Technomyrmex vitiensis

Nomenclature

Species: Technomyrmex vitiensis Mann, 1921

Syntype: MCZC - ANTC17504 - CASENT0234022
Holotype: BPBM - ANTC18478 - CASENT0249090

External links

Diagnostic description

Diagnosis among workers of introduced and commonly intercepted species

Antenna 12-segmented. Antennal scape length less than 1.5x head length. Eyes medium to large (greater than 5 facets); eye length distinctly greater than length of erect hairs on frontal carinae. Antennal sockets and posterior clypeal margin separated by a distance less than the minimum width of antennal scape. Mandible lacking distinct basal angle. Dorsum of mesosoma with metanotal groove, but never with a deep and broad concavity; erect hairs present. Propodeum and petiolar node both lacking a pair of short teeth. Propodeum lacking posteriorly projecting protrusion; with dorsal surface distinctly shorter than posterior face. Waist 1-segmented (may be hidden by gaster). Petiolar node appearing flattened. Gaster armed with ventral slit; with five plates on its dorsal surface. Distinct constriction not visible between abdominal segments 3+4. Dorsum of head lacking erect hair posterior to eye. Pronotum with 1 pair of erect hairs. Mesonotum lacking erect hairs. Propodeum with 1 pair of erect hairs. Color uniformly dull brown with paler antennae, trochanters and tarsi; hind tarsus distinctly lighter in color than hind femur.

Technomyrmex vitiensis can be distinguished from Brachymyrmex species, with which it bears superficial resemblance, by the 12-segmented (versus 9-segmented) antenna, and by the presence of a ventral slit (versus acidopore) on the gaster tip. It can be differentiated from Technomyrmex species by the absence (versus presence) or erect hairs on the mesosoma, and by the gaster which has 4 plates on the dorsal surface and 6 on the ventral surface (versus 5 plates on both surfaces). It is most easily differentiated from Tapinoma sessile by the bicolored with dark head and light body, gaster and appendages (versus uniform brown color). Technomyrmex vitiensis is distinguished from its fellow introduced congeners by the following combination of characters: (1) no erect hairs on head posterior to eye level; (2) 1 pair of erect hairs on pronotum, 1 pair of propodeum, no erect hairs on mesonotum,; (3) hind tarsus distinctly lighter in color than hind femur; and (4) eye length is distinctly greater than length of erect hairs on frontal carinae. The species is most readily confused with T. albipes, and is most reliably distinguished by the larger eye size.

Look alikes

Brachymyrmex, Tapinoma sessile, Technomyrmex albipes,Technomyrmex difficilis, Technomyrmex pallipes

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

Technomyrmex vitiensis tending hemipteran, Hawaii, 4-02-2011

Technomyrmex vitiensis at sugar bait (Fiji, 2008)

<em>Technomyrmex vitiensis</em> at sugar bait

Technomyrmex vitiensis at cotton ball and sugar solution bait (Suva, Fiji). There are also several Tapinoma melanocephalum workers in this video clip, as well.

Lateral view of head, adult worker. Cephalic hairs absent.	Lateral view of eye / ocellus, adult worker. The eye length is not distinctly greater than length of cephalic hairs at same level on head. Used in Antkey to separate Technomyrmex albipes from Technomyrmex vitiensis.
Close-up view of antenna, adult worker. Antennal socket to clypeal margin distinctly less than minimum scape width.	Lateral view of leg, adult worker. The metatarsus is pale in color and contrasts sharply with the darker brown hind tibia and femur. Separates Technomyrmex albipes, T. difficilis and T. vitiensis from T. pallipes.
Lateral view of thorax / mesosoma, adult worker. Pronotum with one pair of hairs.	Lateral view of thorax / mesosoma, adult worker. Mesonotal hairs absent.
Lateral view of thorax / mesosoma, adult worker. Propodeum with one pair of hairs.	Lateral view of propodeum, adult worker. Propodeum with dorsal surface distinctly shorter than posterior face.
Lateral view of gaster, adult worker. Gaster with five dorsal plates.	Lateral view of pronotum, adult worker. Pronotum with one pair of erect hairs that differ from the appressed pilosity. Separates Technomyrmex difficilis, T. vitiensis, and T. pallipes from T. albipes. However, these hairs can be easily rubbed off prior to examination.
Lateral view of mesonotum, adult worker. Mesonotum lacking any erect hairs. Separates Technomyrmex albipes and T. vitiensis from T. difficilis and T. pallipes. However, the hairs of specimens can often be rubbed off prior to examination.	Lateral view of propodeum, adult worker. The propodeal declivity has a single pair of erect hairs. Used in Antkey to separate Technomyrmex vitiensis from T. albipes, T. difficilis and T. pallipes.