Leptogenys rufida Zhou et al. 2012
Creators: name: Hamer, Matthew T.
name: Lee, Jonathan Hon Chung
name: Tse, Cheung Yau Leo
name: Silva, Thiago S. R.
name: Guénard, Benoit
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Formicidae
Leptogenys
Leptogenys rufida

description: Leptogenys rufida Zhou et al., 2012
Figs 2 A, 3 A, C, 18, 21 D new record
Leptogenys rufida Zhou et al., 2012: 891, figs 4–6 (w.) China (Guangxi).
Ergatoid description.
With characters of worker but head more square, not as long as in worker. Clypeus terminating in less convex point apically. Propodeum shorter; convex in lateral view. Petiole nodiform, distinctly higher than long in lateral view; wider than long in dorsal view; anterior margin straight in lateral view. Metasomal segments III – VII enlarged, segment III distinctly wider than petiole. Same colour as the worker (Zhou et al. 2012).
Measurements.
Workers (n = 8): HL 0.93 – 1.01; HLL 0.76 – 0.8; HLA 0.18 – 0.21; HW 0.64 – 0.67; CML 0.19 – 0.21; SL 0.84 – 0.92; AII 0.17 – 0.19; AFI 0.13 – 0.15; AFII 0.12 – 0.14; EL 0.16 – 0.18; ML 0.45 – 0.46; PrL 0.53 – 0.6; PrH 0.38 – 0.44; PrW 0.56 – 0.59; WL 1.38 – 1.49; PeL 0.46 – 0.51; PeH 0.42 – 0.56; PeW 0.35 – 0.42; DPL 0.42 – 0.48; CI 64.29 – 68.17; CLI 19.36 – 22.51; SI 129.66 – 141.82; OI 20.78 – 23.37; LPI 82.61 – 114.29; DPI 76.76 – 90.83.
Ergatoid paratype (n = 1): HL 1.04; HLL 0.78; HLA 0.21; HW 0.74; CML 0.25; SL 0.89; AII 0.18; AFI 0.14; AFII 0.13; EL 0.19; ML 0.52; PrL 0.66; PrH 0.45; PrW 0.61; WL 1.5; PeL 0.43; PeH 0.61; PeW 0.5; DPL 0.25; CI 71.22; CLI 23.77; SI 120.41; OI 24.55; LPI 141.92; DPI 202.01.
Morphology.
Little to no variation is detected with the specimens examined, other than subtle differences in the development of the longitudinal ribbing across the mesonotal notch, however in no specimens was this character absent.
Comparative notes.
Leptogenys rufida is the smallest Leptogenys known from Hong Kong (WL 1.38 – 1.48) and is further recognisable by the following combined morphological characters; subquadrate petiole with a broadly rounded anterodorsal corner, rugose meso- and metapleural, head dorsum punctate, with relatively small eyes (EL 0.16 – 0.18). This species could be mistaken for L. grohli due to the ribbing across the notopropodeal sulcus, punctate head dorsum and small eyes, but L. rufida is smaller, with a more sculptured meso- and metapleural, and flagellomere segment I is as long as flagellomere segment II, shorter clypeal median lobe length (CML 0.19 – 0.21), and a petiole that is as high as long in lateral view (LPI 82.61 – 114.29), and as wide as long in dorsal view (DPI 76.76 – 90.83).
Across the Indochinese Leptogenys fauna, L. rufida is most similar to members of the L. zhuangzii species group (L. mengzii Xu, 2000, L. laozii Xu, 2000, and L. zhuangzii Xu, 2000), and can be differentiated by the following combined characters; petiole in lateral view as long as high, anterodorsal margin distinctly convex, sculptured meso- and metapleural, and red colour. Leptogenys rufida and L. confucii can be differentiated by the triangular shaped petiole of L. confucii, the smaller eyes in L. rufida and the densely sculptured meso- and metapleural of L. confucii.
Distribution.
Leptogenys rufida is known from China only, including the Chinese provinces of Guangxi, Yunnan, Zhejiang and now Hong Kong SAR (Zhou et al. 2012; Xu and He 2015). To our knowledge, this species is not reported from other southern Chinese provinces but considering the gap in records between Yunnan, Guangxi and Zhejiang, it seems likely to be found in Guangdong and Fujian.
Ecology.
Records for L. rufida in Hong Kong are sparse, but when collected it has occurred predominantly within pitfall traps, leaf litter samples and hand collection events (predominantly within leaf litter or soil) from secondary forest habitats. Two colony collections are known from Hong Kong. One colony was located within a half-soil filled metallic pipe buried within leaf litter, consisting of ~ 20 workers and one ergatoid queen, but was not collected. A second nest was located beneath a small rock, with the colony located ~ 4–5 cm below the upper soil layer (MTH 403). The colony consisted of one male, one ergatoid, and nine workers. In addition, the latter colony was retained for dietary assessment with workers responding and feeding upon isopods and termites. Foraging workers in the latter colony’s collection locality were observed moving within leaf litter, with one worker returning with an isopod held ventrally between the legs.
Material examined.
Workers (n = 13): China • 1 worker; Hong Kong SAR, Pok Fu Lam; 26 Jun. 1993; J. R. Fellowes leg.; HKBM MBS 015252. • 1 worker; Hong Kong SAR, Tai Mo Shan, Central NT; 20 Aug. 1993; J. R. Fellowes leg.; HKBM MBS 015253. • 1 worker; Hong Kong SAR, Tai Po Kau; 20 May. 1993; J. R. Fellowes leg.; HKBM MBS 015251. • 1 worker; Hong Kong SAR, The Peak; 24 Sep. 1993; J. R. Fellowes leg.; IBBL MBS 006585. • 1 worker; Hong Kong SAR, Castle Peak; 22.38993, 113.95493; 426 m a. s. l.; 30 Jun. 2015; R. H. Lee leg.; Secondary forest, Pitfall trap; IBBL RHL 01259. • 1 worker; Hong Kong SAR, Lin Fa Shan; 22.3956, 114.0885; 480 m a. s. l.; 15 Jul. 2016; R. H. Lee leg.; Plantation, Pitfall trap; IBBL RHL 003291. • 1 worker; Hong Kong SAR, Guildford Road; 22.26715, 114.16248; 280 m a. s. l.; 18 Apr. 2018; C. Y. L. Tse leg.;, Hand collection. Leaf litter; IBBL ANTWEB 1010123. • 4 workers; Hong Kong SAR, Tai Mo Shan; Kap Lung Forest Trail; 22.41088, 114.10451; 450 m a. s. l.; 3 Sep. 2023; M. T. Hamer leg.; Secondary forest, un. Rock; IBBL MTH 403, ANTWEB 1010205, ANTWEB 1010232, ANTWEB 1010233, ANTWEB 1010234. • 1 worker; Hong Kong SAR, Tai Mo Shan; Kap Lung Forest Trail; 22.41088, 114.10451; 450 m a. s. l.; 17 Sep. 2023; M. T. Hamer leg.; Secondary forest, Gen. forager; IBBL ANTWEB 1010202. • 1 worker; Hong Kong SAR, Tai Mo Shan; Kap Lung Forest Trail; 22.41088, 114.10451; 450 m a. s. l.; 17 Sep. 2023; M. T. Hamer leg.; Secondary forest, Winkler; IBBL ANTWEB 1010179.
Paratype ergatoid (n = 1): China • 1 ergatoid; Hong Kong SAR, Tai Mo Shan; Kap Lung Forest Trail; 22.41088, 114.10451; 450 m a. s. l.; 3 Sep. 2023; M. T. Hamer leg.; Secondary forest, un. Rock; IBBL ANTWEB 1010234.
description: Published as part of Hamer, Matthew T., Lee, Jonathan Hon Chung, Tse, Cheung Yau Leo, Silva, Thiago S. R. & Guénard, Benoit, 2024, The Leptogenys Roger, 1861 (Formicidae, Ponerinae) of Hong Kong SAR with additional records from Guangdong, China, pp. 169-211 in ZooKeys 1202 on pages 169-211, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1202.120214