The ant genus Leptanilla: discovery of the worker‐associated male of L.japonica, and a description of a new species from Taiwan (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Leptanillinae)

Abstract

The male and female of Leptanilla japonica Baroni Urbani are described. This is the first worker‐associated male to be discovered in subfamily Leptanillinae. Leptanilla taiwanensis is described as new based on the worker and female from Taiwan, the first record of Leptanillinae from the island. An ecological note on the food of the ants is given. Implications of the male morphology and taxonomic positions of the other leptanilline genera based on males are discussed.

Contributions to the knowledge of Formicidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata): a new diagnosis of the family, the first global male-based key to subfamilies, and a treatment of early branching lineages

“…As noted by prior authors (e.g., Baroni urbani 1977;Bolton 1990b;ogata et al 1995), the Leptanillinae is unfortunately subject to parallel taxonomies, with two genera known only from workers (Anomalomyrma, Furcotanilla), four genera known only from males (Noonilla, Phaulomyrma, Scyphodon, Yavnella), and two genera known from both castes (Leptanilla, Protanilla). the Leptanillinae is in need of generic revision, especially given the highly variable morphologies of the males.…”

Molecular systematics of basal subfamilies of ants using 28S rRNA (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

“…This suggests that extant ants belong to two major groups, the Leptanilinae, represented by 50 extant species, and a second group composed of the Poneroid (»1350 species) and Formicoid ants (»10,500 species). Leptanillinae ants are small, blind, and apparently specialized predators on geophilomorph centipedes, and are restricted to subterranean habitats (Ogata et al, 1995). Their specialized morphology and behavior are not thought to represent early ant morphology and behavior (Wilson and Hölldobler, 2005b).…”

The Phylogeny and Evolution of Ants

“…This species was originally described as a wasp, 32 Ward of uncertain affinity, possibly in the Braconidae, Proctotrupidae, or Bethylidae (Brues 1925). It was subsequently treated as an ant in the subfamily Leptanillinae (Petersen 1968), but some authors have argued it should be considered incertae sedis (of uncertain placement) in the Aculeata (Ogata et al 1995). Noonilla copiosa is another enigmatic Asian species, known only from males and placed in Leptanillinae (Petersen 1968) or as incertae sedis in Formicidae (Ogata et al 1995).…”

“…It was subsequently treated as an ant in the subfamily Leptanillinae (Petersen 1968), but some authors have argued it should be considered incertae sedis (of uncertain placement) in the Aculeata (Ogata et al 1995). Noonilla copiosa is another enigmatic Asian species, known only from males and placed in Leptanillinae (Petersen 1968) or as incertae sedis in Formicidae (Ogata et al 1995). Sequence data are not yet available for these taxa, but they and other as-yet-undiscovered species could prove to be useful additions to the ant tree, shortening the branch leading to Leptanillinae or perhaps even reducing the long branch separating ants from their nearest outgroup.…”