Australasian ants of the subfamily Heteroponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): (2) the species-group of Heteroponera relicta (Wheeler), with descriptions of nine new species and observations on morphology, biogeography and phylogeny of the genus
Author
Taylor, Robert W.
text
Zootaxa
2015
3947
2
151
180
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.3947.2.1
961180ba-137c-4948-8b2e-13289f7f1f45
1175-5326
68710
CEAB4AA5-C4F8-437E-A2F4-D82F383579C1
4.
Heteroponera wilsoni
sp. n.
(
Figs 18–21
).
Type
locality.
AUSTRALIA
: QUEENSLAND:
Devils Thumb
area, -16 34, 145 17 (
10 km
NW of
Mossman
)
Type
deposition.
Holotype
ANIC
,
Paratypes
in
ANIC
,
QMBA
.
Distribution, material examined.
Known only from the following NE Qld localities, all in map grid cell 16/ 145. Each accession a single worker collected in rainforest. Unless noted all were taken by Berlese funnel from sieved rainforest leafmould, litter or moss from trees or rocks. Queensland:
EA2 (Thornton Peak):
Mt Hemmant
,
-
16 0 7, 1455 25, QMBA berlesate 865, 1050 m (GBM & H. Janetzki,
22 xi 1993
).
Thornton Peak
, -16 10, 145 22, QMBA berlesate 619,
1100–1300 m
(GBM, DKY & GIT,
1.xi.1983
).
EA3 (Windsor Tableland):
Mt Windsor Tableland
, -16 18, 145 0
5, 850 m
(RWT,
20.iii.1975
).
EA4 (Carbine Tableland):
Devils Thumb
area, -16 34, 145 17 (
10 km
NW of
Mossman
)
—
QMBA berlesate 455 (GBM, DKY & GIT,
9–10.x.1982
)—stick brushings, QMBA berlesate 459, 1180 m (GBM, DKY & GIT,
10.x.1982
)—pyrethrum knockdown, rainforest,
1000–1180 m
(GBM, DKY & GIT,
10.x.1982
).
Mossman Bluff Track
—
10 km
W of
Mossman
(-16 28, 145 23) pyrethrum knockdown, trees and logs,
1200 m
(GBM & GIT,
17.xii.1985
)—Site 10, flight intercept trap,
1300 m
(GBM, GIT & ANZSES,
1–17.i.1989
).
Worker diagnosis.
General features, conformation, coloration and major sculpturation as illustrated, and in the key to species above. Habitus similar to
H. darlingtonorum
(refer Figs) and
H. relicta
. Major sculpturation considerably different, as illustrated. Compared to
H. relicta
: antennal foveae superficially but more strongly sculptured, finely longitudinally striate; propodeal declivity shining, with some minute scaly microsculpture; posterior face of petiole smooth, shining. Vertexal border similarly concave in frontal view; posteroventrolateral extensions of occiput and opposing humeral epaulets less pronounced; ventrolateral sub-dentate extensions of pronotum above fore-coxae less well-developed and less-acutely pointed; humeral shoulders in dorsal view less pronounced; propodeal dorsum in profile less inclined posterodorsally; petiole in side view relatively narrow, the subpetiolar process somewhat reduced.
Dimensions
: (
holotype
; smallest available specimen, largest available specimen (both
Mossman Bluff
)): TL (ca): 5.28, 5.14, 5.42; HW: 1.27, 1.24, 1.31; HL: 1.21, 1.19, 1.26; CI: 104, 104, 104; EL: 0.25, 0.23, 0.25; SL: 0.72, 0.73, 0.75; SI: 59, 61, 57; PW: 0.86, 0.81, 0.88; WL: 1.55, 1.51, 1.59; petH: 0.83, 0.768, 0.87; petW: 0.54, 0.51, 0.55; GW 1.05, 1.04, 1.08.
Related taxa.
See above under
H. relicta
.
FIGURES 18–21.
Heteroponera wilsoni
sp. n.
, holotype worker, standard views (HW = 1.27mm, PW = 0.86mm, WL = 1.55mm, GW = 1.05).
In-group sympatric associations.
Sympatric with
H. rhodopygea
at all sites of record except
Mossman Bluff
, where
H. wilsoni
is directly sympatric with
H. relicta
.
Biogeography.
Known only from the farthest northern Endemicity Areas,
EA2
,
3
and
4
.
Etymology.
Named for the preeminent myrmecologist Edward O. Wilson of the Museum of Comparative Zoology Laboratories, Harvard University.