Chelaner euryodon

Chelaner euryodon
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Solenopsidini
Genus:	Chelaner
Species group:	rubriceps
Species:	C. euryodon
Binomial name
Chelaner euryodon (Heterick, 2001) Specimen Labels

Widespread throughout Australia, reaching at least as far north as the central Queensland coast. The ant prefers sandy soils.

Identification

Heterick (2001) - A member of the rubriceps group. Chelaner euryodon may be confused with some forms of Chelaner leae, but can be distinguished by the enlarged basal tooth, and presence of true polymorphism in the worker caste.

Heterick (2009) - The broad basal tooth on its mandible and its strongly polymorphic workers distinguish this widely ranging but rare species.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Australian Monomorium Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -16.98333333° to -34.56666946°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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.

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.

Nomenclature

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

• euryodon. Monomorium euryodon Heterick, 2001: 424, figs. 11, 44, 91 (w.q.m.) AUSTRALIA.
  • Combination in Chelaner: Sparks et al., 2019: 232.

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

Description

Worker

Worker. HML 2.63; HL 0.97; HW 0.89; Cel 92; SL 0.61; SI 69; PW 0.51. Others. HML 1.54-2.99; HL 0.58-1.07; HW 0.46-1.04; CeI 78-96; SL 0.34-0.64; SI 60-82; PW 0.32-0.66 (29 measured).

As for the worker of Chelaner leae, but with the following apomorphies.

Head. Head square or rectangular, or cordate. Compound eyes elliptical; (viewed from front) compound eyes set in anterior half of head capsule. Anteromedial clypeal margin convex, straight or slightly emarginate, median clypeal carinae indistinct. Posteromedial clypeal margin level with posterior surface of antennal fossae. Frontal lobes parallel, sinuate. Basal tooth enlarged, much broader than other non-apical teeth.

Alitrunk. Dorsal promesonotal face convex anteriad, otherwise flattened. Metanotal groove present as feebly impressed furrow between promesonotum and propodeum. Propodeal sculpture present as faint microreticulation with few striae, mainly on lower lateral surface; propodeal processes absent (propodeum smoothly rounded in profile or with slight hump at propodeal angle). Propodeal angle absent; declivitous face of propodeum longitudinally concave between its lateral margins. Erect and suberect propodeal setae greater than 10; propodeal setulae decumbent and subdecumbent.

Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar spiracle lateral and in anterior sector of petiolar node. Petiolar node cuneate, dorsally rounded; sculpture absent, petiolar node smooth and shining. Ratio of greatest node breadth (viewed from front) to greatest node width (viewed in profile) near 2: 1, or near 4:3. Anteroventral process distinct in some individuals as slender carina that tapers posteriad. Height ratio of petiole to postpetiole near 1: l to near 4:3; height-length ratio of postpetiole near 2:1 to near 4:3. Sculpture absent on dorsum, at least: postpetiole smooth and shining.

General characters. Colour fulvous to deep orange. Worker caste polymorphic.

Queen

HML 3.44-3.78; HL 1.01-1.09; HW 1.01-1.14; CeI 95-105; SL 0.70-0.75; SI 64-74; PW 0.98 (4 measured).

As for the queen of Chelaner leae, but with the following apomorphies.

Head. Head square or rectangular, or cordate; frons striolate with a combination of appressed setulae and erect and suberect setae. Compound eyes circular or subcircular; (viewed laterally) compound eyes set at midline of head.

Alitrunk. Mesoscutum in profile evenly flattened. Mesoscutal pilosity consisting of dense incurved setulae and setae; length-width ratio of mesoscutum and scutellum combined near 4:3. Axillae separated by distance less than half greatest width of scutellum. Propodeal sculpture present as faint microreticulation with few striae, mainly on lower lateral surface; dorsal propodeal face flattened. Propodeal processes present on posterior propodeal angles as small denticles or sharp flanges. Propodeal spiracle lateral and about midway between metanotal groove and declivitous face of propodeum.

Wing. Vein m-cu absent.

Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar spiracle lateral and in anterior sector of petiolar node. Petiolar node cuneate, dorsally rounded. Anteroventral process distinct in some individuals as slender carina that tapers posteriad. Height ratio of petiole to postpetiole near 3:4 to near l: 1; height-length ratio of postpetiole near 3: 1. Sculpture present in form of microreticulation.

General characters. Colour of head, alitrunk, petiole, postpetiole russet; gaster, legs amber. Brachypterous alates not seen. Ergatoid or worker-female intercastes not seen.

Male

HML 2.84-2.90; HL 0.75-0.83; HW 0.84-0.93; CeI 113-118; SL 0.21; SI 22-25; PW 0.75-0.78 (2 measured).

As for the male of Chelaner leae, but with the following apomorphies.

Head. Head width-mesoscutal width ratio near 4:3. Ratio of length of first funicular segment of antenna to length of second funicular segment near 1:2. Maximum number of mandibular teeth and denticles: four.

Alitrunk. Mesoscutum in profile evenly convex; dorsal appearance of mesoscutum striolate and microreticulate; mesoscutal pilosity consisting of numerous short setae, incurved medially. Parapsidal furrows present and distinct.

Wing. Vein m-cu absent.

Petiole and postpetiole. Anteroventral process distinct in some individuals as slender carina that tapers posteriad. Height-length ratio of postpetiole near 4:3; sculpture present in form of microreticulation; ventral process present and distinct.

General characters. Brown.

Type Material

Holotype. Worker (top point), South Australia, 36 miles NW Adelaide, 15.viii.1971, B. B. Lowery, sandy coastal heath, nest in sand, SA 357, ANIC ants, via\66.16 (Australian National Insect Collection). Paratypes. Queensland: 2 workers, 5 km NE Mount Morgan 23°37'S, 150°24'E, 27.x.1976, R. W. Taylor & T. A. Weir, ace. no. 76/246, ANIC ant vial 66.15 (ANIC); 1 queen, 5 workers, St George, 19.i.1966, B. B. Lowery, black soil, plain box timber, large series under small shrub in sandy debris, R.66 (The Natural History Museum); 2 workers, Taroom, 20.viii.1975, B. B. Lowery, brigalow and box trees, in soil (Museum of Comparative Zoology); 1 queen, 7 workers (1 head missing), 4 miles WNW Yelarbon, l.iii.1949, T. Greaves, 6966 (MCZ). South Australia: 1 queen, 2 males, 2 workers with same data as the holotype (ANIC).

• Holotype, worker, 36mi. NW Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, Lowery,B.B., ANIC32-015732, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Paratype, 2 workers, 5km NE Mount Morgan, 23°37’S 150°24’E, Queensland, Australia, 23°37′0″S 150°24′0″E, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Paratype, 2 workers,1 queen, 2 males, 36mi. NW Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Paratype, 5 workers, 1 queen, St George, Queensland, Australia, The Natural History Museum.
• Paratype, 7 workers (1 missing head), 1 queen, 4mi. WNW Yelarbon, Queensland, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.
• Paratype, 2 workers, Taroom, Queensland, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Etymology

Greek: “broad-toothed”.

References

• Heterick, B. E. 2001. Revision of the Australian ants of the genus Monomorium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy. 15:353-459. (page 424, figs. 11, 44, 91 worker, queen, male described)
• Heterick, B. E. 2009. A guide to the ants of South-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 76:1-206.
• Heterick, B.E. 2021. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part I: Systematics. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 86, 1-245 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2021.001-245).
• Heterick, B.E. 2022. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part II: Distribution and biology. Records of the Western Australian Museum, supplement 86: 247-510 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2022.247-510).
• Sparks, K. 2015. Australian Monomorium: Systematics and species delimitation with a focus of the M. rothsteini complex. Ph.D. thesis, University of Adelaide.
• Sparks, K.S., Andersen, A.N., Austin, A.D. 2019. A multi-gene phylogeny of Australian Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) results in reinterpretation of the genus and resurrection of Chelaner Emery. Invertebrate Systematics 33: 225–236 (doi:10.1071/IS16080).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• CSIRO Collection
• Heterick B. E. 2001. Revision of the Australian ants of the genus Monomorium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy 15: 353-459.
• Heterick B. E. 2009. A guide to the ants of south-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 76: 1-206. 
• Heterick B. E. 2013. A taxonomic overview and key to the ants of Barrow Island, Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 83: 375-404.
• Majer J. D., S. K. Callan, K. Edwards, N. R. Gunawardene, and C. K. Taylor. 2013. Baseline survey of the terrestrial invertebrate fauna of Barrow Island. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 83: 13-112.