Strumigenys minutula Terayama & Kubota, 1989

Brassard, Francois, Leong, Chi-Man, Chan, Hoi-Hou & Guenard, Benoit, 2020, A new subterranean species and an updated checklist of Strumigenys (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Macao SAR, China, with a key to species of the Greater Bay Area, ZooKeys 970, pp. 63-116 : 63

Strumigenys minutula Terayama & Kubota, 1989 Figures 10 , 11

Strumigenys minutula Terayama & Kubota, 1989: 782, figs 13-17 (w.q.) Taiwan. Indomalaya.

Geographic distribution.

China (Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan), Japan (Ryukyu Islands).

Comments.

In contrast to Hong Kong, where this species has been rarely collected ( Tang et al. 2019), S. minutula was frequently found in Macao since its first collection in 2017 ( Leong et al. 2017). Individuals were commonly found within leaf litter samples, and a full colony was also retrieved within one of the ground nests deployed (see Fig. 11 ). At the time of collection on (29 August 2019), the colony consisted of 135 workers, two dealate queens, eight larvae, and 12 pupae (eggs were not counted). This represents a similar colony size as described previously from Japan, where a polygynous colony of 300 individuals was recorded ( Terayama et al. 2014). Note that, on the left foreleg of the queen imaged (Fig. 10E ), a mite is attached. It remains to be investigated which mite species it is, and if this represent a case of parasitism, phoresis or myrmecophily in S. minutula .

Material examined.

Macao SAR, China • 22 Workers; Macao, Coloane Island, Hac Sa Reservoir family trail near 1-05-12; 22.1237°N, 113.5684°E, ca. 90 m; 8 April 2019; F. Brassard leg.; Winkler; MAC_S06_LLSA_Sp.6; IBBL. • 1 Worker; Macao, Coloane Island, Coloane trail near 1-01-10; 22.1165°N, 113.5589°E, ca. 100 m; 10 April 2019; F. Brassard leg.; Winkler MAC_S10_LLSA_Sp.2; IBBL. • 2 Workers; Macao, Coloane Island, Ka Ho Family Trail Peak; 22.1284°N, 113.5702°E, ca. 180 m; 16 May 2019; F. Brassard leg.; Winkler; MAC_S14_LLSP_Sp.4; IBBL. • 135 Workers; Macao, Coloane Island, Coloane Trail (Near 1-01-10 distance post); 22.1351°N, 113.5700°E, ca. 80 m; 16 May 2019; F. Brassard leg.; Ground nest; MAC_S11_GN3_H4_n1; IBBL. • 1 Worker; Macao, Coloane Island, Ka Ho Family Trail Peak; 22.1284°N, 113.5702°E, ca. 180 m; 16 May 2019; F. Brassard leg.; Winkler; MAC_S14_LLSA_Sp.11; IBBL]. • 1 Worker; Macao, Coloane Island, Ka Ho Lighthouse 2; 22.1292°N, 113.5909°E, ca. 30 m; 21 May 2019; F. Brassard leg.; Winkler; MAC_S17_LLSA_Sp.10; IBBL. • 13 Workers; Macao, Coloane Island, Ka Ho Lighthouse 2; 22.1292°N, 113.5909°E, ca. 30 m; 21 May 2019; F. Brassard leg.; Winkler; MAC_S17_LLSP_Sp.4; IBBL. • 1 Worker; Macao, Coloane Island, Caesars Golf Macau; 22.1351°N, 113.5612°E, ca. 10 m; 25 June 2019; F. Brassard leg.; Winkler; MAC_S19_LLSP_Sp.4; IBBL. • 1 Worker; Macao, Taipa Island, Siu Tam Hill; 22.1603°N, 113.5471°E; 22 July 2018; C.M. Leong leg.; IBBL. • 1 Worker; Macao, Coloane Island, Ka Ho Reservoir; 22.1251°N,, 113.5692°E; 20 July 2016; C.M. Leong leg.; IBBL. • 1 Worker; Macao, Coloane Island, Ka Ho Reservoir; 22.1251°N,, 113.5691°E; 20 August 2016; C.M. Leong leg.; IBBL. • 1 Worker; Macao, Coloane Island, Hac Sa Reservoir; 20 August 2016; C.M. Leong leg.; IBBL. • 2 Queens; Macao, Coloane Island, Coloane Trail (Near 1-01-10 distance post); 22.1351°N, 113.5700°E, ca. 80 m; 16 May 2019; F. Brassard leg.; MAC_S11_GN3_H4_n1; Ground nest; IBBL.

Figures

Figure 10. Strumigenys minutula in full-face, profile and dorsal view A-C worker (MAC _ S 11 _ GN 3 _ H 4 _ n 1) D-F queen (MAC _ S 11 _ GN 3 _ H 4 _ n 1).

Figure 11. Photos of S. minutula (MAC _ S 11 _ GN 3 _ H 4 _ n 1) showing some of the workers, including one carrying a larva (A), a queen (see center of B), and debris (A-B) found inside a ground nest.