Polyrhachis prometheus

Polyrhachis prometheus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Camponotini
Genus:	Polyrhachis
Subgenus:	Campomyrma
Species group:	micans
Species:	P. prometheus
Binomial name
	Polyrhachis prometheus; Santschi, 1920 Specimen Labels

This species has the widest distribution of all the P. micans-group species, ranging from the Pilbara and Kimberley regions of Western Australia and across the Northern Territory to Queensland, where it has been recorded as far south as Gladstone.

Identification

A member of the Polyrhachis micans species-group. Kohout (2013) - With its narrow, parallel-sided propodeal dorsum and long petiolar spines, P. prometheus is easily recognised within the micans species-group.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -13.93333333° to -29.71666667°.


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.

Biology

Castes

Male and immature stages unknown.

Nomenclature

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

prometheus. Polyrhachis (Campomyrma) prometheus Santschi, 1920a: 566 (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

Kohout (2013) - (syntypes cited first): TL c. 7.46-8.82, 7.46-9.02; HL 1.79-2.09, 1.79-2.15; HW 1.62-1.93, 1.62-1.93; CI 90-92, 87-92; SL 1.84-2.03, 1.84-2.15; SI 105-113, 105-116; PW 1.43-1.68, 1.43-1.68; MTL 2.31-2.37, 2.31-2.74 (3+11 measured).

Queen

Kohout (2013) - TL c. 9.52-9.98; HL 2.12-2.25; HW, 1.81-1.93; CI 82-88; SL 1.96-2.06; SI 107-110; PW 200-2.15; MTL 2.65-2.74 (3 measured).

Queen with usual characters identifying full sexuality, including three ocelli, complete thoracic structure and wings. Pronotal humeri bluntly angular; mesoscutum in dorsal view virtually as long as wide, anterior margin widely rounded; median line distinct; parapsides flat, only weakly raised posteriorly; mesoscutum in profile with relatively low anterior face and flat dorsum. Mesoscutellum weakly convex, marginally elevated above dorsal plane of mesosoma. Propodeal dorsum with lateral margins poorly defined, strongly converging posteriorly and terminating in short, upturned, somewhat dorsolaterally directed teeth; propodeal dorsum between them rounding in uninterrupted line into steeply oblique declivity. Petiole rather similar to worker, spines distinctly shorter. Sculpturation similar to worker with head and mesoscutum finely, mostly longitudinally striate; propodeal dorsum finely reticulate-punctate; propodeal declivity and petiole very finely wrinkled, somewhat semipolished. Dorsum of gaster very finely reticulate-punctate, pilosity similar to worker, mandibles towards masticatory borders with numerous, relatively long, curved golden hairs; anterior clypeal margin medially with rather long, somewhat reddish-golden setae and numerous shorter setae fringing margin laterally. A pair of very short, bristle-like hairs on mesoscutum, venter of middle and hind coxae and femora; distinctly longer hairs on fore coxae and gastral venter and apex. Very short, silvery or pale golden, closely appressed pubescence sparingly distributed over most body surfaces. Colour identical to worker.

Type Material

Syntype, workers, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, F.P. Dodd, The Natural History Museum.

References

Heterick, B.E. 2021. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part I: Systematics. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 86, 1-245 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2021.001-245).
Heterick, B.E. 2022. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part II: Distribution and biology. Records of the Western Australian Museum, supplement 86: 247-510 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2022.247-510).
Kohout, R.J. 2013. A review of the Polyrhachis gravis and micans species-groups of the subgenus Campomyrma Wheeler (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, Nature 56, 92-117.
Santschi, F. 1920a. Quelques nouveaux Camponotinae d'Indochine et Australie. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 52: 565-569 (page 566, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Andersen A. N., J. C. Z. Woinarski, and B. Hoffman. 2004. Biogeography of the ant fauna of the Tiwi Islands, in northern Australia's moonsoonal tropics. Australian Journal of Zoology 52: 97-110.
Andersen, Alan N., John C.Z. Woinarski and Ben D. Hoffman. 2004. Biogeography of the ant fauna of the Tiwi Islands, in northern Australia's monsoonal tropics. Australian Journal of Zoology 52: 97-110.
Kohout R. J. 2000. A review of the distribution of the Polyrhachis and Echinopla ants of the Queensland wet tropics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 46: 183-209
Kohout R.J. 2013. A Review of the Polyrhachis gravis and micans species-groups of the subgenus Campomyrma Wheeler (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Memoirs of the QLD Museum-Nature 56: 92-117
Taylor R. W., and D. R. Brown. 1985. Formicoidea. Zoological Catalogue of Australia 2: 1-149.