Metapone mjobergi

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Metapone mjobergi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Metapone
Species: M. mjobergi
Binomial name
Metapone mjobergi
Forel, 1915

Metapone mjobergi casent0907446 p 1 high.jpg

Metapone mjobergi casent0907446 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Apparently endemic to the mountains and tablelands of the N.E. Queensland wet tropics at known elevations between 450 and 1000m. Labels indicate that all modern samples of gynes are from flight intercept or pitfall traps. The latter implying that mated gynes search partly on foot for termite host nests. (Taylor and Alpert 2016)

Identification

Anterior clypeal border without dentate projections; its outline straight to very feebly concave or convex; anteroventral extremities each with a small squarish excision. All workers apparently with reduced, vestigial eyes. Petiolar node in workers and gynes relatively small; subpetiolar extension in lateral view a posteriorly inclined triangle or low semicircle, its base anteriorly occupying about 2/3 of the subpetiolar edge. (North Queensland).

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -17.7° to -17.7°.

 
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

Taylor and Alpert (2016) - Sympatric with M. tecklini on Mt Sampson and Windsor Tableland and with M. hoelldobleri near Kuranda. M. mjobergi and M. tillyardi are similar, possibly related species.

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • mjobergi. Metapone mjobergi Forel, 1915b: 36 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA (Queensland).
    • Type-material: syntype worker(s), syntype queen(s) (numbers not stated).
    • Type-locality: Australia: Queensland, Malanda (E. Mjöberg).
    • Type-depository: MHNG .
    • [Misspelled as mjoebergi by Gregg, R.E. 1958: 119.]
    • Status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1919h: 181 (redescription); Emery, 1921f: 20; Gregg, R.E. 1958: 119; Kusnezov, 1960a: 125; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 69; Taylor, 1987a: 40; Bolton, 1995b: 258; Taylor & Alpert, 2016: 534 (redescription).
    • Distribution: Australia.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Taylor and Alpert (2016) - (smallest and largest specimens respectively from Kuranda and E of Lake Barrine, N =14): TL ca: 5.4, 6.9; HL: 1.23, 1.51; HW: 0.96, 1.18; CI: 78, 78; CpL: 0.45, 0.52; CpI: 37, 34; MSL: 1.31, 1.84; PML: 0.78, 0.99; PMW: 0.72, 0.97; PMI: 60, 54; PDW: 0.58, 0.78; PetL: 0.37, 0.46; PetW: 0.50, 0.78; PetH: 0.64, 0.82; PpetL: 0.36, 0.47; PpetW: 0.50, 0.63; PpetH: 0.54, 0.73; GW: 1.0, 1.33. The MHMG syntype worker is relatively large, with HL 1.60; HW 1.23; CI 77; PW 1.05; MSL 2.27.

General features as in original description (Forel, 1914), as illustrated here and cited in the key to Australian species. Clypeus projecting anteriorly shortly beyond its lateral sections, not rostrate; anterior border shorter than the width of the body of the sclerite, stepped inwards at each corner; anterior border feebly concave to feebly convex. Eyes vestigial, very small and somewhat obscure, with 3 to 5 minute, irregular, indistinct facets. No evidence of polymorphism in eye size, as seen in Metapone tillyardi. Petiolar node approximately twice as wide as long in dorsal view. Subpetiolar extension shallowly sub-semicircular to triangular, its apex inclined forwards, base about 3/4 as long as subpetiolar edge. Posterior subpetiolar face triangular, margined laterally but not apically. Subpostpetiolar process an acute point in lateral view. Sculpturation as illustrated.

Queen

Taylor and Alpert (2016) - (smallest (Lake Eacham) and largest (Wallaman Falls Rd) available specimens (N= 35): TL: ca 8.0, 9.0; HL: 1.55, 1.72; HW: 1.14, 1.31; CI: 74, 76; CpL: 0.54, 0.65; CpI: 35, 37; MSL: 2.48, 2.77; ScW: 1.06, 1.12; PetL: 0.55, 0.63; PetW: 0.61, 0.68; PetH: 0.80, 0.93; PpetL: 0.56, 0.61; PpetW: 0.77, 0.89; PpetH: 0.71, 0.87; GW: 1.17, 1.43.

General features as in original description (Forel, 1915), as illustrated and in the key to Australian species. Petiole in dorsal view about as wide as long with strong posterolateral denticles. Clypeus and subpetiolar process as in worker; subpostpetiolar process in lateral view shorter, less acute, narrowly rounded apically.

Type Material

Taylor and Alpert (2016) - Worker, Gyne: Malanda [17°21’S, 145°35’E], N. Queensland.

References