Strumigenys membranifera

Emery, 1869

Bare Mustache Ant

Strumigenys membranifera is a minute trap-jaw native to the Old World tropics that has become a globally distributed tramp species. It is one of only six known Strumigenys species exhibiting , where virgin queens produce female offspring from unfertilized without sperm involvement. Queens retain a functional spermatheca and complete despite rarely mating, with males produced only exceptionally. The species has been recorded from numerous regions including Taiwan, Greece (Crete), the Galápagos Islands, and across Asia, reflecting its capacity for human-mediated and establishment in new environments without mating requirements.

Strumigenys membranifera by (c) davidfdz_b82, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by davidfdz_b82. Used under a CC-BY license.

Strumigenys membranifera (10.3897-zookeys.970.54958) Figure 23 by Brassard F, Leong C-M, Chan H-H, Guénard B (2020) A new subterranean species and an updated checklist of Strumigenys (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Macao SAR, China, with a key to species of the Greater Bay Area. ZooKeys 970: 63-116.. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Strumigenys (10.3897-zookeys.970.54958) Figure 22 by Brassard F, Leong C-M, Chan H-H, Guénard B (2020) A new subterranean species and an updated checklist of Strumigenys (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Macao SAR, China, with a key to species of the Greater Bay Area. ZooKeys 970: 63-116.. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Strumigenys membranifera: //ˌstrʌmɪˈdʒɛniːz ˌmɛmbrəˈnɪfərə//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from other Strumigenys by reduced pilosity and specific ; precise diagnostic characters require examination of or specialized taxonomic literature not available in provided sources

Images

Appearance

Minute with reduced pilosity; specific morphological details distinguishing S. membranifera from are not documented in available sources

Habitat

Olive orchard agroecosystems in Mediterranean regions; tropical and subtropical forests in native range; laboratory colonies successfully maintained on plaster of Paris substrate with controlled moisture

Distribution

Native to Old World tropics; established as tramp across multiple regions including Taiwan (Huisun Forest, Nantou County), Greece (Crete, Messara valley), Galápagos Islands, United Arab Emirates, Bhutan, China, and Rica; first recorded from Crete in 2023-2024

Diet

Predatory; laboratory colonies maintained on springtails (Cyphoderus albinus) as food source

Life Cycle

Colonies founded by virgin queens through ; experimental colonies observed for 202 weeks produced and new queens from unfertilized ; males produced only rarely (1 male across 3 experimental colonies)

Behavior

Predatory; during oviposition, keeps sting extruded to allow passage of the

Ecological Role

Predatory in soil and leaf litter ; as a tramp , capable of establishing in new environments without requiring mating, potentially impacting native ant communities

Human Relevance

Tramp of concern for biosecurity due to parthenogenetic facilitating of new regions; recorded in agricultural systems (olive orchards) suggesting potential interaction with agroecosystems

Similar Taxa

Strumigenys emmaeAlso exhibits and is a tramp ; distinguished by morphological characters not detailed in available sources
Strumigenys rogeriShares and tramp ; S. membranifera distinguished by reduced pilosity
Strumigenys hexameraShares within the same ; S. membranifera differs in distribution and specific morphological traits

More Details

Reproductive Biology

S. membranifera exhibits obligate thelytoky: virgin queens produce female offspring ( and queens) without sperm. Queens possess a functional spermatheca with typical histological structure (thick hilar epithelium, thin epithelium) despite remaining unmated, potentially allowing rare mating events to increase genetic variability. This reproductive mode provides significant advantage for of new .

Nomenclature History

Listed as synonym Pyramica membranifera in some databases; currently accepted as Strumigenys membranifera in Catalogue of Life and major taxonomic resources. The Pyramica was synonymized under Strumigenys.