Peronomyrmex bartoni

Peronomyrmex bartoni
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Peronomyrmex
Species:	P. bartoni
Binomial name
Peronomyrmex bartoni Shattuck & Hinkley, 2002

The single workers of this species were collected in pitfall traps at two locations in central Victoria, the Inglewood Flora Reserve and the Wehla State Forest. Muir et al. (1995) describe the Inglewood Flora Reserve as in the Sandstonerise Broombush Ecological Vegetation Class and the area is dominated by Eucalyptus viridis (green mallee). It has an average rainfall of 400–500 mm and a mean altitude of 194 m. The Wehla State Forest, approximately 25 km from the first site, is in the Box Ironbark Ecological Vegetation Class. This area has a mean rainfall of 400–600 mm and an altitude of 220 m. It consists of generally open forest and at the specific collection site is dominated by Eucalyptus leucoxylon (yellow gum) and E. microcarpa (grey box). The ground layer is sparse and the understorey open and shrubby. (Shattuck and Hinkley 2002)

Identification

Shattuck and Hinkley (2002) - While matching Peronomyrmex overbecki in most ways, this species differs as follows: overall body size slightly longer; scape shorter (scape index 74 vs 87); longitudinal rugae well developed and distinct on head and mesosoma; erect hairs absent from dorsum of mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole, those on gaster longer and more abundant; anterior face of petiole essentially flat (strongly concave in P. overbecki) and postpetiole broader, its anterior face more convex and its posterior face more concave (both faces straighter in P. overbecki).

Keys including this Species

• Key to Peronomyrmex Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -36.54027778° to -36.64694444°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

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.

Castes

Images from AntWeb

Specimen code antweb1008219. .

Nomenclature

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

• bartoni. Peronomyrmex bartoni Shattuck & Hinkley, 2002: 104, figs. 1, 2 (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

Total length 4.3 mm; maximum head length 1.04 mm; maximum head width (behind eyes) 0.84 mm; maximum diameter of eye 0.24 mm; scape length 0.62 mm; cephalic index 81; scape index 74; width across pronotal humeri 0.64 mm; Weber’s length of thorax 1.21 mm; dorsal petiole width 0.26 mm; maximum petiole height 0.56 mm; dorsal postpetiole width 0.40 mm; maximum postpetiole height 0.62 mm. Head capsule with distinct, longitudinal rugae, those on dorsal surface between antennal scrobes essentially straight, those on lateral surface ventral of eyes slightly wavy, those on underside weakly developed and absent medially; area between rugae with indistinct striations or punctations. Dorsal surface of mesosoma with distinct longitudinal rugae and a limited number of randomly placed short transverse rugae connecting longitudinal rugae, underlying surface with indistinct, irregularly shaped punctations and/or striations. Lateral regions of mesosoma similar to dorsal surface but with longitudinal rugae less well defined and more wavy. Petiole and postpetiole with indistinct microsculpturing resulting in a slightly matte appearance. Gaster smooth, shiny and with microreticulate sculpturing. Entire head covered with suberect, bluntly pointed hairs. Mesosoma lacking erect hairs but with scattered appressed hairs. Petiole and postpetiole with abundant appressed hairs. Gaster with 2 sets of abundant, scattered, elongate hairs, 1 set essentially perpendicular to the surface, other set raised at about a 30° angle with the surface. Colour chestnut-brown, petiole and postpetiole slightly infuscated, gaster dark red-black.

Type Material

• Holotype, worker, Inglewood Flora Reserve, approximately 4km N Inglewood, Victoria, Australia, 36°32′25″S 143°51′47″E, T17337, Museum Victoria, Melbourne.
• Paratype, 1 worker, Wehla State Forest, approximately 24km WSW Inglewood, Victoria, Australia, 36°38′49″S 143°36′35″E, Museum Victoria, Melbourne.

Etymology

The species is named for Percy Barton, grandfather of SH.

References

• Shattuck, S.O. & Hinkley, S. 2002. Second species in the Australian ant genus Peronomyrmex Viehmeyer. Australian Journal of Entomology 41: 104-105.
• Shattuck, S.O. 2006. A third species in the rare Australian ant genus Peronomyrmex Viehmeyer. Zootaxa 1194: 49-55.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Shattuck S. O., and S. SHinkley. 2002. Second species in the Australian ant genus Peronomyrmex Viehmeyer (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Australian Journal of Entomology 41: 104-105.