Iridomyrmex setoconus

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Iridomyrmex setoconus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dolichoderinae
Tribe: Leptomyrmecini
Genus: Iridomyrmex
Species: I. setoconus
Binomial name
Iridomyrmex setoconus
Shattuck & McMillan, 1998

Iridomyrmex setoconus side view

Iridomyrmex setoconus top view

Iridomyrmex setoconus is restricted to two small populations at Yokinup Bay and Thomas River, respectively. Both localities are east of Esperance. It has only been collected on calcareous or otherwise sandy soils, and may require such a substrate for its nests. Nothing more is known of its ecology (see Shattuck & McMillan, 1998).

Identification

This species is easily recognised by virtue of the short, straight or only weakly curved erect setae on the sides of the head capsule (longer and strongly curved in those workers of Iridomyrmex turbineus that possess such pilosity).

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -25.958045° to -34°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
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Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.
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Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • setoconus. Iridomyrmex setoconus Shattuck & McMillan, 1998: 307, figs. 7-11 (w.) AUSTRALIA. See also: Heterick & Shattuck, 2011: 137.

Type Material

Description

Worker Description. Head. Posterior margin of head planar to weakly concave; erect setae on posterior margin in full-face view set in a row; sides of head noticeably convex; erect genal setae present on sides of head in full- face view. Ocelli absent; in full-face view, eyes set above midpoint of head capsule; in profile, eye set anteriad of head capsule; eye semi-circular. Frontal carinae convex; antennal scape surpassing posterior margin of head by 0.2- 0.5 x its length. Erect setae on scape absent, except at tip; prominence on anteromedial clypeal margin present as an indistinct swelling or undulation; mandible elongate triangular with oblique basal margin; long, curved setae on venter of head capsule present. Mesosoma. Pronotum moderately and evenly curved over its length. Erect pronotal setae numerous (12 or more), short and bristly. Mesonotum sinuous. Erect mesonotal setae numerous (12 or more), short and bristly. Mesothoracic spiracles always inconspicuous; propodeal dorsum protuberant; placement of propodeal spiracle mesad, more than its diameter away from propodeal declivity; propodeal angle present as a bluntly defined acute angle, the propodeal dorsum conical in shape. Erect propodeal setae numerous (12 or more), short and bristly. Petiole. Dorsum of node convex; node thick, orientation more-or-less vertical. Gaster. Non-marginal erect setae of gaster present on first gastral tergite; marginal erect setae of gaster present on first tergite. General characters. Allometric differences between workers of same nest absent. Colour reddish-brown, legs and gaster dark brown. Colour of erect setae medium brown.

Measurements. Worker (n = 5)—CI 94–100; EI 22–23; EL 0.24–0.27; EW 0.15–0.17; HL 1.10–1.17; HW 1.04–1.17; ML 0.52–0.61; PpH 0.27–0.32; PpL 0.60–0.70; SI 99–108; SL 1.12–1.16.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Heterick B. E., and S. Shattuck. 2011. Revision of the ant genus Iridomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 2845: 1-174.