Pacific Islands: Micronesia > Formicidae > Amblyoponinae > Prionopelta > Prionopelta kraepelini
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Species: Prionopelta kraepelini

Name Status: Valid Name

Taxonomic Hierarchy:

Subfamily: Amblyoponinae Genus: Prionopelta

Taxonomic History (provided by Barry Bolton, 2013)

Prionopelta kraepelini Forel, 1905f PDF: 3 (w.q.) INDONESIA (Java). AntCat AntWiki

Taxonomic history

Bharti & Wachkoo, 2012c: 818 (m.).

Distribution:

Indo-Australia. Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia east through the Philippines and Micronesia to Samoa.
Fiji. Viti Levu
Philippines. Islands of Luzon, Negros, Samar

Biology:

Shattuck (2008). This is one of the most widely distributed species in the genus, being found from Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia east through the Philippines and Micronesia to Samoa. Most specimens have been collected from leaf litter samples in forested areas (mainly rainforests but including parkland on volcanic soil). It should be noted that the Samoan population is a considerable outlier and is somewhat unexpected given that the range of P. opaca is much closer to Samoa than the main range of P. kraepelini . Unfortunately the currently available Samoan material is limited to queens, and while these queens are morphologically similar to P. kraepelini it is possible that this population belongs to a distinct species. The discovery of workers will help confirm the true identity of this population.

Sarnat & Economo (in press). Shattuck (2008) reports P. kraepelini as being one of the most widespread species in the genus, citing its range as extending from Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia east through the Philippines and Micronesia to Samoa. The discovery of the species on Fiji helps reconcile the geographical disjunction represented by the previously outlying population found in Samoa. The possibility that the species was brought to Polynesia by humans, as suggested by Wilson and Taylor (1967), is supported by the collection of this species in Fiji beneath a roadside stone.

Identification:

In Indo-Australia (Shattuck 2008)
Description. Anterolateral corners of head, near mandibular insertions, rounded and lacking a tooth. Dorsal pronotal sculpturing consisting of fine punctations which contrast markedly with widely spaced foveae on mesonotum and propodeum. Foveae on dorsum of propodeum varying across its width (weakest medially, stronger laterally). Lateral mesosomal sculpturing consisting of small foveae on pronotum and anterior and ventral region of mesopleuron, dorsal region of mesopleuron and majority of propodeum smooth. Fenestra generally present but sometimes weakly developed within subpetiolar process. Colour pale yellow to yellow-red. Measurements. (n=13) CI 74-80; HL 0.45-0.49; HW 0.33-0.38; ML 0.50-0.60; PetL 0.12-0.15; PetW 0.18-0.21; PI 131-154; SI 66-73; SL 0.24-0.27; T 1W 0.28-0.32.

Discussion. Taxonomically, Brown (1960) confused this species with P. opaca and didn't recognize the specimens here placed in P. robynmae as belonging to a separate species. In fact, all three of these species, while morphologically similar, can be separated as follows. In true kraepelini the sculpturing on the pronotum consists of small, fine punctures which contrast strongly with the widely spaced foveae on the mesonotum and propodeum(Fig. 5). In opaca the pronotal sculpturing is composed of widely spaced foveae which are only slightly more dense than those on the mesonotum and propodeum (Fig. 18). And in robynmae the sculpturing consists of small foveae on the pronotum which contrasts markedly with the widely spaced foveae on mesonotum and propodeum (Fig. 19). In addition, the density of the sculpturing across the width of the propodeum is variable (weakest medially, stronger laterally) in kraepelini and robynmae and uniform in opaca . The shape of the petiolar node also differs across these species. It is narrowest and shortest in kraepelini , relatively longer and broader in opaca and long but narrow in robynmae (Fig. 6). Essentially all presently known material can be unambiguously sorted into three sets representing these three taxa based on these character systems. In all other respects the material of these taxa is essentially identical or the differences are slight and random and show no obvious patterns. While kraepelini is allopatric to the others, opaca and robynmae have been collected together (from the same litter sample) in PNG.

The only apparent exception to this pattern is a single collection from Palolo, Palu, C. Celebes, Indonesia. In these specimens, the punctations on the propodeal dorsum are somewhat intermediate between kraepelini and opaca , although they are more similar to typical kraepelini than typical opaca . This is consistent with other material from Sulawesi which is typical of kraepelini . A reexamination of Brown's Micronesian material has failed to uncover his "intergradient" forms as all could be placed with confidence into kraepelini , opaca or robynmae.

In Fiji
A pale yellow shiny species with face covered densely by small punctures, the pronotum covered more lightly by small punctures, and a mostly smooth propodeal surface marked occasionally by larger punctures. The head is distinctly longer than broad, and the eyes are reduced to a single dark facet. The subpetiolar process is developed as a broad anteriorly projecting keel. Short, suberect pilosity is abundant.

References:

Shattuck SO (2008) Revision of the ant genus Prionopelta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Indo-Pacific region. Zootaxa 1846, 21-34.

Wilson EO, Taylor RW (1967) The ants of Polynesia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pacific Insects Monograph 14, 1-109.

Taxon Page Author History

Taxonomic Treatment (provided by Plazi)

Shattuck, S. O., 2008:
(Figs 3-7, 20)
Prionopelta kraepelini Forel , 1905: 3.
Types . Worker and queen syntypes from Tjompea, near Bogor, Java, Indonesia ( MHNG , examined).
Diagnosis. Sculpturing on dorsum of pronotum consisting of fine punctations which contrast markedly with widely spaced foveae on mesonotum and propodeum, the foveae on the propodeum varying in density across its width (weakest medially, stronger laterally). Head width less than 0.48mm. Petiole relatively narrow, PetW less than 0.21.
Description. Anterolateral corners of head, near mandibular insertions, rounded and lacking a tooth. Dorsal pronotal sculpturing consisting of fine punctations which contrast markedly with widely spaced foveae on mesonotum and propodeum. Foveae on dorsum of propodeum varying across its width (weakest medially, stronger laterally). Lateral mesosomal sculpturing consisting of small foveae on pronotum and anterior and ventral region of mesopleuron, dorsal region of mesopleuron and majority of propodeum smooth. Fenestra generally present but sometimes weakly developed within subpetiolar process. Colour pale yellow to yellow-red.
Measurements. (n=13) CI 74-80; HL 0.45-0.49; HW 0.33-0.38; ML 0.50-0.60; PetL 0.12-0.15; PetW 0.18-0.21; PI 131-154; SI 66-73; SL 0.24-0.27; T 1W 0.28-0.32.
Material examined (in ANIC unless otherwise noted). Caroline Islands: Palau Islands: NW Auluptagel (Gressitt,J.L.); Truk Islands: Mt. Teroken, Moen Island (Gressitt,J.L.); Yap Group: Dugor, Yap Island (Goss,R.J.); Kanif, Yap Island (Goss,R.J.); N Yap Island (Goss,R.J.). Samoa: Upolu: Apia (Ettershank,G.; Taylor,R.W.) ( ANIC , MCZC ); Napanua (Maddison,P.A. & Light,M.V.); Vaivasi/Vaivase (Lidgard,W.; Maddison,P.A.; Taylor,R.W. & Lidgard,W.) ( ANIC , MCZC ); Viala (Taylor,R.W.) ( ANIC , MCZC ). Indonesia: Banten: Palau Peucang (Harvey,M.S.); Central Sulawesi: Palolo, Palu, C.Celebes (Yasunaga,T.); North Sulawesi: Dumoga-Bone Nat'l Park (Kistner,D.H. & Roche,D.F.); Utara, Dumoga-Bone NP (Horak,M.); Sumatra: Lake Toba, Samosir Is. (Jaccoud,T. & Marcuard,P.); West Java: Buitenzorg (Kemer,N.A.) ( MCZC ). Malaysia: Perak: Sungei Simei Falls, Cameron Highlands (Jaccoud,T. & Marcuard,P.); Sungei Simei Falls, Cameron Highlands (Jaccoud,T. & Marcuard,P.); Sabah: mi.45 Labuk Rd. ex. Sandakan (Lungmanis) (Taylor,R.W.); Sepilok For. Res. nr. Sandakan (Taylor,R.W.); Tawau, Quoin Hill (Taylor,R.W.); Sarawak: Kampong Segu, 20mi. SW Kuching (Taylor,R.W.); Kampong Segu, 20mi. SW Kuching (Taylor,R.W.). Philippines: Luzon: Mt. Makiling (Baker,C.F.) ( MCZC ); Negros: Dumaguete (Chapman,J.W.; Empeso,D.) ( MCZC ); Old Cemetery, Dumaguete (Empeso,D.) ( MCZC ); Quezon: Quezon City, Ateneo de Manila (Lowery,B.B.).
Comments. This is one of the most widely distributed species in the genus, being found from Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia east through the Philippines and Micronesia to Samoa. Most specimens have been collected from leaf litter samples in forested areas (mainly rainforests but including parkland on volcanic soil). It should be noted that the Samoan population is a considerable outlier and is somewhat unexpected given that the range of P. opaca is much closer to Samoa than the main range of P. kraepelini . Unfortunately the currently available Samoan material is limited to queens, and while these queens are morphologically similar to P. kraepelini it is possible that this population belongs to a distinct species. The discovery of workers will help confirm the true identity of this population.
Taxonomically, Brown (1960) confused this species with P. opaca and didn't recognize the specimens here placed in P. robynmae as belonging to a separate species. In fact, all three of these species, while morphologically similar, can be separated as follows. In true kraepelini the sculpturing on the pronotum consists of small, fine punctures which contrast strongly with the widely spaced foveae on the mesonotum and propodeum(Fig. 5). In opaca the pronotal sculpturing is composed of widely spaced foveae which are only slightly more dense than those on the mesonotum and propodeum (Fig. 18). And in robynmae the sculpturing consists of small foveae on the pronotum which contrasts markedly with the widely spaced foveae on mesonotum and propodeum (Fig. 19). In addition, the density of the sculpturing across the width of the propodeum is variable (weakest medially, stronger laterally) in kraepelini and robynmae and uniform in opaca . The shape of the petiolar node also differs across these species. It is narrowest and shortest in kraepelini , relatively longer and broader in opaca and long but narrow in robynmae (Fig. 6). Essentially all presently known material can be unambiguously sorted into three sets representing these three taxa based on these character systems. In all other respects the material of these taxa is essentially identical or the differences are slight and random and show no obvious patterns. While kraepelini is allopatric to the others, opaca and robynmae have been collected together (from the same litter sample) in PNG.
The only apparent exception to this pattern is a single collection from Palolo, Palu, C. Celebes, Indonesia. In these specimens, the punctations on the propodeal dorsum are somewhat intermediate between kraepelini and opaca , although they are more similar to typical kraepelini than typical opaca . This is consistent with other material from Sulawesi which is typical of kraepelini . A reexamination of Brown's Micronesian material has failed to uncover his "intergradient" forms as all could be placed with confidence into kraepelini , opaca or robynmae .

Specimen Data Summary

Found most commonly in these habitats: 2 times found in lowland wet forest, 1 times found in oil palm plantation, 2 times found in rainforest, 1 times found in mahogany/seconday growth rainforest

Collected most commonly using these methods or in the following microhabitats: 1 times pitfall, 2 times Winkler, 1 times QM berlesate no. 444

Elevations: collected from 50 - 220 meters, 149 meters average