Melophorus attenuipes

Melophorus attenuipes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Melophorini
Genus:	Melophorus
Species group:	aeneovirens
Species complex:	aeneovirens
Species:	M. attenuipes
Binomial name
	Melophorus attenuipes; Heterick, Castalanelli & Shattuck, 2017 Specimen labels

Known from a small number of collections, nothing is known about the biology of Melophorus attenuipes.

Identification

Heterick et al. (2017) - Melophorus attenuipes is a member of the Melophoprus aeneovirens species-group (in full-face view, the anterior clypeal margin convex, apron-like and covering whole or part of the retracted mandible, except in Melophorus nemophilus, the medial clypeal sector often produced so that it is protrusive when seen in profile; the psammophore frequently with coarse and well-separated ammochaetae, these always placed on or just above anterior margin; in profile, the propodeum elongate and oblique or broadly rounded), and the Melophoprus aeneovirens species-complex (in full-face view, psammophore ranged along or just above anterior margin of clypeus and following the curve of the margin; anterior margin of clypeus broadly medially produced, and often with central notch that may be deeply impressed, but is never acuminate at its midpoint; metatibia with maximum of two rows of preapical spines). The Minor worker of this species is characterised as being very small (HW ≤ 0.50 mm), but it is the metafemur of the minor worker that is the best diagnostic character. This body part is attenuated to the midpoint and thereafter is of uniform width until its junction with the tibia (the media worker has a similar metafemur, but the attenuation is more gradual and less conspicuous). The head of the minor worker rather elongate and very strongly domed. The major worker can best be identified by the flattened anteromedial sector of its clypeus, this sector not extending beyond the lateral flanks of the clypeus.

The minor worker of this small species is recognizable by virtue of its small size (HW ≤ 0.50mm), much attenuated and long hind femur and strongly domed vertex. The media and major workers are less easily characterized, but the major worker has a flattened clypeus.

Distribution

The species appears to be restricted to the mid-west and Pilbara regions of Western Australia.

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

Worker


Worker (minor). .

Phylogeny

Melophorus

	Melophorus ludius species group

	Melophorus potteri species group

Melophorus aeneovirens species group

Melophorus biroi species group (biroi species complex)

Melophorus biroi species group (wheeleri species complex)

	Melophorus biroi species group (brevignathus species complex)

	Melophorus biroi species group (fieldi species complex)

Based on Heterick et al., 2017. Only selected species groups/complexes are included.

Nomenclature

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

attenuipes. Melophorus attenuipes Heterick, Castalanelli & Shattuck, 2017: 81, fig. 7 (w.m.) AUSTRALIA.

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

Description

(n = 3): CI 80–114; EI 20–32; EL 0.15–0.31; HL 0.56–1.37; HW 0.45–1.57; ML 0.74–1.69; MTL 0.53–1.10; PpH 0.09–0.18; PpL 0.42–0.72; SI 79–156; SL 0.70–1.24.

Worker

Minor. Head. Head approximately oval with straight sides; posterior margin of head strongly convex; frons matt or with weak sheen, microreticulate or microreticulate-shagreenate; frons consisting exclusively or almost exclusively of well-spaced, appressed setae only (small, erect setae, if present, usually confined to ocular triangle or posterior margin of head). Eye moderate (eye length 0.20–0.49 length of side of head capsule); in full-face view, eyes set at about midpoint of head capsule; in profile, eye set around midline of head capsule; eyes elliptical or slightly reniform. In full-face view, frontal carinae distinctly concave; frontal lobes curved toward antennal insertion. Anteromedial clypeal margin broadly and evenly convex; clypeal psammophore set at or just above anterior clypeal margin; palp formula 6,4. Five mandibular teeth in minor worker; mandibles triangular, weakly incurved; third mandibular tooth distinctly shorter than apical tooth and teeth numbers two and four; masticatory margin of mandibles approximately vertical or weakly oblique. Mesosoma. Integument of pronotum, mesonotum and mesopleuron with weak to moderate sheen and superficial microreticulation (more pronounced on mesopleuron); anterior mesosoma in profile smoothly rounded anteriad, thereafter pronotum and whole of mesonotum flattened and on same plane as propodeum; erect pronotal setae absent; in profile, metanotal groove shallow, indicated mainly by an angle; propodeum shining and shagreenate; propodeum angulate, propodeal angle blunt; length ratio of propodeal dorsum to its declivity between 1:1 and 1:2; erect propodeal setae always absent; appressed propodeal setulae sparse or absent, if present then not regularly spaced; propodeal spiracle situated on or beside declivitous face of propodeum, and longer (length ≥ 0.50 × height of propodeum). Petiole. In profile, petiolar node squamiform; in full-face view, shape of petiolar node uniformly rounded; node shining and smooth with vestigial sculpture. Gaster. Gaster shining, shagreenate (‘LP record’ appearance); pilosity of first gastral tergite consisting of well-spaced short, inconspicuous, appressed setae only, erect setae always absent. General characters. Colour of head and foreparts tan, gaster chocolate, coxae and femora brown, tibia and tarsi mainly depigmented yellowish.

Major. Head. Head quadrate (i.e., heart-shaped); posterior margin of head weakly convex; cuticle of frons matt or with weak sheen, microreticulate; frons consisting exclusively or almost exclusively of well-spaced, appressed setae only (small, erect setae, if present, usually confined to ocular triangle or posterior margin of head). Eye moderate (eye length 0.20–0.49 length of head capsule); in full-face view, eyes set above midpoint of head capsule; in profile, eye set anteriad of midline of head capsule; eyes elliptical. In full-face view, frontal carinae straight, convergent posteriad; frontal lobes curved inward in front of antennal insertion. Anterior clypeal margin narrowly convex and protruding anteromedially, clypeal margin entire or weakly indented; clypeal psammophore set at or just above anterior clypeal margin; palp formula 6,4. Five mandibular teeth in major worker; mandibles triangular, weakly incurved; third mandibular tooth distinctly shorter than apical tooth and teeth numbers two and four; masticatory margin of mandibles approximately aligned vertically or weakly oblique. Mesosoma. Integument of pronotum, mesonotum and mesopleuron matt or with weak sheen and microreticulate throughout; anterior mesosoma in profile smoothly rounded anteriad, thereafter pronotum and whole of mesonotum flattened and on same plane as propodeum; erect pronotal setae absent; in profile, metanotal groove deep, V-shaped; propodeum matt or with a weak sheen and microreticulate; propodeum smoothly rounded or with indistinct angle; propodeal dorsum and declivity confluent; erect propodeal setae absent; appressed propodeal setae short, separated by more than own length and inconspicuous; propodeal spiracle situated on or beside declivitous face of propodeum, and longer (length ≥ 0.50 × height of propodeum). Petiole. In profile, petiolar node squamiform; in full-face view, shape of petiolar node tapered with squared-off vertex; node matt, shagreenate. Gaster. Gaster shining, shagreenate (‘LP record’ appearance); pilosity of first gastral tergite consisting of well-spaced short, inconspicuous, appressed setae, erect setae (present in at least some workers) confined to margin of sclerite. General characters. Colour of foreparts and legs orange tan (head slightly more reddish), gaster chocolate.

Type Material

Types. Holotype minor worker (bottom ant) from 1 km N Mulga Downs OC 22°19'33"S, 118°58'47"E, Western Australia, 24 May 2004-4 May 2005, CALM Pilbara Survey, Site RHNW05, ethylene glycerol pitfalls [JDM32-002000] (Western Australian Museum). Paratypes: major worker, on same pin and with same details as holotype (WAM); minor worker, Zuytdorp 27°15'S, 114°04'E, Western Australia, 26 September-19 October 1994, A. Sampi/L. Cresswell, ZU4: Wet pits WAM/CALM survey Carnarvon Basin [JDM32-001998] (Australian National Insect Collection); minor worker, Zuytdorp 27°15'S, 114°04'E, Western Australia, 26 September-19 October 1994, A. Sampi/L. Cresswell, ZU4: Dry pits WAM/CALM survey Carnarvon Basin [JDM32-001999] (Museum of Comparative Zoology).

Etymology

Compound of Latin ad (‘towards’) plus tenuis (‘thin’) and Greek pes (pl. of pous ‘foot’); adjective in nominative singular.

References