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⚫
'''''Euprenolepis''''' is a [[Southeast Asia]]n [[genus]] of [[ant]] in the [[subfamily]] [[Formicinae]] with eights recognized [[species]].<ref name="AWEuprenolepis"/>

⚫
'''''Euprenolepis''''' is a Southeast Asian [[genus]] of [[ant]] in the [[subfamily]] [[Formicinae]] with eights recognized [[species]].<ref name="AWEuprenolepis"/>


==Species==
==Species==
Line 33: Line 32:


==Taxonomy==
==Taxonomy==
''Euprenolepis'' was constructed as a [[subgenus]] within ''[[Prenolepis]]'' by [[Carlo Emery|Emery]] (1906), but he later moved the subgenus to ''Paratrechina'' (Emery, 1925). When ''Euprenolepis'' was raised to full genus level by Brown (1953), he also [[Synonym (taxonomy)|synonymized]] ''Chapmanella'' with ''Euprenolepis''.<ref name="LaPolla_2009_1"/>
''Euprenolepis'' was constructed as a [[subgenus]] within ''[[Prenolepis]]'' by [[Carlo Emery|Emery]] (1906), but he later moved the subgenus to ''[[Paratrechina]]'' (Emery, 1925). When ''Euprenolepis'' was raised to full genus level by Brown (1953), he also [[Synonym (taxonomy)|synonymized]] ''Chapmanella'' with ''Euprenolepis''.<ref name="LaPolla_2009_1"/>


==Description==
==Description==
Line 44: Line 43:
# widely spaced [[torula]]e.
# widely spaced [[torula]]e.


The reduced segmentation in the palps also helps in diagnosing the genus, except ''[[Pseudolasius]]'' also exhibits palpal segment reduction. With the exception of ''[[Euprenolepis negrosensis|E. negrosensis]]'', all species appear to have a 3:4 palpal formula. ''Pseudolasius'' typically possess 2 or 3 labial palpal segments. ''Euprenolepis'' is most likely to be confused with ''Pseudolasius'', however, with the exception of ''E. negrosensis'', ''Euprenolepis'' have much larger eyes than ''Pseudolasius'' species. Additionally, the six characters listed above provide a means to separate the two genera.<ref name="LaPolla_2009_3-4"/>
The reduced segmentation in the [[palps]] also helps in diagnosing the genus, except ''[[Pseudolasius]]'' also exhibits palpa] segment reduction. With the exception of ''[[Euprenolepis negrosensis|E. negrosensis]]'', all species appear to have a 3:4 palpal formula. ''Pseudolasius'' typically possess 2 or 3 labial palpal segments. ''Euprenolepis'' is most likely to be confused with ''Pseudolasius'', however, with the exception of ''E. negrosensis'', ''Euprenolepis'' have much larger eyes than ''Pseudolasius'' species. Additionally, the six characters listed above provide a means to separate the two genera.<ref name="LaPolla_2009_3-4"/>


''E. negrosensis'' placement within the genus remains somewhat problematic. The species was originally placed in its own genus, ''Chapmanella'', by Wheeler (1930), but overall its general morphology suggest placement in ''Euprenolepis''. However, it is distinctly unlike other species, in that it possesses very small eyes, extreme elongation of the mesosoma, a quadriform basal tooth (although rarely some specimens observed have a basal tooth as in other ''Euprenolepis'' species), and a 4:4 palpal formula. This species is at present maintained in ''Euprenolepis'', but this result should be confirmed with molecular data once specimens become available for molecular study.<ref name="LaPolla_2009_3-4"/>
''E. negrosensis'' placement within the genus remains somewhat problematic. The species was originally placed in its own genus, ''Chapmanella'', by Wheeler (1930), but overall its general morphology suggest placement in ''Euprenolepis''. However, it is distinctly unlike other species, in that it possesses very small eyes, extreme elongation of the [[mesosoma]], a quadriform basal tooth (although rarely some specimens observed have a basal tooth as in other ''Euprenolepis'' species), and a 4:4 palpal formula. This species is at present maintained in ''Euprenolepis'', but this result should be confirmed with molecular data once specimens become available for molecular study.<ref name="LaPolla_2009_3-4"/>


Morphological characters of ''E. negrosensis'' males do suggest placement within the genus for there are several shared characters among the three species where males are known. Among those characters shared with other ''Euprenolepis'' males are:<ref name="LaPolla_2009_3-4"/>
Morphological characters of ''E. negrosensis'' males do suggest placement within the genus for there are several shared characters among the three species where males are known. Among those characters shared with other ''Euprenolepis'' males are:<ref name="LaPolla_2009_3-4"/>
Line 60: Line 59:
<ref name="AWEuprenolepis">{{cite web |url=http://www.antweb.org/description.do?name=Euprenolepis&rank=genus&project=allantwebants |title= Genus: Euprenolepis|date= |website=antweb.org |publisher=[[AntWeb]] |accessdate=21 September 2013}}</ref>
<ref name="AWEuprenolepis">{{cite web |url=http://www.antweb.org/description.do?name=Euprenolepis&rank=genus&project=allantwebants |title= Genus: Euprenolepis|date= |website=antweb.org |publisher=[[AntWeb]] |accessdate=21 September 2013}}</ref>


<ref name="LaPolla_2009_1">{{harvnb|LaPolla|1930|p=1}}</ref>
<ref name="LaPolla_2009_1">{{harvnb|LaPolla|2009|p=1}}</ref>
<ref name="LaPolla_2009_3-4">{{harvnb|LaPolla|1930|pp=3–4}}</ref>
<ref name="LaPolla_2009_3-4">{{harvnb|LaPolla|2009|pp=3–4}}</ref>
<ref name="LaPolla_2009_4">{{harvnb|LaPolla|1930|p=4}}</ref>
<ref name="LaPolla_2009_4">{{harvnb|LaPolla|2009|p=4}}</ref>




Line 70: Line 69:
*Emery, C. (1906) Note sur Prenolepis vividula Nyl. et sur la classification des espèces du genre Prenolepis. ''Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique'', '''50''', 130–134.
*Emery, C. (1906) Note sur Prenolepis vividula Nyl. et sur la classification des espèces du genre Prenolepis. ''Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique'', '''50''', 130–134.
*Emery, C. (1925) Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Formicinae. ''Genera Insectorum'', '''183''', 1–302.
*Emery, C. (1925) Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Formicinae. ''Genera Insectorum'', '''183''', 1–302.
*LaPolla, John S. [http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2009/f/zt02046p025.pdf Taxonomic Revision of the Southeast Asian Ant Genus Euprenolepis]. 2009. ''Zootaxa'' '''2046''': 1–25
*{{citation|last1=LaPolla |first1=John S. |year=2009 |title= Taxonomic Revision of the Southeast Asian Ant Genus Euprenolepis. |journal=[[Zootaxa]] |volume=2046 |issue= |pages=1–25 |publisher= |doi= |url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2009/f/zt02046p025.pdf }}
*Wheeler, W.M. (1930) Two new genera of ants from Australia and the Philippines. ''Psyche'' (Cambridge), '''37''', 41–47.
*Wheeler, W.M. (1930) Two new genera of ants from Australia and the Philippines. ''Psyche'' (Cambridge), '''37''', 41–47.
{{refend}}
{{refend}}

Revision as of 05:20, 28 September 2013

Euprenolepis
Workers of E. procera feeding on a Pleurotus mushroom
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Hymenoptera
Family:
Formicidae
Subfamily:
Formicinae
Tribe:
Plagiolepidini
Genus:
Euprenolepis

Emery, 1906
Type species
Prenolepis procera
(Emery, 1900)

Euprenolepis is a Southeast Asian genus of ant in the subfamily Formicinae with eights recognized species.[1]

Species

Distribution

Euprenolepis is endemic to southeastern Asia. Most species are presently known from Borneo only, but whether or not this reflects biological reality or collecting bias remains unclear.[2]

Taxonomy

Euprenolepis was constructed as a subgenus within Prenolepis by Emery (1906), but he later moved the subgenus to Paratrechina (Emery, 1925). When Euprenolepis was raised to full genus level by Brown (1953), he also synonymized Chapmanella with Euprenolepis.[3]

Description

Six diagnostic characters can generally separate Euprenolepis workers from the workers of other formicine genera:[4]

  1. basal tooth with a distinct obtuse angle on the inner mandibular margin,
  2. apical tooth large and curved toward midline of body,
  3. mandalus large and conspicuous
  4. medially clypeus without a prominent keel,
  5. anterior clypeal margin medially emarginate, with a medially placed seta, and
  6. widely spaced torulae.

The reduced segmentation in the palps also helps in diagnosing the genus, except Pseudolasius also exhibits palpa] segment reduction. With the exception of E. negrosensis, all species appear to have a 3:4 palpal formula. Pseudolasius typically possess 2 or 3 labial palpal segments. Euprenolepis is most likely to be confused with Pseudolasius, however, with the exception of E. negrosensis, Euprenolepis have much larger eyes than Pseudolasius species. Additionally, the six characters listed above provide a means to separate the two genera.[4]

E. negrosensis placement within the genus remains somewhat problematic. The species was originally placed in its own genus, Chapmanella, by Wheeler (1930), but overall its general morphology suggest placement in Euprenolepis. However, it is distinctly unlike other species, in that it possesses very small eyes, extreme elongation of the mesosoma, a quadriform basal tooth (although rarely some specimens observed have a basal tooth as in other Euprenolepis species), and a 4:4 palpal formula. This species is at present maintained in Euprenolepis, but this result should be confirmed with molecular data once specimens become available for molecular study.[4]

Morphological characters of E. negrosensis males do suggest placement within the genus for there are several shared characters among the three species where males are known. Among those characters shared with other Euprenolepis males are:[4]

  1. digiti weakly anvil-shaped, ventrally directed,
  2. digiti and cuspi meeting dorsally, about halfway along length of digiti, and
  3. apices of parameres bending towards the midline of the body.

These three characters may represent diagnostic features for the genus. Another distinctive feature of all known Euprenolepis males is their hirsuteness, especially on the parameres and terminal gastral segments. The parameres can be difficult to see because of the presence of abundant, long setae. It appears E. negrosensis is a hypogaeic species based on its small eyes and yellow, thin cuticle, and this may explain the unusual appearance of the workers compared to other species within the genus. It remains unclear how widespread polymorphism is in the genus. Polymorphism is exhibited in E. procera, with a minor and major worker caste clearly expressed. However, in no other known species is polymorphism observed. This may reflect collecting bias, because most species are only known from a few localities. However, at least one species, E. wittei, has been collected from long nest series and polymorphism has not been found in the workers. Despite E. procera being by far the most commonly encountered Euprenolepis in collections, majors are still relatively uncommon.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Genus: Euprenolepis". antweb.org. AntWeb. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
  2. ^ LaPolla 2009, p. 4
  3. ^ LaPolla 2009, p. 1
  4. ^ a b c d e LaPolla 2009, pp. 3–4
  • Brown, W.L., Jr. (1953) Characters and synonymies among the genera of ants. Part II. Breviora, 18, 1–8.
  • Emery, C. (1906) Note sur Prenolepis vividula Nyl. et sur la classification des espèces du genre Prenolepis. Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique, 50, 130–134.
  • Emery, C. (1925) Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Formicinae. Genera Insectorum, 183, 1–302.
  • LaPolla, John S. (2009), "Taxonomic Revision of the Southeast Asian Ant Genus Euprenolepis." (PDF), Zootaxa, 2046: 1–25
  • Wheeler, W.M. (1930) Two new genera of ants from Australia and the Philippines. Psyche (Cambridge), 37, 41–47.
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