New ant species discovered in PH
A new species of ant has been discovered in the Philippines, the National Museum announced in a Facebook post on Friday.
It said the new ant species was called “Strumigenys silangan” because all of the specimens were collected in the eastern or ”silangan” parts of the archipelago.
The museum noted that the “Strumigenys silangan” is special for its appearance, since it has four segments on its antennae and its first belly plate is smooth.
“This makes Strumigenys silangan one of the 13 out of 882 known species of ants around the world that have four-segmented antennae,” it said.
The new ant species is a mix of S. emmae, or ants with spoon-shaped or round hairs on their heads; and S. eurycera, or ants with simple hairs, a very flat back part of the body called the propodeum and lined textures on their first belly plate.
Research team
“[The Strumigenys silangan] has simple hairs like one group but a gently sloping body shape and a smooth belly plate like the other,” the National Museum noted.
The new ant species was discovered by the National Museum’s research associate, Dr. David M. General and Dr. Gary Alpert of Northern Arizona University.
