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Plagiolepis alluaudi

Nomenclature

Species: Plagiolepis alluaudi Emery, 1894

Usage: valid

External links

Antweb | Antwiki

Diagnostic description

Diagnosis of worker among Antkey species

Worker caste monomorphic. Head circular (HL = HW). Antenna 11-segmented. Antennal club indistinct. Antennal scape exceeding the posterior head margin by a distance greater than half the eye length; less than 1.5x head length. Eyes medium to large (greater than 5 facets); do not break outline of head. Posterior head margin strongly convex. Dorsum of mesosoma lacking metanotal impression; lacking erect hairs. Propodeum and petiolar node both lacking a pair of short teeth. Propodeum lacking posteriorly projecting protrusion. Metapleuron with a distinct gland orifice. Waist 1-segmented (may be hidden by gaster). Petiole upright and not appearing flattened. Gaster armed with acidopore. Distinct constriction not visible between abdominal segments 3+4. Color uniformly light brownish yellow.

The only other genera with 11-segmented antenna among the introduced or commonly intercepted species in the United States are Anoplolepis and Lepisiota. Plagiolepis can be distinguished from Anoplolepis species by the significantly smaller size (< 2 mm) and relatively short appendages. It can be distinguished from Lepisiota by the lack of teeth arming the propodeum and petiolar node. The only other genera of formicine with species that lack a metanotal impression is Camponotus, from which Plagiolepis is distinguished by its much smaller size, monomorphic worker caste, and shorter antennal scapes.

Plagiolepis alluaudi can be separated from both P. exigua and P. pygmaea by its circular head that is as long as wide (versus ovoid head that is longer than wide) and by the strongly convex (versus weakly to moderately concave) posterior head margin. It can be further distinguished from P. exigua by the longer antennal scapes that exceed the posterior head margin by a distance greater than half the eye length, and from P. pygmaea by the light yellowish (versus dark brown) color.

Look alikes

Plagiolepis exigua, Plagiolepis pygmaea

Distribution

Click here for updated occurrence data and map on antmaps.org
Click here for updated occurrence data and map on GBIF.org

Videos of live ants

Plagiolepis alluaudi at sugar bait, Hawaii, 04-02-2011

Plagiolepis alluaudi foraging on tree, Hawaii, 04-02-2011

Plagiolepis alluaudi foraging on vegetation, Hawaii, 04-02-2011

<em>Plagiolepis alluaudi</em> at sugar bait

Plagiolepis alluaudi at cotton ball and sugar solution bait (Suva, Fiji). Notice the minute size and nearly translucent color.

 
Close-up view of head, adult worker. Posterior head margin strongly convex.
Close-up view of head, adult worker. Posterior head margin strongly convex.
Close-up view of head, adult worker. The posterior margin of the head is distinctly convex. Used in Antkey to separate Plagiolepis alluaudi and Plagiolepis pygmaea from Plagiolepis exigua .
Close-up view of head, adult worker. The posterior margin of the head is distinctly convex. Used in Antkey to separate Plagiolepis alluaudi and Plagiolepis pygmaea from Plagiolepis exigua.
Anterior view of frontal carina, adult worker. Frontal lobes.
Anterior view of frontal carina, adult worker. Frontal lobes.
Anterior view of antenna, adult worker. Antennal scapes exceed posterior head margin by a distance greater than half eye length. Separates Plagiolepis alluaudi and Plagiolepis pygmae from Plagiolepis exigua .
Anterior view of antenna, adult worker. Antennal scapes exceed posterior head margin by a distance greater than half eye length. Separates Plagiolepis alluaudi and Plagiolepis pygmae from Plagiolepis exigua.
Lateral view of thorax / mesosoma, adult worker. Metanotal groove absent.
Lateral view of thorax / mesosoma, adult worker. Metanotal groove absent.