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Polyrhachis hexacantha
| Polyrhachis hexacantha | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Tribe: | Camponotini |
| Genus: | Polyrhachis |
| Subgenus: | Campomyrma |
| Species complex: | hexacantha |
| Species: | P. hexacantha |
| Binomial name | |
| Polyrhachis hexacantha (Erichson, 1842)
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| Synonyms | |
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Polyrhachis hexacantha is restricted to the mountainous parts of southeastern NSW and ACT, and south through the Victorian Alps to Tasmania. It was collected in sympatry with Polyrhachis fuscipes and Polyrhachis smithersi at Smokers Gap in ACT.
Identification
Polyrhachis hexacantha is very similar to Polyrhachis fuscipes but differs by the sculpturation of the body consisting of very closely spaced reticulate punctations that gives specimens a rather dull, opaque appearance. In contrast, the sculpturation of the body in P. fuscipes is distinctly finer, notably on the head, and on the mesosomal dorsum it forms more-or-less longitudinal striae with a somewhat semipolished appearance. The intercalary spines in P. hexacantha are rather long, while in P. fuscipes they are distinctly shorter.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -35.51666641° to -42.3°.
| 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. |
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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. |
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Biology
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- hexacantha. Formica hexacantha Erichson, 1842: 260 (w.) TASMANIA. Combination in Polyrhachis: Smith, F. 1858b: 74; in P. (Campomyrma): Emery, 1925b: 179. Senior synonym of froggatti: Taylor, 1989a: 24.
- froggatti. Polyrhachis froggatti Forel, 1910b: 89 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Combination in P. (Campomyrma): Emery, 1925b: 179. Junior synonym of hexacantha: Taylor, 1989a: 24.
Type Material
- Formica hexacantha Erichson, 1842: Lectotype, worker, Tasmania, Australia, Berlin Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität.
- Formica hexacantha Erichson, 1842: Paralectotype, queen, Tasmania, Australia, Berlin Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universität.
- Polyrhachis froggatti Forel, 1910: Syntype, 1 worker, Bombala, New South Wales, Australia, Froggatt,W.W., ANIC32-017914, Australian National Insect Collection.
Description
References
- Emery, C. 1925d. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Formicinae. Genera Insectorum 183: 1-302 (page 179, Combination in P. (Campomyrma))
- Erichson, W. F. 1842. Beitrag zur Insecten-Fauna von Vandiemensland, mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der geographischen Verbreitung der Insecten. Arch. Naturgesch. 8 (1): 83-287 (page 260, worker described)
- Kohout, R. 2012. A new species of the subgenus Campomyrma Wheeler of the genus Polyrhachis Fr. Smith from the Australian Capital Territory (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Australian Entomologist 39, 321-329.
- Smith, F. 1858b. Catalogue of hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part VI. Formicidae. London: British Museum, 216 pp. (page 74, Combination in Polyrhachis)
- Taylor, R. W. 1989a. The nomenclature and distribution of some Australian ants of the genus Polyrhachis Fr Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). J. Aust. Entomol. Soc. 28: 23-27 (page 24, Senior synonym of froggatti)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Forel A. 1910. Formicides australiens reçus de MM. Froggatt et Rowland Turner. Rev. Suisse Zool. 18: 1-94
- Kohout R. J. 2012. A new species of the subgenus Campomyrma Wheeler of the genus Polyrhachis Fr. Smith from the Australian Capital Territory (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Australian Entomologist 39: 321-329.
- Taylor R. W. 1987. A checklist of the ants of Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) Division of Entomology Report 41: 1-92.
- Taylor R. W., and D. R. Brown. 1985. Formicoidea. Zoological Catalogue of Australia 2: 1-149.