will distinguish it from all other species in the genus except Acanthostichus punctiscapus. It can be separated from this latter species in that the scape is mostly smooth and glossy (not heavily punctate as in A. punctiscapus).

Distribution
Known from SE Arizona.

This taxon was described from the United States.

Biology
A. arizonensis has been found from 1070 m to 1780 m, reaching up to the oak-juniper association.

Habitat. Grasslands at the Santa Rita Experimental Range. Biology. Workers of this species are often found associated with termites, which may be their principal or exclusive prey. (Mackay and Mackay 2002)

Nomenclature

 *  arizonensis. Acanthostichus arizonensis Mackay, 1996: 141, figs. 6, 17, 18 (w.) U. S. A.

Worker
Mandible with tooth-like protuberance on medial masticatory border, which may be essentially worn away; lateral clypeal angles well formed; outer edge of scape convex: eye consisting of four or five poorly defined ommatidia; vertex concave; hind femora elongate, not incrassate; petiole slightly longer than broad, slightly wider posteriorly; subpetiolar process poorly defined. Sparse erect hairs (most less than 0.1 mm, some as long as 0.25 mm) scattered on all body surfaces. Mandibles, scape, head and mesosoma smooth and glossy, with scattered punctures. Dorsum of petiole and most terga of gaster with dense punctures.

Measurements: HL 0.94-0.95; HW 0.79-0.83; SL 0.43-0.44; SW 0.16; WL 1.28-1.32; PW 0.44-0.46; PL 0.46-0.48; FL 0.58-0.60; FW 0.25; SI 45-46; CI 84-87; PI 103-106; FI 2.30-2.40; SL/SW 2.62-2.69;

Queen
unknown

Male
unknown

Type Material
Holotype worker (MCZ) and 13 paratype workers (BMNH, CWEM, IMLA, INPA, LACM, MCZ, MNHC, MIZA, MZSP, UAIC, USNM).

Type Locality
Arizona. Pima Co., 7 mi SE Sahuarita, Sept 3, 1982, T.C. Myles.

Etymology
Geographic. "Indicates that this species occurs in Arizona."

Additional References
MacKay, W. P. 1996. A revision of the ant genus Acanthostichus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 27:129-179.