Anonychomyrma inclinata sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): description, biology and interaction with the endangered bulloak jewel butterfly, Hypochrysops piceatus Kerr, Macqueen & Sands, 1969 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Issue 3 (30th August 2021)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- Anonychomyrma inclinata sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): description, biology and interaction with the endangered bulloak jewel butterfly, Hypochrysops piceatus Kerr, Macqueen & Sands, 1969 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). Issue 3 (30th August 2021)
- Main Title:
- Anonychomyrma inclinata sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): description, biology and interaction with the endangered bulloak jewel butterfly, Hypochrysops piceatus Kerr, Macqueen & Sands, 1969 (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)
- Authors:
- Lewis, Jon
Sands, Don - Abstract:
- Abstract: The ant Anonychomyrma inclinata sp. nov. is described. It is an arboreal species, nesting in hollows of living mature trees including Allocasuarina luehmannii, Angophora leiocarpa and various Eucalyptus species. Anonychomyrma inclinata can form colonies which are among the most populous recorded for an ant species in Australia, with over 10 000 workers and a total population of 170 000, including all castes. The ant forms extensive trails, forages for insects, collects nectar from a range of flowering plants including many mistletoes and collects honeydew from Hemiptera. The ant's distribution extends from northern inland New South Wales and south central inland Queensland, as far north‐east as Home Hill, on the Burdekin River. The ant is an obligate attendant of the immature stages of the endangered bulloak jewel butterfly, Hypochrysops piceatus Kerr, Macqueen & Sands, 1969, and the southern population of the sapphire azure, Ogyris aenone Waterhouse, 1902. The distribution of A. inclinata is much wider than that currently known for H. piceatus, suggesting that suitable breeding sites may exist for this rare butterfly in areas not previously surveyed. While A. inclinata appears relatively widespread and is able to utilise a wide range of tree species, it is reliant, like H. piceatus, on mature live trees and so is subject to threats including vegetation clearance, timber‐getting, grazing, and increased drought and fire frequency. Due to its critical importance inAbstract: The ant Anonychomyrma inclinata sp. nov. is described. It is an arboreal species, nesting in hollows of living mature trees including Allocasuarina luehmannii, Angophora leiocarpa and various Eucalyptus species. Anonychomyrma inclinata can form colonies which are among the most populous recorded for an ant species in Australia, with over 10 000 workers and a total population of 170 000, including all castes. The ant forms extensive trails, forages for insects, collects nectar from a range of flowering plants including many mistletoes and collects honeydew from Hemiptera. The ant's distribution extends from northern inland New South Wales and south central inland Queensland, as far north‐east as Home Hill, on the Burdekin River. The ant is an obligate attendant of the immature stages of the endangered bulloak jewel butterfly, Hypochrysops piceatus Kerr, Macqueen & Sands, 1969, and the southern population of the sapphire azure, Ogyris aenone Waterhouse, 1902. The distribution of A. inclinata is much wider than that currently known for H. piceatus, suggesting that suitable breeding sites may exist for this rare butterfly in areas not previously surveyed. While A. inclinata appears relatively widespread and is able to utilise a wide range of tree species, it is reliant, like H. piceatus, on mature live trees and so is subject to threats including vegetation clearance, timber‐getting, grazing, and increased drought and fire frequency. Due to its critical importance in the life cycle of H. piceatus, any action taken to conserve the butterfly must also consider the importance of preserving healthy populations of A. inclinata . … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- Austral entomology. Volume 60:Issue 3(2021)
- Journal:
- Austral entomology
- Issue:
- Volume 60:Issue 3(2021)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 60, Issue 3 (2021)
- Year:
- 2021
- Volume:
- 60
- Issue:
- 3
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2021-0060-0003-0000
- Page Start:
- 461
- Page End:
- 472
- Publication Date:
- 2021-08-30
- Subjects:
- Allocasuarina luehmannii -- Anonychomyrma sp. (itinerans group) -- bull oak -- butterfly conservation -- colony size -- habitat -- Iridomyrmex sp. (itinerans group) -- myrmecophily -- Ogyris aenone
Entomology -- Southern Hemisphere -- Periodicals
595.705 - Journal URLs:
- http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)2052-1758 ↗
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1111/aen.12556 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 2052-174X
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - 1793.108000
British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 18985.xml