Chelaner xantheklemma

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

The known distribution of C. xantheklemma, which is the Clare Valley in eastern South Australia, and north of Kellerberrin in the eastern wheat-belt, Western Australia, is rather peculiar (Heterick 2001).

Identification

Heterick (2001) - A member of the rubriceps group. Chelaner xantheklemma belongs to a small complex of attractive and rare orange or red-and-orange Chelaner. This particular species is a shining orange with scattered foveae over the head and alitrunk, a condition not found in related taxa.

Keys including this Species

Key to Australian Monomorium Species

Distribution

Heterick (2009) - Known from the WA goldfields as well as the wheatbelt. It has also been found in the Clare Valley, in SA.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -33.83333206° to -33.88333893°.


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.

Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

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

xantheklemma. Monomorium xantheklemma Heterick, 2001: 440, figs. 49, 66, 160 (w.m.) AUSTRALIA (South Australia).
- Type-material: holotype worker, 24 paratype workers, 2 paratype ergatoid queens, 2 paratype males.
- Type-locality: holotype Australia: South Australia, Sevenhill, 1500 ft, 12.ix.1969, SA 197, ANIC ants vial 66.66 (B.B. Lowery); paratypes: 2 workers with same data, 2 workers, 1 male with same data but 12.ix.1963, 3 workers South Australia, Sevenhill, 21.ii.1957 (B.B. Lowery), 2 workers, 1 ergatoid queen, 1 male Sevenhill, 1400 ft, 21.ii.1957 (B.B. Lowery), 17 workers, 1 ergatoid queen, South Australia, Claire, 3.iii.1950 (J. McAreavey).
- Type-depositories: ANIC (holotype); ANIC, BMNH, MCZC (paratypes).
- Combination in Chelaner: Sparks, et al. 2019: 233.
- Status as species: Heterick, 2009: 162; Sparks, et al. 2019: 233.
- 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

Holotype. HML 2.05; HL 0.74; HW 0.60; CeI 81; SL 0.54; SI 90; PW 0.47. Others. HML 1.92-2.58; HL 0.69-0.86; HW 0.58-0.77; CeI 83-92; SL 0.48-0.64; SI 82-92; PW 0.40-0.57 (20 measured).

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

Head. Frons of head capsule smooth and shining with scattered foveae and striolae, pilosity combination of incurved decumbent and subdecumbent setulae and erect and suberect setae. Compound eyes elliptical. Anteromedial clypeal margin emarginate, median clypeal carinae produced as pair of bluntly rounded denticles. Frontal lobes parallel straight. Mandibles (viewed from front) triangular and smooth, with piliferous punctures; basal angle indistinct; apical and basal mandibular margins meeting in curve.

Alitrunk. Promesonotal sculpture present in form of scattered foveae and striolae, mainly on the mesopleuron, and mesopleural striae. Mesonotal suture absent. Metanotal groove absent. Dorsal propodeal face gently convex; processes absent (propodeum smoothly rounded in profile or with slight hump at propodeal angle); lobes present and produced apically so as to form acute angled, sharp projections. Propodeal angle absent.

Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar node cuboidal. Sculpture absent on dorsum, at least: postpetiole smooth and shining. Ventral process absent or vestigial, or present and distinct.

General characters. Colour of head, alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole a shiny, dark reddish orange to tawny yellow (head lighter in colour in some individuals), gaster and appendages tawny yellow. Worker caste monomorphic.

Male

HML 1.99-2.08; HL 0.53-0.63; HW 0.53-0.60; CeI 95-106; SL 0.14-0.17; SI 26-29; PW 0.62-0.72 (3 measured).

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

Head. Head width-mesoscutal width ratio near I: 1 to near 3:4. Compound eyes protuberant and circular or subcircular, or protuberant and elliptical. 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: five.

Alitrunk. Mesoscutum in profile evenly convex; mesoscutal pilosity consisting of numerous short setae, incurved medially. Parapsidal furrows present and distinct; notauli present.

Wing. Wing veins predominantly depigmented with distal segments reduced to vestigial lines.

Petiole and postpetiole. Ratio of greatest node breadth (viewed from front) to greatest node width (viewed in profile) near 3:4. Sculpture absent on dorsum, at least: postpetiole smooth and shining; ventral process absent or vestigial.

Gaster. Pilosity of first gastral tergite consisting entirely of well-spaced erect and suberect setae.

General characters. Colour amber to brown.

Type Material

Holotype. Worker (top point), South Australia, Sevenhill, 12.ix.1969, B. B. Lowery, 1500 ft, nest under rock in grassy paddock, SA 197, ANIC ants vial 66.66 (Australian National Insect Collection). Paratypes. South Australia: 2 workers, same data as holotype (ANIC); 17 workers and 1 ergatoid, Clare, 3.iii.l950, J. McAreavey, Chelaner (The Natural History Museum); 3 worker, Sevenhill, 21.ii.1957, B. B. Lowery (Museum of Comparative Zoology); 1 male and 2 workers, Sevenhill, 12.ix.1963, B. B. Lowery, 1500 ft, R F Valley between rocks, ANIC ant vial 66-66 (MCZ); 1 male, 2 workers and 1 ergatoid, Sevenhill, 21.ii.1957, B. B. Lowery, 1400 ft, under rock on bare ridge top (ANIC).

Holotype, worker, Sevenhill, South Australia, Australia, Lowery,B.B., ANIC32-015693, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 4 workers, 1 ergatoid queen, 1 male, Sevenhill, South Australia, Australia, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 17 workers, 1 ergatoid queen, Clare, South Australia, Australia, The Natural History Museum.
Paratype, 5 workers, 1 male, Sevenhill, South Australia, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Etymology

Greek: “orange + peel”.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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.