Papyrius

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Members of this genus are found primarily in forested areas, where they nest in dead wood, either standing or on the ground. Papyrius species commonly use plant fibers to construct carton covers over nest sites and feeding areas. (Shattuck 1992)

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Photo Gallery

  • Shattuck C11779-web, Papyrius, Cairns, Queensland.jpg
  • Shattuck C11745-web, Papyrius, Cairns, Queensland.jpg

Identification

Shattuck (1992) - Worker: Palp formula 5:3; anterior clypeal margin with 8 to 20 very short, straight setae; metanotal groove a distinct, deep trough or notch depressed below the level of the adjacent mesonotum and propodeum; mandibles with 11 to 14 teeth, about 3 denticles, the apical tooth elongate and much longer than subapical, and the basal angle weakly defined by a denticle; petiolar scale vertical and not inclined anteriorly. New Guinea and Australia. Queen: Palp formula 5:3; anterolateral clypeal margin posterior to the mediolateral region and separated from it by a shoulder; anterior clypeal margin with 0 to 4 setae; wing radial cell open. Male: Palp formula 5:3; anterior axillar suture angular medially; mandible with a single tooth (the apical); fore wing radial cell open.

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Keys including this Genus

 

Distribution

Australia and New Guinea

Distribution and Richness based on AntMaps

Species by Region

Number of species within biogeographic regions, along with the total number of species for each region.

Afrotropical Region Australasian Region Indo-Australian Region Malagasy Region Nearctic Region Neotropical Region Oriental Region Palaearctic Region
Species 0 4 2 0 0 0 0 0
Total Species 2841 1736 3045 932 835 4379 1741 2862

Biology

Life History Traits

  • Mean colony size: ? (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Compound colony type: not parasitic (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Nest site: hypogaeic; arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Diet class: herbivore (Greer et al., 2021)
  • Foraging stratum: subterranean/leaf litter; arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)

Castes

Morphology

Worker Morphology

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• Antennal segment count: 12 • Antennal club: gradual • Palp formula: 5,3 • Total dental count: 12-17 • Spur formula: 1 pectinate, 1 pectinate • Eyes: >100 ommatidia • Ocelli: absent • Scrobes: absent • Pronotal Spines: absent • Mesonotal Spines: absent • Propodeal Spines: absent • Petiolar Spines: absent • Caste: monomorphic • Sting: absent • Metaplural Gland: present • Cocoon: absent

Karyotype

All Karyotype Records for Genus

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Taxon Haploid Diploid Karyotype Locality Source Notes
Papyrius nitidus 8 16 Australia Crozier, 1968a; Imai et al., 1977 as ''Iridomyrmex nitidus''

Phylogeny

Dolichoderinae
Tapinomini
⊟
Bothriomyrmecini
⊟
Dolichoderini

Dolichoderus  (150 species, 51 fossil species)

Leptomyrmecini
⊟

See Phylogeny of Dolichoderinae for details.

Nomenclature

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

  • PAPYRIUS [Dolichoderinae: Leptomyrmecini]
    • Papyrius Shattuck, 1992a: 17. Type-species: Iridomyrmex nitida, by original designation.

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

Description

Worker

HEAD. Vertex concave. Compound eyes present, approximately round; relatively anterior on head. Ocelli absent. Antennae 12 segmented. Scape short, at most surpassing the vertex by lessthan one-third its length. Anterolateral clypeal margin posterior to the mediolateral region and separated from it by a shoulder. Anteromedial clypeal margin entire, without a central notch or concavity of any type. Anterior clypeal setae 8- 20; very short, only slightly surpassing the anterior clypeal margin; straight. Posterior clypeal margin between the anterior and posterior surfaces of the antennal socket cavities. Anterior tentorial pit nearer the antennal socketthan the mandibular insertion. Frontal carina present. Anterolateral hypostoma reduced to a thin sclerite. Medial hypostoma entire. Psammophore absent. MOUTHPARTS. Palp formula 5:3. Third maxillary palp segment subequal in length to segment 4. Mandible with 11- 14 teeth and about 3 denticles. Apical tooth elongate and much longer than the subapical tooth. Basal angle weakly defined by a denticle. Basal margin smooth and without teeth or denticles. MESOSOMA. Posteroventral pronotum lateral, rounded or angled. Mesopleural process absent. Anteromedial mesosternum even with the lateral regions. Declivitous face of propodeum flat; dorsal face flat to weakly concave, subequal in length to the declivitous face. Propodeal angle distinct. Mesosomal spines and tooth absent. Erect pronotal hairs absent. Dorsal pro-meso notal junction with the mesonotum above the pronotum. Metanotal groove a distinct, deep trough or notch depressed below the level ofthe adjacent mesosomal notum. Metanotal spiracle lateral and ventral ofthe dorsal surface when viewed in lateral profile. Propodeal spiracle lateral and ventral ofthe propodeal dorsum. Hind tibial spur with well developed barbules along entire inner surface (except extreme base). PETIOLE. Scale present; rounded and forming an even arch dorsally (but narrowed dorsally); vertical and not inclined anteriorly. Venter with a well developed lobe. GASTER. First tergite vertical and not concealing the petiole in dorsal view and with a groove or indentation for the reception of the entire height ofthe petiole. Anteriortergosternal suture ofthefirst segment extending laterally from the helcium in a distinct arch which extends dorsal of the dorsal helcial surface. Fifth tergite ventral, gaster with 4 apparent tergites. Gastral compression slightly dorsoventral. Fourth sternite flat across entire posterior border. GENERAL CHARACTERS. Worker caste monomorphic. Chromosome number 8 (n=8, P. nitidus, Crozier 1968a; 2n=16, P. nitidus, Imai et al. 1977). Integument thin and flexible, weakly SCUlptured. PROVENTRICULUS. Cupola much broader than bulb; round; with short pile; smooth, without sculpture; and with narrow phragma. Bulb completely hidden by cupola in lateral view. Longitudinal muscle No.1 absent. Occlusory tract absent.

Queen

HEAD. Vertex weakly concave. Compound eyes relatively anterior on head. Antennae 12 segmented. Scape short, surpassing the vertex by less than one- half scape length. Anterolateral clypeal margin posterior to the mediolateral region and separated from it by a shoulder. Anteromedial clypeal margin entire, without a central notch or concavity of any type. Anterior clypeal setae 0-4; when present short, less than twice the maximum scape diameter; straight. Posterior clypeal margin between the anterior and posterior surfaces of the antennal socket cavities. Anterior tentorial pit nearer the antennal socket than the mandibular insertion. Anterolateral hypostoma reduced to a thin sclerite. Medial hypostoma entire. Psammophore absent. MOUTHPARTS. Palp formula 5:3. Third maxillary palp segment subequal in length to segment 4. Fifth maxillary palp segment at the apical extreme of segment 4. Mandible with about 9 teeth and about 4 denticles. Apical tooth slightly longer than the subapical tooth. Basal angle distinct, with a well developed tooth or angle separating the masticatory and basal margins. Basal margin varying from smooth (without teeth or denticles) to denticulate distally, smooth proximally. MESOSOMA. Posteroventral pronotum lateral, rounded or angled. Episternal suture weak, nearly absent. Mesopleural process absent. Anteromedial mesosternum even with the lateral regions. Axilla parallel and entire. Anterior axillar suture straight. Declivitous and dorsal faces of propodeum convex; dorsal face longer than the declivitous face. Propodeal angle indistinct. Propodeal suture absent. MesosomaJ spines and tooth absent. Erect mesoscutal hairs about 30-50; short, less than twice the maximum scape diameter. Propodeal spiracle lateral and ventral of the propodeal dorsum. Hind tibial spur with well developed barbules along entire inner surface (except extreme base). WINGS. Radial cell open. Forewing with 1 cubital and 1 discoidal cell. Shattuck - Generic Revision of the Dolichoderinae 139 Hind wing with 2 cells. PETIOLE. Scale present; rounded and forming an even arch dorsally, or weakly ridged and with an angle dorsally; vertical and not inclined anteriorly. Venter with a well developed, rounded lobe. GASTER. First segment vertical and not concealing the petiole in dorsal view and with a groove or indentation for the reception of the basal portion of the petiole. Fifth tergite ventral, gaster with 4 apparent tergites. Gastral compression absent (gaster circular in cross section). Fourth sternite flat across entire posterior border.

Male

HEAD. Inner margin of eye entire, flat. Scape length shorter than the length of funicular segments 2+3. First funicular segment barrel-shaped. Second funicular segment cylindrical, straight. Funicular segments 2 and 3 at most twice as long as broad. Third and fourth funicular segments straight. Anteromedial clypeal margin entire, without a central notch or concavity of any type. Anterior clypeal setae 2-6; short, about as long as the maximum diameter of the scape; straight. Posterior clypeal margin even with or anterior to the anterior surfaces of the antennal socket cavities. Anterior tentorial pit nearer the antennal socket than the mandibular insertion. Anterolateral hypostoma reduced to a thin sclerite. Medial hypostoma entire. MOUTHPARTS. Palp formula 5:3. Third maxillary palp segment subequal in length to segment 4. Fifth maxillary palp at the apical extreme of segment 4. Mandible with 1 tooth and no denticles, and with an enlarged ventral lobe. Apical tooth distinct. Basal angle distinct, with a well developed tooth or angle separating the masticatory and basal margins. Basal margin smooth and without teeth or denticles. MESOSOMA. Posteroventral pronotum lateral, rounded or angled. Episternal suture present, complete. Anteromedial mesosternum even with the lateral regions. Axilla parallel and entire. Anterior axillar suture angular medially. Declivitous and dorsal faces of propodeum convex; dorsal face shorter than the declivitous face. Propodeal angle distinct. WINGS. Radial cell open. Fore wing with 1 cubital and 1 discoidal cells.l?terostigmal appendage absent. Hind wing with 2 cells. PETIOLE. Scale present; ridged and with a distinct angle dorsally; vertical and not inclined anteriorly. Venter with a slight or weakly developed lobe. Attachmentto gaster broad. GASTER. First segment elongated posteriorly, smooth and without a groove or indentation. GENITALIA. Pygostyles present. Posterior margin of subgenital plate concave. Paramere divided by a membranous region. Digitus with a down-turned tip. Cuspis parallel with digitus. Ventral lobe of volsella present as weakly concave lobe. Aedeagus with ventral teeth.

Larva

Shape dolichoderoid. Protuberances absent. Body hairs sparse; simple; short. 9 spiracular pairs. Antennae short.

References

  • Bolton, B. 1994. Identification guide to the ant genera of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 222 pp. (page 26, Papyrius in Dolichoderinae, Dolichoderini)
  • Bolton, B. 1995a. A taxonomic and zoogeographical census of the extant ant taxa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Nat. Hist. 2 29: 1037-1056 (page 1051, Papyrius in Dolichoderinae, Dolichoderini)
  • Bolton, B. 1995b. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 504 pp. (page 311, Papyrius in Dolichoderinae, Dolichoderini)
  • Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 90, Papyrius in Dolichoderinae, Dolichoderini)
  • Cantone S. 2018. Winged Ants, The queen. Dichotomous key to genera of winged female ants in the World. The Wings of Ants: morphological and systematic relationships (self-published).
  • Dubovikoff, D.A. 2005. The system of taxon Bothriomyrmex Emery, 1869 sensu lato (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and relatives genera. Kavkazskii Entomologicheskii Byulleten 1(1): 89-94 (page 92, Papyrius in Dolichoderinae,Iridomyrmecini)
  • Lorite, P., Palomeque, T. 2010. Karyotype evolution in ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a review of the known ant chromosome numbers. Myrmecological News 13: 89-102.
  • Shattuck, S. O. 1992a. Review of the dolichoderine ant genus Iridomyrmex Mayr with descriptions of three new genera (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Aust. Entomol. Soc. 31: 13-18 (page 17, Papyrius as genus)
  • Shattuck, S. O. 1992c. Generic revision of the ant subfamily Dolichoderinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 21: 1-181 (page 134, Papyrius in Dolichoderinae, Dolichoderini)
  • Shattuck, S. O. 1994. Taxonomic catalog of the ant subfamilies Aneuretinae and Dolichoderinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Univ. Calif. Publ. Entomol. 112:i-xix, 1-241. (page 134, Papyrius in Dolichoderinae, Dolichoderini)
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