The Echinopla genus are characterized by a waist like divide between the firsts and second thoracic segment. Echinopla are fast running ants that forage mostly on plants and trees.
Update 2018 05 21: This first species (collected by me in 2011 C.E.) listed in this post has just been announced as a newly discovered species that is being named Echinopla Tunku-Abduljalilii after the late Prince of the State of Johor (aka Johore):
Update 2018 05 21: This first species (collected by me in 2011 C.E.) listed in this post has just been announced as a newly discovered species that is being named Echinopla Tunku-Abduljalilii after the late Prince of the State of Johor (aka Johore):
"There are 15 species from the Echinopla family in Malaysia and this new species is the 16th and the second species to be found in Johor. The first, the Echinopla wardi was discovered in Kota Tinggi.
"This species measures 5.48 millimetre in length and is black in colour. The body of most other Echinopla species are furry unlike this new Echinopla species which are without fur," she said in a statement, here today.
(https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/05/371466/new-ant-species-be-named-after-late-johor-prince#cxrecs_s)
Echinopla lineata
Echinopla striata
Taxonomy:
No rank: cellular organisms 131567
Superkingdom (Domain): Eukaryota 2759
No rank: Opisthokonta 33154
Kingdom: Metazoa 33208
No rank: Eumetazoa 6072
No rank (Subkingdom): Bilateria 33213
No rank (Branch): Protostomia 33317
No rank (Infrakingdom): Ecdysozoa
No rank (Superphylum): Panarthropoda 88770
Phylum: Arthropoda 6656
No rank (Subphylum): Mandibulata 197563
No rank: Pancrustacea 197562
Subphylum (Epiclass): Hexapoda 6960
Class: Insecta 50557
No rank (Subclass): Dicondylia 85512
Subclass (Infraclass): Pterygota 7496
Infraclass: Neoptera 33340
Cohort: Holometabola
Order: Hymenoptera 7399
Suborder Apocrita 7400
Infraorder: Aculeata 7434
Superfamily: Formicoidea
Family: Formicidae 36668
Tribe - Camponotini 72773
Genus: Echinopla 111113
Species: tunku-abduljalilii
Species: tunku-abduljalilii
Updated: 2022 03 09
First Posted: 2013 11 27
© 2011 – 2022 Quah. All rights reserved.
Hello!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Mike - and I'm very interested in Echinopla ants, and - maybe - try to get some and to keep in captivity.
But I can't find any info about their biology - habitat, nesting, mating etc, even distribution is somehow uncertain - only pics and taxonomy.
They are mostly arboreal and are somewhat similar to Polyrhachis in behavior. The genus is not as large as Polyrhachis.
DeleteThank you very much for your answers! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's good :) - I have several Polyrhachis colonies, they are not excessively large and agressive, rather calm and omnivorous. A little bit strange, though :)
Arboreal - at what level? I've found Polyrhachis nests up to several metres high above ground level, but also among bases of bamboo stems.
Where are the nests themselves - in dead branches, hollow trees, bamboo stems, under the bark?
Or these ants make nests of their own material, like Polyrhachis/Crematogaster?
And when Echinopla flies (if it flies, and does not mate in/near the nest)?
Not as large as Polyrhachis nest.
DeleteCorrect, but seldom in dead branches.
With both genera some species do not and though most are arboreal, some species are ground dwelling or combination.
Yes, at night. Normal nuptial swarming seasons.
= Not as large as Polyrhachis nest. =
DeletePolyrhachis nests which I've seen in southern Thai (Thai Rom Yen NP, Kaeng Krachan NP, etc) have had mostly about hundred workers - sometimes less, but rarely more.
My colonies now are about the same size - the oldest is 4-yrs old, I've raised it from one queen.
And it's a very good size - very suitable.
= Yes, at night. =
Whether they're attracted by light?
= Normal nuptial swarming seasons. =
Before or after rains?
Some ants are swarming - not in large amounts, though - all year round, but it seems to me, it depends on local seasons.
If they're sharp - swarming occurs once or twice a year, being rather massive.
Otherwise - when there are no sharp dry/rainy seasons - small nunbers of alates are flying neraly constantly.
That is right more around the size of typical Diacamma
DeleteYes somewhat, not as much as ground dwelling ants
Commonly after a rainy day or a previous rainy day
Yes, different species have different swarming behavior.
Nest size are small swarming size are small
True, some ants swarm only once or just a few times each rainy season others almost all year round typically followed by a day or a few days of rain..