Heteroponera trachypyx

Heteroponera trachypyx
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ectatomminae
Tribe:	Heteroponerini
Genus:	Heteroponera
Species group:	relicta
Species complex:	ecarinata
Species:	H. trachypyx
Binomial name
	Heteroponera trachypyx; Taylor, 2015

Specimens have been collected by Berlese funnel sampling of rainforest leafmould or litter. Sympatric with Heteroponera rhodopygea at Mt Finnigan, Mt Sorrow and Thornton Range, and Heteroponera rhodopygea + Heteroponera viviennae in the Cape tribulation area and McDowall Range.

Identification

Taylor (2015) - Heteroponera trachypyx is less darkly colored and sculptured than the other H. ecarinata-group species. Head and mesosoma more-or-less uniformly medium-dark brown, the gaster, mandibles, antennae and legs a shade lighter. Coloration overall similar to the sympatric species Heteroponera rhodopygea and Heteroponera viviennae. Propodeal declivity shining, microsculpture distinct to vestigial, with very fine radial microstriae.

Variation in coloration suggests a prolonged callow to sub-callow period in workers.

Keys including this Species

Key to Australian Heteroponera Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -15.48° to -16.28°.


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.

trachypyx. Heteroponera trachypyx Taylor, 2015b: 174, figs. 42-45 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Queensland).
- Type-material: holotype worker, paratype workers (number not stated).
- Type-locality: holotype Australia: Queensland, McDowall Range, (16°06’S, 145°20’E), 680 m., 5.x.1982, QMBA berlesate 440 (G.B. Monteith, D.K. Yeates & G.I. Thompson); paratypes with same data.
- [Note: several other localities are also provided, but there is no statement concerning which are paratypes, and no statement that all are paratypes; therefore only those from the type-locality are recorded here.]
- Type-depositories: ANIC (holotype); ANIC, QMBA (paratypes).
- 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; smallest available specimen (12–mile Scrub), largest available specimen (Mt Sorrow summit)): TL (ca): 5.1, 4.4, 5.1; HW: 1.18, 1.11, 1.19; HL: 1.14, 1.06, 114; CI: 103, 104, 104; EL: 0.17, 0.16, 0.18; SL: 0.68, 0.61, 0.71; SI: 57, 57, 59; PW: 0.95, 0.84, 0.87; WL: 1.40, 1.40, 1.48; petH: 0.76, - , - ; petW: 0.48, 0.52, 0.50; GW 1.04, 1.03, 1.04.

Type Material

Australia: Queensland: McDowall Range (16°06'S, 145°20'E). Holotype Australian National Insect Collection. Paratypes ANIC, Queensland Museum.

Etymology

The name, a noun in apposition, refers to the coarse sculpturation of the first gastral tergite.

References

Taylor, R.W. 2015. 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. Zootaxa. 3947:151-180. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3947.2.1