Stictoponera bicolor

Stictoponera bicolor is abundant in some areas, as evidenced by its abundance in museum collections.

Identification
Lattke (2004) - Occipital lobes prominent, projecting posteroventrally in lateral view; eyes situated on posterior half of head, usually less than one eye diameter from vertex. Mesosomal dorsum densely foveolate to areolate, with median longitudinal strip of strigae-rugulae extending from posterior pronotum to mesonotum. Mesosomal dorsal margin with more than ten standing hairs in lateral view. Propodeal declivitous face medially with raised posteriorly diverging surface that usually ends before anterior margin in small oval depression. Metacoxal tooth slender and straight.

Distribution
Known from China, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Indonesia.

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

Biology
Lattke (2004) - In the closely related species Stictoponera menadensis, most reproduction is through gamergates (Gobin, Peeters, and Billen 1998a), so it seems reasonable to expect a similar situation for S. bicolor.

Most habitat labels indicate mesic, forested habitats, especially rotten wood, as the favorite haunt of this species.

Worker
Queens have not been collected for this species.

Nomenclature

 * . Ectatomma (Stictoponera) bicolor Emery, 1889b: 493 (w.) MYANMAR.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-localities: Myanmar (“Burma”): Bhamo, Teinzo, Shwegoo, and Tenasserim, Meetan (L. Fea).
 * Type-depositories: MSNG, NHMB.
 * Lattke, 2004: 83 (m.).
 * Combination in Gnamptogenys: Brown, 1958g: 227;
 * combination in Stictoponera: Emery, 1911d: 48; Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 12.
 * Subspecies of coxalis: Emery, 1895k: 458.
 * Subspecies of menadensis: Emery, 1911d: 48; Wheeler, W.M. 1921c: 529; Wheeler, W.M. & Chapman, 1925: 59; Wheeler, W.M. 1930h: 58; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 30.
 * Status as species: Emery, 1889b: 494 (footnote, in key); Dalla Torre, 1893: 23; Forel, 1900d: 316; Bingham, 1903: 83; Teranishi, 1940: 66; Brown, 1950e: 245; Brown, 1954h: 4; Brown, 1958g: 227; Baltazar, 1966: 235; Radchenko, 1993a: 78; Bolton, 1995b: 208; Wu, J. & Wang, 1995: 37; Mathew & Tiwari, 2000: 272; Zhou, 2001b: 32; Lattke, 2004: 80 (redescription); Jaitrong & Nabhitabhata, 2005: 22; Zhou & Ran, 2010: 102; Guénard & Dunn, 2012: 27; Bharti, Guénard, et al. 2016: 22; Jaitrong, Guénard, et al. 2016: 26; Chen, et al. 2017: 108 (in key); Khachonpisitsak, et al. 2020: 37; Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 12.
 * Senior synonym of bannana: Lattke, 2004: 81; Zhou & Ran, 2010: 102 (footnote); Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 12.
 * Senior synonym of minor: Brown, 1950e: 245; Brown, 1954h: 4; Bolton, 1995b: 208; Zhou, 2001b: 33; Lattke, 2004: 81; Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 12.
 * Distribution: China, India, Indonesia (Bali, Java, Sumatra), Laos, Malaysia (Peninsula), Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam.
 * bannana. Gnamptogenys bannana Xu & Zhang, 1996: 55, figs. 1-7 (w.) CHINA (Yunnan).
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 5 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype China: Yunnan Prov., Menglun Town (21.9°N, 101.2°E), 560 m., 15.viii.1989 no. A89-1 (N. Yao); paratypes with same data.
 * Type-depository: SNUX.
 * Junior synonym of bicolor: Lattke, 2004: 81; Zhou & Ran, 2010: 102 (footnote); Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 12.
 * minor. Ectatomma (Stictoponera) bicolor var. minor Forel, 1900d: 317 (w.) MYANMAR.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Myanmar (“Burma”): (no further data) (Bingham).
 * Type-depository: MHNG.
 * [Unresolved junior primary homonym of Ectatomma (Acanthoponera) mucronatum var. minor Forel, 1899c: 9 (Bolton, 1995b: 209).]
 * As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Emery, 1911d: 48; Wheeler, W.M. 1927h: 83.
 * Subspecies of bicolor: Bingham, 1903: 83.
 * Subspecies of menadensis: Chapman & Capco, 1951: 30.
 * Junior synonym of bicolor: Brown, 1950e: 245; Brown, 1954h: 4; Bolton, 1995b: 209; Zhou, 2001b: 32; Lattke, 2004: 81; Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 12.

Lattke (2004) - This species shares with Stictoponera menadensis the protuberant occipital lobes and posteriorly displaced eyes and other features; consequently the two species are easily confused. Brown (1950, 1954b) described the variability in color and other morphological aspects that have caused confusion separating these species, as well as the reasons for the synonymy of G. minor. Even though Brown (1954b) cited the smooth promesonotal area in S. menadensis versus the strigulose surface in S. bicolor as a fairly reliable distinction, he still expressed the possibility of their synonymy. Stictoponera menadensis can be distinguished from S. bicolor in having (1) the lateral margins of the frontal lobes tending to be straight and parallel to each other; (2) the promesonotum with a smooth longitudinal median area; (3) the propodeal declivity with a parallel-sided raised area; and (4) the metacoxal tooth usually bent close to its base. S. menadensis generally has fewer foveolae on the postpetiole, and they are shallower and smaller in diameter than in S. bicolor. The sides of the fourth abdominal tergite in S. menadensis tend to be smoother with less-developed punctae. The hairs on the mesosomal dorsum of S. menadensis are very short, rarely protruding above the foveolae from which they originate.

Xu and Zhang (1996) described Stictoponera bannana from a series of workers taken in southern China. They describe it as very close to S. bicolor but differing in the development of the occipital lobe, gauge of the foveolate sculpture, and coloration. The color scheme of S. bannana can be found in S. bicolor, and the development of the occipital lobe also fits S. bicolor. The metrics for their type series mostly overlap those of S. bicolor specimens found in southern China. The ants were examined in 1997 by the myrmecologist Zhou Shanyi, and he could not find any difference between S. bannana and S. bicolor. So although the types were not personally seen in the course of this revision, it seems relatively safe to recognize S. bannana as a junior synonym of S. bicolor.

Wu and Wang (1995:36) included S. bicolor in a key to the species of Stictoponera present in China. Comments under Stictoponera menadensis provide an additional discussion of differences between these two species.

Worker
Lattke (2004) - Metrics (n = 10): HL 1.03-1.46, HW 0.86-1.17, ML 0.53-0.69, SL 0.79-1.17, ED 0.21-0.28, WL 1.37-1.96 mm. CI 0.78-0.88, SI 0.92-1.03, MI 0.57-0.66, OI 0.22-0.27. Head with broadly convex lateral margins that converge anteriorly in frontal view, posterior margin relatively straight with lateral protruding occipital lobes, anterior margin of clypeal lamella forming blunt angle, sometimes projecting anterad as narrow lobe with straight to weakly sinuate sides; frons rugulose-foveolate with sharp, roughly longitudinal ridges, foveolae with smooth, convex bottoms; frontal triangle divided through middle by longitudinal ridge; frontal lobe with subparallel lateral margin; scape with variable degree of longitudinal strigulae, from very strigulose to mostly smooth; clypeus longitudinally strigose. Occipital lobe prominent, projecting posteroventrally in lateral view; occipital lamella convex, low, with extremities either angular or convex; eye situated on posterior half of head, usually less than one ocular diameter distant from vertex.

Pronotum with lamellate humeral angle, ventral pronotal margin relatively narrow, frequently with sharply angular anteroventral corner, densely foveolate with occasional fine strigulae posterad; promesonotal suture marked as series of transverse depressions; mesosomal dorsum densely foveolate to areolate with median longitudinal strip of strigae-rugulae extending from posterior pronotum to mesonotum; anepisterum narrow, rectangular to cuneiform, usually smooth with some foveolae; katepisternum foveolate, with or without strigulae; metapleuron posteroventrally strigose, anterodorsally with narrow strip of mostly smooth or undulate cuticle; propodeum foveolate, unarmed, declivitous face medially with raised surface that diverges posteriorly, elevated area usually ends in small oval depression before anterior propodeal margin, cuticle surrounding raised area usually smooth. Petiolar node dorsally foveolate, with subquadrate to lobe like ventral process in lateral view; postpetiolar dorsum foveolate, foveolae well impressed, denser anterad than posterad, tergite densely foveolate anterolaterally; postpetiolar sternum transversely strigulose, laterally punctate-foveolate; dorsum of abdominal segment 4 mostly smooth with scattered punctulae, laterally with scattered punctae. Fore coxa transversely strigulose in lateral view; fore tarsus opposite strigil with single prominent basal seta, occasionally followed apically by row of slender setae; metacoxal tooth straight and slender. Most of body with scattered suberect to subdecumbent hairs. Mesosoma ferruginous to ferruginous brown; head slightly darker; gaster darkest, usually brown to nearly black.

Male
Lattke (2004) - Metrics (n = 1): HL 0.88, HW 0.83, ML 0.47, SL 0.24, ED 0.38, WL 1.70 mm. CI 0.94, SI 0.29, MI 0.57, OI 0.46. Frons mostly areolate in frontal view with oval depression just anterad of median ocellus; with single, sharp ridge extending from depression to posterior end of clypeus. Clypeal shield with median longitudinal sulcus, mostly smooth with lateral ridges; frontal triangle large, smooth bottomed. Occipital lobes modest, subquadrate, not as developed as workers. Pronotum densely foveolate; mesopleuron foveolate, mesopleural suture well impressed; anepisternum with some strigulae, especially posterad. Metapleuron and propodeum densely foveolate. Mesonotum foveolate with some rugosity, scutellum densely foveolate.

Type Material
Lattke (2004) - Syntype workers: Birmania [Myanmar], Tienzo (Fea) (MCSN) [Examined].

Gnamptogenys bannana Xu and Zhang, 1996:55. Holotype worker: China, Yunnan, Menglun Town (Niu Yao) (SNUC) [Not examined]. New synonymy.

'Ectatomma (Stictoponera) bicolor'' var. minor''' Forel, 1900:317. Syntype workers: Birmania [Myanmar] (MHNG) [Not examined]. Synonymized by Brown, 1950:245.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Alcantara M. J., S. Modi, T. C. Ling, J. Monkai, H. Xu, S. Huang, and A. Nakamura. 2019. Differences in geographic distribution of ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) between forests and rubber plantations: a case study in Xishuangbanna, China, and a global meta-analysis. Myrmecological News 29: 135-145.
 * Asfiya W., R. Ubaidillah, and Sk. Yamane. 2008. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Krakataus, and Sebesi and Sebuku islands. Treubia 36: 1-9.
 * Brown W. L., Jr. 1954. A review of the coxalis group of the ant genus Stictoponera Mayr. Breviora 34: 1-10.
 * Bui T.V. 2002. Result of ant survey in Tam Dao National Park. Hoi Nghi Con Trung Hoc Toan Quoc, Ha Noi 495-498.
 * Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
 * Chapman, J.W. and S.R. Capco. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monographs of the Institute of Science and Technology (Manila) 1: 1- 327
 * Chen Y. Q., Q. Li, Y. L. Chen, Z. X. Lu, X. Y. Zhou. 2011. Ant diversity and bio-indicators in land management of lac insect agroecosystem in Southwestern China. Biodivers. Conserv. 20: 3017-3038.
 * Chen Z., J. E. Lattke, F. Shi, and S. Zhou. 2017. Three new species of the genus Gnamptogenys (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from southern China with a key to the known Chinese species. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 54: 93-112.
 * Cheng D., Z. Chen, and S. Zhou. 2015. An analysis on the ant fauna of Jinzhongshan Nature Reserve in Gunagxi, China. Journal of Guangxi Normal University: Natural Science Edition 33(3): 129.137.
 * Dad J. M., S. A. Akbar, H. Bharti, and A. A. Wachkoo. 2019. Community structure and ant species diversity across select sites ofWestern Ghats, India. Acta Ecologica Sinica 39: 219–228.
 * Eguchi K., B. T. Viet, and S. Yamane. 2014. Generic Synopsis of the Formicidae of Vietnam (Insecta: Hymenoptera), Part IICerapachyinae, Aenictinae, Dorylinae, Leptanillinae, Amblyoponinae, Ponerinae, Ectatomminae and Proceratiinae. Zootaxa 3860: 001-046.
 * Eguchi K., T. V. Bui, S. Yamane, H. Okido, and K. Ogata. 2004. Ant faunas of Ba Vi and Tam Dao, North Vietnam (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull. Inst. Trop. Agr. Kyushu Univ. 27: 77-98.
 * Emery C. 1889. Formiche di Birmania e del Tenasserim raccolte da Leonardo Fea (1885-87). Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale 27: 485-520.
 * Emery C. 1911. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Ponerinae. Genera Insectorum 118: 1-125.
 * Fellowes J. R., and D. Dudgeon. 2003. Common ants of lowland forests in Hong Kong, Tropical China. Proceedings of the 2nd ANeT Workshop and Seminar, p. 19-43.
 * Fontanilla A. M., A. Nakamura, Z. Xu, M. Cao, R. L. Kitching, Y. Tang, and C. J. Burwell. 2019. Taxonomic and functional ant diversity along tropical, subtropical, and subalpine elevational transects in southwest China. Insects 10, 128; doi:10.3390/insects10050128
 * Forel A. 1900. Les Formicides de l'Empire des Indes et de Ceylan. Part VII. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 303-332.
 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Hatter S. J. S., Sen, M. Nibedita, R. Mathew, and S. Sharma. 2004. Faunal diversity of Saipung wild life sanctuaryl Narpuh Reserve forest, laintia Hills, Meghalaya, Conservation Area Series 21 : 1-66.
 * Hua Li-zhong. 2006. List of Chinese insects Vol. IV. Pages 262-273. Sun Yat-sen university Press, Guangzhou. 539 pages.
 * Jaitrong W., B. Guenard, E. P. Economo, N. Buddhakala, and S. Yamane. 2016. A checklist of known ant species of Laos (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Asian Myrmecology 8: 1-32. DOI: 10.20362/am.008019
 * Jaitrong W., and T. Ting-Nga. 2005. Ant fauna of Peninsular Botanical Garden (Khao Chong), Trang Province, Southern Thailand (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The Thailand Natural History Museum Journal 1(2): 137-147.
 * Jaitrong W.; Nabhitabhata, J. 2005. A list of known ant species of Thailand. The Thailand Natural History Museum Journal 1(1): 9-54.
 * Lattke J. E. 2004. A taxonomic revision and phylogenetic analysis of the ant genus Gnamptogenys Roger in Southeast Asia and Australasia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). University of California Publications in Entomology 122: 1-266.
 * Lattke, J.E. 2004. A taxonomic revision and phylogenetic analysis of the ant Gnamptogenys Roger in Southeast Asia and Australasia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). University of California Publications in Entomology 122: 1-266
 * Li Q., Y. Chen, S. Wang, Y. Zheng, Y. Zhu, and S. Wang. 2009. Diversity of ants in subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest in Pu'er City, Yunnan. Biodiversity Science 17(3): 233-239.
 * Li Z.h. 2006. List of Chinese Insects. Volume 4. Sun Yat-sen University Press
 * Liu X. 2012. Taxonomy, diversity and spatial distribution characters of the ant family Formicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) in southeastern Tibet. PhD Thesis 139 pages
 * Liu X., Z. Xu, N. Yu, and C. Zhang. 2016. Distribution patterns of ant species ( Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Galongla Mountains and Medog Valley of Southeastern Tibet. Scientia Silvae Sinicae 52(11): 88-95.
 * Lu Z., B. D. Hoffmann, and Y. Chen. 2016. Can reforested and plantation habitats effectively conserve SW China’s ant biodiversity? Biodivers. Conserv. DOI 10.1007/s10531-016-1090-1
 * Lu Z., Y. Chen, Q. Li, S. Wang, C. Liu, and W. Zhang. 2012. Effect of population of Kerria yunnanensis on diversity of ground dwelling ant. Acta Ecologica Sinica 32(19): 6195-6202.
 * Lu Z., and Y. Chen. 2016. Effects of habitat on ant functional groups: a case study of Luchun County, Yunnan Province, China. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture 24(5): 801-810.
 * Mathew R., and R. N. Tiwari. 2000. Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Pp. 251-409 in: Director; Zoological Survey of India (ed.) 2000. Fauna of of Meghalaya. Part 7. [State Fauna Series 4.] Insecta 2000. Calcutta: Zoological Survey of India, 621 pp.
 * Ogata K. 2005. Asian ant inventory and international networks. Report on Insect inventory Project in Tropic Asia TAIIV: 145-170.
 * Radchenko A. G. 1993. Ants from Vietnam in the collection of the Institute of Zoology, PAS, Warsaw. I. Pseudomyrmicinae, Dorylinae, Ponerinae. Annales Zoologici (Warsaw) 44: 75-82.
 * Song Y., Z. Xu, C. Li, N. Zhang, L. Zhang, H. Jiang, and F. Mo. 2013. An Analysis on the Ant Fauna of the Nangun river Nature Reserve in Yunnan, China. Forest Research 26(6): 773-780.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1921. Chinese ants collected by Prof. C. W. Howard. Psyche (Cambridge) 28: 110-115.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1921. Chinese ants. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 64: 529-547.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1927. Ants collected by Professor F. Silvestri in Indochina. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della Reale Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura. Portici 20: 83-106.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1930. A list of the known Chinese ants. Peking Natural History Bulletin 5: 53-81.
 * Wheeler W. M., and J. W. Chapman. 1925. The ants of the Philippine Islands. Part I, Dorylinae and Ponerinae. Philipp. J. Sci. 28: 47-73.
 * Wu J. and Wang C.. 1995. The ants of China. China Forestry Publishing House, Beijing. 214 pp.
 * Xu Z. H., B. L. Yang, and G. Hu. 1999. Formicidae ant communities in fragments of montane rain forest in Xishuangbanna, China. Zoological Research 20(4): 288-293.
 * Xu Z. H., and W. Zhang. 1996. A new species of the genus Gnamptogenys (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae) from Southwestern China. Entomotaxonomia 18(1): 55-58
 * Yamane S.; Bui T. V.; Ogata K.; Okido H.; Eguchi K. 2002. Ant fauna of Cuc Phuong National Park, North Vietnam (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the Institute of Tropical Agriculture Kyushu University 25: 51-62.
 * Zhang N. N., Y. Q. Chen, Z. X. Lu, W. Zhang, and K. L. Li. 2013. Species diversity, community structure difference and indicator species of leaf-litter ants in rubber plantations and secondary natural forests in Yunnan, southwestern China. Acta Entomologica Sinica 56(11): 1314-1323.
 * Zhang R. J., L. W. Liang, and S. Y. Zhou. 2014. An analysis on the ant fauna of Nonggang Nature Reserve in Guangxi, China. Journal of Guangxi Normal university: Natural Science Edition 32(3): 86-93.
 * Zhang W., G. Liu, P. Zhong, and S. Zhang. 2014. Investigation of Formicidae in Luofushan Mountain. Journal of Huizhou University 34(3): 46-50.
 * Zhao S., F. L. Jia, G. Q. Liang, Y. L. Ke, W. J. Tian. 2009. Ants and their distribution in Guangdong Province, China. Journal of Environmental Entomology 31(2): 156-161.
 * Zhou S.-Y. 2001. Ants of Guangxi. Guangxi Normal University Press, Guilin, China, Guilin, China. 255 pp.
 * Zryanin V. A. 2011. An eco-faunistic review of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). In: Structure and functions of soil communities of a monsoon tropical forest (Cat Tien National Park, southern Vietnam) / A.V. Tiunov (Editor). – M.: KMK Scientific Press. 2011. 277 р.101-124.