Polyrhachis aurora

Polyrhachis aurora
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Camponotini
Genus:	Polyrhachis
Subgenus:	Hagiomyrma
Species group:	ammon
Species:	P. aurora
Binomial name
Polyrhachis aurora Kohout, 2013 Specimen labels

Polyrhachis aurora is only known from two closely situated localities, Mt Elliot NP and the Paluma Ra., with all collections made in grassy open forests. Its nesting habit is unknown, but as all known specimens were collected foraging on the ground it can be assumed that P. aurora is a ground-nesting species, as are most other Australian Hagiomyrma.

Identification

A member of the ammon species-group in the Polyrhachis subgenus Hagiomyrma. Kohout (2013) - Polyrhachis aurora is characterised by distinctly posteriorly converging lateral margins of the promesonotal dorsum and strongly divergent propodeal spines. It closely resembles Polyrhachis trapezoidea which shares posteriorly contracted (‘trapezoidal’) pronotal and mesonotal dorsa and relatively dark, somewhat brassy-coloured pilosity and pubescence. Polyrhachis aurora differs from P. trapezoidea in having the propodeal spines more divergent and the petiole with a very narrowly rounded dorsum (Fig. 1G-H). In contrast, the propodeal spines in P. trapezoidea are only weakly divergent and the dorsum of petiole is a relatively wide, posteriorly sloping platform (Fig. 13G-H). Also, the bright red pubescence that covers most of the gastral dorsum in P. aurora, is limited to a rather narrow median patch in P. trapezoidea.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Polyrhachis (Hagiomyrma) species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -19.01666667° to -19.48333333°.

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

Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

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

• aurora. Polyrhachis (Hagiomyrma) aurora Kohout, 2013: 506, figs. 1G-H (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

(holotype cited first): TL c. 7.41, 6.80-7.71; HL 1.87, 1.75- 1.93; HW 1.40, 1.37-1.47; CI 75, 75-80; SL 2.34, 2.28-2.40; SI 165, 159-167; PW 1.40, 1.28-1.45; MW 0.65, 0.62-0.75; PMI 215, 185-215; MTL 2.53, 2.43-2.71 (11 measured).

Anterior clypeal margin with denticulate, median flange. Clypeus with raised median carina, sinuate in profile, posteriorly rounding into well impressed basal margin. Frontal carinae sinuate with moderately raised margins; central area with weakly impressed frontal furrow. Sides of head in front of eyes straight, before rounding into mandibular bases; behind eyes, sides widely rounding into convex occipital margin. Eyes convex, in full face view clearly breaking lateral cephalic outline. Ocelli lacking. Pronotal dorsum flat anteriorly, convex towards promesonotal suture; humeri rounded with distinctly raised margins, shallowly concave dorsally; lateral margins of promesonotum distinctly converging posteriorly (PMI >185) and weakly raised before rounding into poorly indicated metanotal groove. Propodeum with lateral margins terminating in horizontal, distinctly divergent, acute spines. Petiole with anterior face straight, posterior face strongly convex; dorsum shallowly concave with pair of laterally elevated and posteriorly curved, acute spines. Anterior face of first gastral segment widely rounding onto dorsum of gaster.

Mandibles finely, longitudinally striate with numerous piliferous pits. Clypeus very closely punctate; head reticulate-punctate, genae distinctly more coarsely sculptured. Mesosoma and petiole more finely reticulate-punctate; gaster finely shagreened. Mandibles with numerous, semierect, short, golden hairs near masticatory borders and closely appressed hairs towards bases. Anterior clypeal margin with several anteriorly directed setae. Clypeus, frontal carinae and vertex with a few pairs of rather short, erect hairs; several longer hairs on fore coxae and distinctly short hairs on venter of trochanters and femora. Numerous short, erect, golden hairs on dorsum of gaster; longer hairs around apex and on gastral venter. Closely appressed, mostly golden pubescence with distinctly brassy hue in various densities over most dorsal body surfaces but not hiding underlying sculpturation, except on gaster where it is rather abundant and with distinct reddish tint over most of gastral dorsum; pubescence more silvery on sides of head, mesosoma, petiole and gastral venter.

Black, with only mandibular masticatory borders, condylae, extreme tip of apical funicular segments and gastral apex, reddish brown.

Type Material

• Holotype, worker, Mt Elliot NP, N ridge, Queensland, 790 m, Australia, 19°29′0″S 146°58′0″E, 5.vii.1977, R.W. Taylor, R.W. Taylor acc. 77.240, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Paratype, 8 workers, Mt Elliot NP, N ridge, Queensland, 790 m, Australia, 19°29′0″S 146°58′0″E, 5.vii.1977, R.W. Taylor, R.W. Taylor acc. 77.240.
• Paratype, 8 workers, Mt Elliot NP, North Creek, Queensland, 500-800 m, Australia, 19°29′0″S 146°58′0″E, 2.xii.1986, G.B. Monteith, G.I. Thompson & S. Hamlet.

Type deposition: Holotype and 2 paratypes in Australian National Insect Collection; 2 paratypes each in The Natural History Museum, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève, Queensland Museum.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin word aurora, meaning dawn or morning, in reference to the distinctly bright reddish colour of the gastral pubescence.

Determination Clarifications

Polyrhachis aurora was listed as P. ‘Hagio 21’ by Kohout (2000: 200).

References

• Kohout, R. J. 2000. A review of the distribution of the Polyrhachis and Echinopla ants of the Queensland wet tropics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Mem. Qld. Mus. 46: 183-209.
• Kohout, R.J. 2013. Revision of Polyrhachis (Hagiomyrma) Wheeler, 1911 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, Nature 56, 487-577.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Kohout R.J. 2013. Revision of Polyrhachis (Hagiomyrma) Wheeler, 1911 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature 56: 487–577