Strumigenys nepalensis Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 1994

Tang, Kit Lam, Pierce, Mac P. & Guenard, Benoit, 2019, Review of the genus Strumigenys (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) in Hong Kong with the description of three new species and the addition of five native and four introduced species records, ZooKeys 831, pp. 1-48 : 34-35

Strumigenys nepalensis Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 1994 - new record Fig. 5 G–I

Strumigenys nepalensis Baroni Urbani and De Andrade 1994: 57, figs 33, 34 (w.q.) NEPAL. Indomalaya.

Smithistruma nepalensis (Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 1994). Combination in Smithistruma : Bolton 1995: 385.

Pyramica nepalensis (Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 1994). Combination in Pyramica : Bolton 1999: 1673.

Strumigenys nepalensis Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 1994. Combination in Strumigenys : Baroni Urbani and De Andrade 2007: 124.

Material examined.

HONG KONG: Central & Western District, HKU Campus, 22.282164N, 114.138296E, 113 m, 19.11.2014, M. Wong, Winkler, 12 Random, IBBL; Central & Western District, HKU CYT, 22.2824528N, 114.14043E, 07.01.2016, G. Yong, Winkler, IBBL; Islands District, Chek Lap Kok, 22.2939N, 113.9331E, B.M. Worthington, Winkler, 12 Random, IBBL; Islands District, Chek Lap Kok, 22.2947N, 113.9336E, 21 m, B.M. Worthington, Winkler, 4 Corners, IBBL; Islands District, Chek Lap Kok, 22.2957N, 113.9338E, B.M. Worthington, Winkler, 4 Corners, IBBL; Islands District, Chek Lap Kok, 22.2964N, 113.9352E, 10 m, B.M. Worthington, Winkler, 4 Corners, IBBL; Islands District, Chek Lap Kok, 22.298N, 113.9359E, 5 m, B.M. Worthington, Winkler, 4 Corners, IBBL; Islands District, Chek Lap Kok, 22.298N, 113.9359E, B.M. Worthington, Winkler, 4 Corners, IBBL; Islands District, Chek Lap Kok, 22.3139N, 113.9398E, 2 m, B.M. Worthington, Winkler, 4 Corners, IBBL; Islands District, Chek Lap Kok, 22.3153N, 113.9407E, B.M. Worthington, Winkler, 12 Random, IBBL; Islands District, Chek Lap Kok, 22.3204N, 113.9376E, 6 m, B.M. Worthington, Winkler, 12 Random, IBBL; Islands District, Chek Lap Kok, 22.3193N, 113.9377E, B.M. Worthington, Winkler, 12 Random, IBBL; Islands District, Sha Lo Wan, 22.2898N, 113.9069E, 43 m, B.M. Worthington, Winkler, 4 Corners, IBBL; Islands District, Tung Chung, 22.2907N, 113.9371E, 1 m, B.M. Worthington, Winkler, 4 Corners, IBBL; North District, Lai Chi Wo, 22.527N, 114.258E, 08.05.2015, R.H. Lee, Winkler, IBBL; Sha Tin District, Lion Rock, 22.360915N, 114.180028E, 13.07.2015, R.H. Lee, Winkler, IBBL; Yuen Long District, Mai Po, 22.48121N, 114.03332E, 30.07.2018, 1 m, M. Wong, pitfall trap, IBBL; Yuen Long District, Mai Po, 22.48625N, 114.04097E, 03.08.2018, 1 m, M. Wong, pitfall trap, IBBL. MACAU: Hac Sa Reservoir, Coloane Island, 22.1344N, 113.5725E, 20.08.2016, 93 m, C.M. Leong, Winkler, IBBL.

Measurements.

Workers (n = 8): TL 1.3-1.8, HL 0.42-0.46, HW 0.31-0.33, MandL 0.08-0.09, SL 0.18-0.20, EL 0.033-0.043, PW 0.19-0.21, ML 0.44-0.48, PL 0.20-0.22, PH 0.11-0.13, DPW 0.10-0.11, PPL 0.13-0.15, GL 0.43-0.47, CI 70-76, MI 17-21, SI 56-63, OI 11-13, LPI 52-58, DPI 48-54.

Geographic range.

China (Yunnan), India, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.

Introduced: Mauritius, Hong Kong.

Ecology.

This is a common species in urban forest patches or disturbed grassland (e.g. Mai Po Nature Reserve), with only a few records collected within secondary forests and one record within Feng Shui woods (Fig. 10). Elevation records ranged from 1 to 135 m, suggesting that this species might prefer lowland habitats. The association of this species with relatively disturbed habitats suggests a potential tramp species, although other biological characteristics (e.g. polygyny, unicoloniality) are unknown at present.

Comments.

New records of Strumigenys nepalensis in Hong Kong expand the current known native range of this species by 800 km eastward from Vietnam. A record from Mauritius (Casent0799280, Ile Aux Aigrettes, −20.419017, 57.730183, 5 m a.s.l., A. Suarez 2.VI.2005; Doug Booher pers. comm.) confirms the tramp character of this species. Specimens collected from Hong Kong, Macau and Mauritius are considered introduced.