Leptogenys maxillosa (Smith, 1858)

Fig. 55

Ponera maxillosa Smith, 1858: 93 (w, m) Mauritius. Malagasy.

Diagnosis

Body opaque dark brown to black-brown; in full-face view hypostomal teeth visible, anterior clypeal margin makes an obtuse angle medially; anterior clypeal margin with 2 long setae; mandibles falcate; median portion of clypeus projects as a lobe; tarsal claws pectinate.

Material examined

This species was not collected in the present study.

Ecological and biological notes

This species has been found associated with roadside leaf litter under shrubs (Collingwood 1985). Leptogenys maxillosa has been reported as a specialized predator of isopods in Brazil (Lattke 2011), and nest entrances can be detected by exoskeletons of their prey (Freitas 1995). Leptogenys maxillosa is a pantropical tramp species adapted to inhabiting disturbed areas, and frequently found nesting in slots and cavities of buildings in urban areas (Freitas 1995).

Geographic range

Leptogenys maxillosa was described originally from Mauritius and this ant is now recorded from the Afrotropical, the Neotropical (Bolton 1975) and the Malagasy (Rakotonirina & Fisher 2014) Regions. It was listed from KSA and Oman (Dhofar) by Collingwood (1985) and Collingwood & Agosti (1996).