Melophorus vitreus

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

Limited ecological data indicate it has been collected in mallee and also on lateritic sandplain with an overlay of proteaceous heathland and small trees. (Heterick et al. 2017)

Identification

Heterick et al. (2017) - Melophorus vitreus can be placed in the Melophoprus biroi species-group on the basis of characters of the clypeus, propodeum, mandible and palps. The species is also placed in the Melophoprus fieldi species-complex because of the appearance of the anteriorly placed clypeal psammophore, the compact propodeum, the presence of more than one preapical spine on the metatibia, at least in the major worker, the long, even spindly legs and the unmodified mandible in the major worker. In profile, the minor worker of M. vitreus is gracile, with a short, thick petiolar node terminating in a smoothly rounded vertex, the clypeus is rounded and somewhat protuberant the eye very large (eye length ≥ 0.50 × length of side of head capsule) and the cuticle is extremely glossy with the mesopleuron completely smooth or with only a very superficial microreticulate pattern. The combination of the very large eye, the protuberant clypeus, the smooth mesopleuron and the general glossiness will serve to identify the ant. Most specimens exhibit the “pillipes’ condition (whorls of fine, erect setae on appendages). The major worker is unknown.

This small ant resembles a smooth, glossy, gracile Melophorus turneri, but can be distinguished from that species by features of the clypeus, the eye and the node and by its glossy, gracile mesosoma.

Distribution

The species is known from NT and WA but, based on its habitat preference, it may also be looked for in SA.

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

Known only from the minor worker.

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.

vitreus. Melophorus vitreus Heterick, Castalanelli & Shattuck, 2017: 322, fig. 74 (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 99–106; EI 36–41; EL 0.23–0.25; HL 0.56–0.66; HW 0.56–0.70; ML 0.81–0.96; MTL 0.45–0.52; PpH 0.08–0.107; PpL 0.30–0.36; SI 96–105; SL 0.59–0.67.

Minor. Head. Head square; posterior margin of head weakly convex; frons shining and smooth except for piliferous pits; pilosity of frons a mixture of a few well-spaced, erect setae interspersed with appressed setae only. Eye large (eye length ≥ 0.50 × length of side of head capsule); in full-face view, eye set at about midpoint of head capsule; in profile, eye set anteriad of head capsule; eyes elliptical or slightly reniform. In full-face view, frontal carinae distinctly concave; frontal lobes straight in front of antennal insertion. Anteromedial clypeal margin broadly and evenly convex; 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; appearance of erect pronotal setae short, (i.e., longest erect setae shorter than length of eye) and unmodified, or erect pronotal setae absent; in profile, metanotal groove shallow, broadly V or U-shaped; propodeum shining and smooth or with superficial and almost invisible microsculpture; propodeum always smoothly rounded; propodeal dorsum and declivity confluent; erect propodeal setae variable in number, may be absent; appressed propodeal setulae short, separated by more than own length and inconspicuous; propodeal spiracle situated on or beside declivitous face of propodeum, and shorter (length < 0.50 × height of propodeum). Petiole. In profile, petiolar node subcuboidal, vertex bluntly rounded; in full-face view, shape of petiolar node uniformly rounded; node shining and smooth throughout. Gaster. Gaster smooth and glossy; pilosity of first gastral tergite consisting of well-spaced, erect and semi-erect setae interspersed with regularly placed appressed setae. General characters. Colour of foreparts orange tan to reddish brown, gaster brown to blackish-brown.

Type Material

Holotype minor worker (top ant) from Black Swan Mine 30°28'S, 121°43'E, Western Australia, 11 December 2003-5 January 2004, P. Langlands/J. Osborne, site data C4,8 [JDM32-004585] (Western Australian Museum). Paratypes: 3 minor workers on same pin and with same details as holotype (WAM); 4 minor workers from Kunoth Paddock near Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 3-6 February 1975, P.J.M. Greenslade, Trap VM, 20) [ANIC32-900122] (Australian National Insect Collection); minor worker from 15 km SE of Alice Springs 23.51S, 133.58E, Northern Territory, 9 October 1991, D. Davidson/S. Morton, 120C (The Natural History Museum); 2 minor workers from 17 km S of Rabbit Flat, Northern Territory, 19 May 1986, P.J.M. Greenslade, (8) B, 11) (Museum of Comparative Zoology); minor worker from Mt Whaleback, Newman, Western Australia, July 1984, K. J. Walker [JDM32-004586] (Queensland Museum).

Etymology

Latin vitreus (‘of glass’ or ‘resembling glass’); adjective in the nominative singular.

References