Revision of the ant genus Mayriella.
Author
Shattuck, S. O.
Author
Barnett, N. J.
text
Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute
Editor
Snelling, R. R.
Editor
Fisher, B. L.
Editor
Ward, P. S.
2007
Advances in ant systematics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Homage to E. O. Wilson - 50 years of contributions.
80
437
458
http://atbi.biosci.ohio-state.edu/HymOnline/reference-full.html?id=21289
journal article
21289
Mayriella transfuga Baroni
Urbani, 1977
Figures 23 - 25
Mayriella transfuga Baroni
Urbani, 1977: 411.
TYPE MATERIAL
Holotype worker and 7 worker paratypes from
Nepal
, 6 km NW
Narainghat
(
NHMB
,
BMNH
) (examined)
.
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL
(In
ANIC
unless otherwise noted).
China
, Hong Kong SAR
:
Tai
Po
Kau
forest,
New Territories
(
Winney, R.
) (
BMNH
);
India
, Uttar Pradesh
:
Lachiwala
forest,
Dehra Dun
,
Garwal District
(
Lobl
, I);
Indonesia
, South Kalimantan
: 17 - 46 km W
Batulitjin
(
Brown, W. L.
) (
BMNH
,
MCZC
)
;
West Java
:
Bogor
(
Imadate, G.
) (
BMNH
)
;
Lampung
:
Liwa
,
5 ° 04 ' S
104 ° 03 ' E
(
Harvey, M. S.
)
;
Malaysia
, Johor
:
Kota Tinggi
(
Murphy, D. H.
)
;
Pahang
:
Tanjong Bunga
(
Murphy, D. H.
)
;
Perak
:
Sungei Simei Falls
,
Cameron Highlands
(Jaccoud, T
.
&
Marcuard, P.
)
;
Pulau Pinang
:
George Town Botanic Gardens
(
Waterfall
) (
Taylor, R. W.
&
Barrett, R. A.
)
;
Sabah
:
Poring Hot Springs
(Burckhardt & Loebl) (
BMNH
)
;
Sepilok Forest Reserve
, nr.
Sandakan
(
Taylor, R. W.
)
;
Umas Umas nr. Tawau
(
Taylor, R. W.
)
;
Sarawak
:
Kampong Segu
, 20 mi SW
Kuching
(
Taylor, R. W.
)
;
Semengoh Forest Reserve
, 11 mi SW
Kuching
(
Taylor, R. W
)
;
nr.
Miri
(
Hammond, P.
) (
BMNH
)
;
G. Mulu Natl Pk
, RGS
Expd Long Pala
(
Bolton, B.
) (
BMNH
)
;
Gn. Mulu Natl Pk
(
Hammond, P.
&
Marshall, J. E.
) (
BMNH
)
;
Selangor
:
Gombak
, vic. of
Univ. of Malaya Field Station
, 9 th
Mile
(
Murphy, D. H.
)
;
Ulu Gombak
Forest Reserve
(
Crozier, R.
) (
MCZC
)
;
Ulu Gombak
, nr.
Kuala Lumpur
(
Taylor, R. W.
)
;
upper
Gombak Valley
(
Murphy, D. H.
) (
MCZC
)
;
upper
Gombak Valley
, nr.
Kuala Lumpur
(
Taylor, R. W.
)
;
Nepal
: 6 km NW
Narainghat
(
Wittmer, W.
&
Baroni Urbani, C.
) (
BMNH
)
;
Philippines
, Luzon
:
Mt. Makiling
,
Lagunas
(Dumont, K
. &
Morse, R.
) (
MCZC
)
;
Singapore
:
Nee Soon
(
Taylor, R. W.
)
;
Thailand
:
Khao Sabap Natl Pk
(
Loebl & Burckhardt
) (
BMNH
)
.
DIAGNOSIS
This taxon can be separated from other species in the genus by the presence of well developed sculpturing in the posterior section of the scrobe, the large, closely spaced pits on the mesosomal dorsum, the parallel lateral surfaces of the postpetiole, the strongly angular petiolar node and the relatively long propodeal spines (length greater than 1.5 times the width of their bases). It is most similar to
M. granulata
but can be separated based on the longer and narrower propodeal spines.
WORKER DESCRIPTION
Sculpturing in posterior section of antennal scrobe well developed and distinct; sculpturing on dorsal surface of mesosoma consisting of large, closely spaced pits; propodeal spines relatively long and thin; dorsal surface of petiole in lateral profile uniformly convex, without distinct dorsal and posterior faces and forming a sharp angle with the anterior face; in dorsal view, postpetiole with the anterior and posterior regions approximately the same width (the region connecting them either flat or weakly convex); postpetiole and gaster lacking erect hairs dorsally.
Measurements. Worker (n = 10) - CI 0.95 - 1.01; HL 0.40 - 0.46; HTL 0.20 - 0.23; HW 0.39 - 0.45; ML 0.41 - 0.47; PW 0.28 - 0.35; SI 0.49 - 0.61; SL 0.22 - 0.25.
COMMENTS
M. transfuga
was described by Baroni Urbani (1977) from material collected in Bhutan and Nepal. It is now known to occur much more widely, being found from Nepal and India east to Hong Kong and the Philippines and south to Borneo and Java, Indonesia. While this is by far the broadest geographic range of any species in the genus, this species shows minimal geographic variation and there is no suggestion that more than one species is involved. The majority of records are from primary and secondary rainforests where workers have been found foraging in leaf litter or nesting in soil.
Recently, the species
granulata
was described from Vietnam by Dlussky and Radchenko (1990). This species is morphologically similar to
transfuga
and may be conspecific with it. For further discussion see under that species.