Species Discrimination of Three Odontomachus (Formicidae: Ponerinae) Species in Thailand Using Outline Morphometrics
Issued Date
2022-03-01
Resource Type
eISSN
20754450
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85127616784
Journal Title
Insects
Volume
13
Issue
3
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Insects Vol.13 No.3 (2022)
Suggested Citation
Samung Y., Chaiphongpachara T., Ruangsittichai J., Sriwichai P., Phayakkaphon A., Jaitrong W., Dujardin J.P., Sumruayphol S. Species Discrimination of Three Odontomachus (Formicidae: Ponerinae) Species in Thailand Using Outline Morphometrics. Insects Vol.13 No.3 (2022). doi:10.3390/insects13030287 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/87475
Title
Species Discrimination of Three Odontomachus (Formicidae: Ponerinae) Species in Thailand Using Outline Morphometrics
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
All members of the ant genus Odontomachus Latreille, 1804 are venomous ants. Four species in this genus have been identified from Thailand: Odontomachus latidens Mayr, 1867; O. monticola Emery, 1892; O. rixosus Smith, 1757; and O. simillimus Smith, 1758. The three latter species are available and have been used for an outline morphometric study. They display similar morphology, which makes their distinction very difficult except for highly qualified individuals. A total of 80 worker specimens were studied, exploring the contour shapes of their head and pronotum as possible taxonomic characters. The size of each body part was estimated determining the contour perimeter, the values for which were largely overlapping between O. rixosus and O. simillimus; most O. monticola specimens exhibited a significantly larger size. In contrast to the size, each contour shape of the head or pronotum established O. rixosus as the most distinct species. An exploratory data analysis disclosed the higher taxonomic signal of the head contour relative to the pronotum one. The scores obtained for validated reclassification were much better for the head (99%) than for the pronotum (82%). This study supports outline morphometrics of the head as a promising approach to contribute to the morphological identification of ant species, at least for monomorphic workers.