Metapone quadridentata

Metapone quadridentata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Metapone
Species:	M. quadridentata
Binomial name
Metapone quadridentata Eguchi, 1998

M. quadridentata is known only from the original series (11 workers and a gyne ) collected from a nest in rotten fallen wood, plus a single worker collected separately at the same locality (Eguchi, 1998).

Identification

Keys including this Species

• Key to Metapone of Asia

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia.

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.

Nomenclature

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

• quadridentata. Metapone quadridentata Eguchi, 1998: 605, figs. 1-3 (w.q.l.) BORNEO (East Malaysia: Sabah).
  • Type-material: holotype worker, 11 paratype workers, 1 paratype queen.
  • Type-locality: holotype Malaysia: Sabah, Poring, 21.xi.1996, Eg96-BOR-263 (K. Eguchi); paratypes with same data.
  • Type-depositories: MBSM (holotype); ANIC, KEPC, MBSM, MNHA (paratypes).
  • Status as species: Pfeiffer, et al. 2011: 47; Taylor & Alpert, 2016: 521 (redescription) ; Wang, W.Y., et al. 2019: 140 (in key).
  • Distribution: Malaysia (Sabah).

Type Material

• Holotype and paratype, worker, queen, male, Poring, Sabah, Malaysia, 6°N 116°E.
• Paratype, 2 workers, Poring, Sabah, Malaysia, 6°N 116°E, Katsuyuki Eguchi; Wang et al., 2019.
• Paratype, 1 queen, Poring, Sabah, Malaysia, 6°N 116°E, Museum of Nature and Human Activities; Wang et al., 2019.
• Paratype, 1 worker, Poring, Sabah, Malaysia, 6°N 116°E, Australian National Insect Collection; from Katsusuki Eguchi collection (Taylor and Alpert, 2016).

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

Description

Worker

Taylor and Alpert (2016) - (After Eguchi, 1998): TL 4.9–8.3; HL: 1.11–1.91; HW: 0.76–1.33; CI: 68, 70. CpL: 0.43–0.68; CpI: 39, 36; MSL: 1.30–2.44; PML: 0.63–1.26; PMW: 0.55–1.07; PMI: 48, 56; PDW: 0.48–0.88; PetL: 0.33–0.63; PetW: 0.35–0.68; PetH: 0.50–0.88; PpetL: 0.33–0.64; PpetW: 0.42–0.83; GW: 0.80–1.41. The cited indices were calculated from Eguchi’s smallest and largest measurements for HL and HW (CI), HL and CpL (CpI) and MSL and PML (PMI). Cephalic proportions stated in the original description are equivalent to a CI range of 67–71, and the holotype has CI 71. Additional measurements are given with the original description. The smallest and largest of four paratype workers studied here have: HL (midline) 1.21, 1.68; HL (maximum) 1.26, 1.70; HW 0.87, 1.19; CI (based on midline HL) 72 71; PMW 0.57, 0.92. Note that Eguchi measured maximum HL so as to include the occipital lobes. Our measurements are taken from the midline of the occipital border.

General features as in original description (Eguchi, 1998), the key to Asian species and figures. Eyes relatively moderately large, multifaceted, maximum diameter around 2/3 the maximum width of an apical antennomere. Subpetiolar lamella in profile an anteriorly positioned, erect, translucent, posteroventrally bluntly-pointed hook-like structure, behind which the ventral subpetiolar edge curves quite strongly to meet the subpetiolar angle which encloses approximately 90° in lateral view. Posterior subpetiolar face approximately equilaterally triangular in oblique view, its outer margins with a fine raised, translucent, laminate carina which is higher towards the apex of the posterior face, and forms a distinctive translucent margin to the posterior subpetiolar profile in lateral view, visually doubling the outline. Subpostpetiolar process barely inflated anteroventrally, forming a slightly acute angle in profile; the anterior face small, sub-semicircular in oblique view

References

• Eguchi, K. 1998. A new ant of the genus Metapone (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Sabah, Borneo. Entomol. Sci. 1: 605-609 (page 605-609, worker, queen, larva described)
• Taylor, R. W. and G. D. Alpert, G. D. 2016. The myrmicine ant genus Metapone Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): a global taxonomic review with descriptions of twelve new species. Zootaxa. 4105(6):501-545. [2016-04-27]
• Wang, W.Y., Yamada, A., Eguchi, K. 2019. Discovery of a new ant species of the elusive termitophilous genus Metapone in Singapore (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae), with the first detailed description of male genitalia of the genus. ZooKeys 876: 125–141 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.876.35739).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58
• Taylor R. W., and G. D. Alpert. 2016. The myrmicine ant genus Metapone Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): a global taxonomic review with descriptions of twelve new species. Zootaxa 4105(6): 501-545.
• Wang W. Y., A. Yamada, K. Eguchi. 2019. Discovery of a new ant species of the elusive termitophilous genus Metapone in Singapore (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae), with the first detailed description of male genitalia of the genus. ZooKeys 876: 125–141.