First discovery of the mangrove ant Pheidole sexspinosa Mayr, 1870 (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) from the Oriental region, with redescriptions of the worker, queen and male

Digital Gems > Biodiversity Library of Southeast Asia

Language

English

Creator

Wang, W. Y.
Yamada, A.
Eguchi, K.

Source Title

The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology

Publication date

2018/11/15

Publisher

Dept. of Zoology, National University of Singapore, Singapore

Page

652–663

Content Type

Journal Article

Object Type

Text

Terms of Use

Open Access

Access Status

Open

Repository

NUS Libraries

Start File Page

652

End File Page

663

Volume

66

Issue

1

Call Number

QL319 NMB

Subject

Ants -- Asia -- Identification

Keyword

insect
mangrove habitat
new geographic distribution
Oceanian species

Abstract

The ant species Pheidole sexspinosa Mayr, 1870 is re-described based on colony series and individual specimens collected from various mangroves in Singapore; the worker, queen, and male, including male genitalia, are described. The recognition of P. sexspinosa in Singapore constitutes the species’ first discovery in the Oriental region. Pheidole sexspinosa was previously thought to be restricted to Oceania, but our findings suggest a much broader geographic distribution including continental Asia. COI partial sequences from the Singapore specimens are almost identical (100% cover, 99% identity) to those from Palau (Micronesia) specimens, which were identified as P. sexspinosa and registered in GenBank. The Singapore populations of P. sexspinosa were found nesting in a decayed stem of a Rhizophora L. (Rhizophoraceae) tree, and in cable roots of Excoecaria agallocha L. (Euphorbiaceae). The apparent wide distribution of P. sexspinosa may be attributed to long distance dispersal of rotten logs and branches, and viviparous seeds of mangrove trees carrying queens or queen-right colonies by seasonal circulatory currents, or human-mediated dispersal.

Permalink

https://oa.nus.libnova.com/view/52760