Melophorus pusillus

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

Melophorus pusillus major side JDM32-004668.jpg

Melophorus pusillus major top JDM32-004668.jpg

Specimen labels

Workers collected in Cambrai, SA were taken in dunes and two workers were collected in a malaise trough at Craven Peak in QLD, but no other ecological data are available.

Identification

Heterick et al. (2017) - Melophorus pusillus is placed in the Melophoprus ludius species-group on the basis of molecular data. However, in morphological appearance this taxon shares major diagnostic characters with the Melophoprus biroi complex (viz, metatibia of major worker with only one preapical spur; clypeal psammophore placed anteriorly at or just above anterior margin of clypeus in the minor worker and often in the major worker; legs compact, and small body size [HW of smallest minor < 0.40 mm, HW of largest major < 1.10 mm]). Like the other three members of its species-group, M. pusillus is characterized by being weakly sculptured overall, with the cuticle of the mesosoma visibly thin, the mesonotum being translucent to varying degrees and the mesopleuron either smooth or with vestigial sculpture only. Melophorus pusillus is distinguished from Melophorus ludius by the larger eye (EI in 31-40 in M. pusillus compared with EI of 19-30 in M. ludius) and from Melophorus translucens by the less elongate propodeum and shorter propodeal spiracle.

Melophorus pusillus resembles nothing so much as a slightly elongate M. ludius, and is easily confused with that ant. The larger eye (EI 31-40 compared with EI 19-30) and the very thin cuticle on the mesosoma are the best way to distinguish this ant from M. ludius.

Distribution

The species is widely distributed in Australia, mainly in arid inland environments, and has been recorded from all mainland states except the ACT.

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

Castes

Worker

Melophorus pusillus minor head JDM32-004668.jpgMelophorus pusillus minor side JDM32-004668.jpgMelophorus pusillus minor top JDM32-004668.jpgMelophorus pusillus minor labels JDM32-004668.JPG
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.

  • pusillus. Melophorus pusillus Heterick, Castalanelli & Shattuck, 2017: 393, fig. 93 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

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

Description

Worker

(n = 6): CI 90–106; EI 31–40; EL 0.15–0.21; HL 0.41–0.64; HW 0.36–0.68; ML 0.52–0.86; MTL 0.30–0.52; PpH 0.05–0.08; PpL 0.22–0.37; SI 99–127; SL 0.46–0.67.

Minor. Head. Head approximately oval with straight sides; posterior margin of head strongly convex; frons shining with superficial shagreenation or microreticulation only; 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 large (eye length ≥ 0.50 × length of side of head capsule); in profile, eye set at about midpoint of head capsule; in profile, eye set around midline of head capsule; roughly ovoid, eye narrowed posteriad. In full-face view, frontal carinae distinctly concave; frontal lobes curved toward antennal insertion. Anteromedial clypeal margin straight; clypeal psammophore set at or above midpoint of clypeus; 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 shining and mainly smooth, vestigial shagreenation most noticeable on humeri and mesopleuron; anterior mesosoma in profile weakly elevated anteriad, thereafter gently sinuate, pronotum and mesonotum on same plane; erect pronotal setae absent; in profile, metanotal groove a weak or vestigial furrow; propodeum shining and shagreenate; propodeum angulate, propodeal angle blunt; length ratio of propodeal dorsum to its declivity about1:1; erect propodeal setae always absent; appressed propodeal setulae 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 uniformly rounded; node shining and distinctly shagreenate-microreticulate. Gaster. Gaster shining with superficial microreticulation; pilosity of first gastral tergite consisting of well-spaced short, inconspicuous, appressed setae only, erect setae always absent. General characters. Colour pale yellow-orange to bright brown.

Major. Head. Head square; posterior margin of head planar or weakly convex; cuticle of frons shining and smooth except for piliferous pits; 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 at about midpoint of head capsule; in profile, eye set anteriad of midline of head capsule; eyes elliptical, or roughly ovoid, eye narrowed posteriad. In full-face view, frontal carinae straight or weakly convex; frontal lobes straight in front of antennal insertion. Anterior clypeal margin broadly and evenly convex; clypeal psammophore set at or above midpoint of clypeus; 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 moderately shining and shagreenate throughout; anterior mesosoma in profile broadly convex; erect pronotal setae absent; in profile, metanotal groove shallow, broadly V- or U-shaped; propodeum shining and finely striolate and microreticulate; propodeum smoothly rounded or with indistinct angle; propodeal dorsum and declivity confluent; erect propodeal setae absent; appressed propodeal setae sparse or absent, if present then not regularly spaced; propodeal spiracle situated on or beside declivitous face of propodeum, and shorter (length less than 0.50 × height of propodeum). Petiole. In profile, petiolar node squamiform; in full-face view, shape of petiolar node tapered with sharp vertex; node shining and smooth with vestigial microreticulation anteriad. Gaster. Gaster shining, shagreenate (‘LP record’ appearance); pilosity of first gastral tergite consisting of well-spaced, erect and semi-erect setae interspersed with regularly spaced appressed setae, or consisting of well-spaced short, inconspicuous, appressed setae, erect setae (present in at least some workers) confined to margin of the sclerite. General characters. Colour yellow ochre with brownish-yellow gaster to pale brown.

Type Material

Holotype minor worker (bottom ant) from Tropicana Minesite 29°10'11"S, 124°33'38"E, Western Australia, January 2009, J. Summerhayes, pitfall trap Casuarina, CA 2:3 [JDM32-004668] (Western Australian Museum). Paratypes: major worker on same pin and with same details as holotype (WAM); 2 minor workers from Kunoth Paddock, near Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 25 October 1980, P.J.M. Greenslade, SA EAD (Australian National Insect Collection); 2 minor workers from Gawler Ranges, South Australia, 1 October 1972, P.J.M. Greenslade, (9) (The Natural History Museum); 2 minor workers from 30 km S of Granite Downs, South Australia, 23 September 1980 (I), P.J.M. Greenslade, 9-3C (Museum of Comparative Zoology); 2 minor workers from 3.2 km NW of homestead on Plum Pudding track, Cravens Peak Station 23°19'00"S, 138°33'47", Queensland, 21-24 April 2007, C. Lemann, Malaise trap, gidgee flat, ANIC ANTS VIAL 76.104 [ANIC32-036867] (Queensland Museum); 3 minor workers from Mt Gunson, South Australia, 1985, T. J. Case, 541 (South Australian Museum).

Etymology

Latin pusillus (‘puny’); adjective in the nominative singular.

References