Genus Leptogenys (Ponerinae)

• Leptogenys Roger, 1861a: 41 . Type species: Leptogenys falcigera Roger, by subsequent designation of Bingham, 1903: 52.
• Lobopelta Mayr, G. 1862: 733. Type species: Ponera diminuta Smith, by subsequent designation of Bingham, 1903: 54. Subgenus of Leptogenys: Forel, 1892l: 520. Revived status as genus: Dalla Torre, 1893: 43; maintained as genus: Bingham, 1903: 54. Junior synonym of Leptogenys: Emery, 1896e: 177 (footnote). Revived from synonymy as subgenus of Leptogenys: Forel, 1900f: 304; maintained as subgenus: Emery, 1911e: 101; Forel, 1917: 238; Wheeler, W.M. 1922i: 654. Synonymy: Brown, W.L. 1973b: 181 (Lobopelta provisional junior synonym of Leptogenys) ; Bolton, 1975a: 240 (Lobopelta junior synonym of Leptogenys) .
• Prionogenys Emery, 1895h: 348. Type species: Prionogenys podenzanai Emery, by monotypy. Synonymy: Taylor, R.W. 1988: 33.
• Machaerogenys Emery, 1911e: 100 (as subgenus of Leptogenys) . Type species: Leptogenys truncatirostris Forel, by original designation. Synonymy: Brown, W.L. 1973b: 181 (Machaerogenys provisional junior synonym of Leptogenys) ; Bolton, 1975a: 240 (Machaerogenys junior synonym of Leptogenys) .
• Odontopelta Emery, 1911e: 101 (as subgenus of Leptogenys) . Type species: Leptogenys turneri Forel, by monotypy. Synonymy: Brown, W.L. 1973b: 183 (Odontopelta provisional junior synonym of Leptogenys) ; Taylor, R.W. & Brown, 1985: 32 (Odontopelta junior synonym of Leptogenys) .
• Dorylozelus Forel, 1915b: 24. Type species: Dorylozelus mjobergi Forel, by monotypy. The type species, Dorylozelus mjobergi Forel, is a junior secondary homonym in Leptogenys. Replacement name is by Leptogenys tricosa Taylor. Synonymy: Taylor, R.W. 1969: 132.
• Microbolbos Donisthorpe, 1948f: 170. Type species: Microbolbos testaceus Donisthorpe, by original designation. Synonymy: Wilson, 1955d: 136.

• OVERVIEW.   Only two species of this tropicopolitan genus occur in the United States. They both form small colonies in the soil and have ergatoid (worker-like) queens. Workers are predacious and some non-Nearctic species have well developed cooperative foraging strategies where large prey is captured and transported by numerous workers (Shattuck, 1999. Australian Ants). The two Nearctic species are believed to feed primarily on isopods although they have also been observed transporting a wolf spider back to the nest (Trager & Johnson, 1988: 31). The unusual shape of the clypeus may help in gripping large, slippery prey like isopods (Trager & Johnson, 1988: 30). One Oriental species has behavior similar to army ants. They nest in temporary bivouac sites in the ground or leaf litter, but unlike true army ants the frequent emigrations are irregularly spaced and not correlated with brood development (Maschwitz, Steghaus-Kovac, et.al. 1989: 305-316).
• DISTRIBUTION.   Southeastern USA and Texas.
• ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS.  Worldwide except Palearctic region.


      
Photo of Leptogenys manni Wheeler from FL, Columbia Co.. Courtesy of Ant Web, U. of Calif. Davis


• RECOGNITION.   Length 5-7 mm. Body slender. Limbs long and slender. Mandible elongate, shining, and slender, usually without conspicuous subapical teeth. Anterior margin of clypeus sharply triangular in form, its center projecting forward. Sockets of the antennal insertions close together, separated by less than the maximum diameter of a single socket. Antennal scape long, extending approximately one-third its length beyond the posterior corner of head. Eye large, prominent. Tarsal claws finely pectinate (comb-like).
• SIMILAR GENERA.   These distinctive looking ants can be immediately recognized by the shape of the clypeus and the pectinate tarsal claws.
• SPECIES IDENTIFICATION.   Use Trager & Johnson, 1988: 30 to key out the two Nearctic species.
• TRIBE.  Ponerini.
• Literature Overview.   Trager & Johnson, 1988 gives a brief summary of the taxonomy and natural history of the Nearctic species.
• REVISIONS.   Wheeler, W.M. 1923e: 1–16.— Bolton, 1975a: 240 (description of w.q.m., revision of African species) .
• TAXONOMY.   Bingham, 1903: 52–72 (India, in part as Lobopelta) .— Mann, 1921: 419–426 (Fiji) .— Smith, M.R. 1943e: 286 (description of m. (as Leptogenys subsp. Lobopelta)) .— Smith, M.R. 1947f: 538, 540–541 (description of w., figure of w., as Leptogenys subsp. Lobopelta) .— Creighton, 1950a: 50–52, pl. 9, fig. 1–4 (figure (lateral view) of w.q.m. wing) .— Wilson, 1958c: 101–139 (Melanesia) .— Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1976a: 49 (revised description of larva) .— Trager & Johnson, 1988: 29–33 (key to Nearctic species, diagnosis of w.q.m., natural history) .— Bolton, 1994: figs. 491, 492 (SEM (full face and lateral view) of w.) .—Shattuck, 1999: 189–190.—Bolton, 2003: 44, 163, 281.
• MISCELLANEOUS.   Maschwitz, Steghaus-Kovac, et.al. 1989: 305–316 (army ant behavior of an Oriental species) .— Hölldobler, B. & Wilson, 1990: 153, 160, 233, 240, 262, 265, 268, 269, 275, 280, 305, 308 (colony census, exocrine glands, army ant-like behavior, foraging, recruitment, trails) .
• ALL REFERENCES

• elongata. Ponera elongata Buckley, S.B. 1866: 172 (w.) . [USA, TX, Travis Co.; No types known to exist.] Wheeler, W.M. 1900b: 7, fig. 4 (q.m.) . Combination in Leptogenys: Emery, 1895d: 338; Wheeler, W.M. 1900b: 2.
• texana. Ponera texana Buckley, S.B. 1866: 170 (w.) . [USA, TX, Archer Co.] Combination in Leptogenys: Emery, 1895d: 338. Synonymy: Wheeler, W.M. 1902g: 25; Wheeler, W.M. 1904d: 258.
• septentrionalis. Lobopelta septentrionalis Mayr, G. 1886d: 438 (w.) . [USA, DC] Combination in Leptogenys: Emery, 1895d: 268. Synonymy: Wheeler, W.M. 1902g: 25; Wheeler, W.M. 1904d: 258.

• DISTRIBUTION. Southeastern USA and Texas. Locally abundant in southeastern Texas (Trager & Johnson, 1988: 30).
• TAXONOMY. Wheeler, W.M. 1904d: 251–259 (description of w.q.m., photo (lateral view) of w.q.m., natural history, ergatoid females, diet) .— Smith, M.R. 1943e: figs. 2A, 2K (figure of m.: antenna and tarsal claw) .— Smith, M.R. 1947f: pl. 4, fig.15 (figure (lateral view) of w. as Leptogenys (Lobopelta) elongata) .— Creighton, 1950a: 51–52, pl. 9, fig. 1–4 (figure (lateral view) of w.q.m. wing (as Leptogenys (Lobopelta) elongata)) .
• MISCELLANEOUS. Trager & Johnson, 1988: 30–31 (natural history) .— Cokendolpher & Francke, 1990: 18 (distribution in western TX, found in moist microhabitats also frequented by isopods) .
• ALL REFERENCES

• manni. Leptogenys (Lobopelta) elongata subsp. manni Wheeler, W.M. 1923e: 14 (w.) . [USA, FL, Pinellas Co.; MCZ] Trager & Johnson, 1988: 31 (q.m.) . Raised to species: Trager, & Johnson, 1988: 31.

• DISTRIBUTION. Widely distributed in Florida.
• TAXONOMY. Creighton, 1950a: 52 .
• MISCELLANEOUS. Van Pelt, 1958: 7.— Trager & Johnson, 1988: 30–32 (natural history) .
• ALL REFERENCES
• PHOTOS.