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Prionopelta media
| Prionopelta media | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Amblyoponinae |
| Tribe: | Amblyoponini |
| Genus: | Prionopelta |
| Species: | P. media |
| Binomial name | |
| Prionopelta media Shattuck, 2008
| |
Known only from the holytype, nothing is known about the biology of Prionopelta media.
Identification
Shattuck (2008) - Anterolateral corners of head, near mandibular insertions, rounded. Dorsal mesosomal sculpturing composed of widely spaced foveae which are only slightly more dense on the pronotum than on the mesonotum and propodeum, and which are uniformly distributed across the width of the propodeum. Body small, head less than 0.48mm, petiole narrow, PetW less than 0.20.
This species is morphologically intermediate between Prionopelta kraepelini and Prionopelta opaca. The colour is pale yellow as in some kraepelini while the sculpturing is similar to opaca (large, widely spaced punctations). However, this combination of characters, as well as the shape of the petiole, is unique and suggests that this is a distinct species separate from others in the genus.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -2.5° to -2.5°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia (type locality), New Guinea.
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.
- media. Prionopelta media Shattuck, 2008b: 27, figs. 6, 7, 11-13 (w.) NEW GUINEA (Indonesia).
- Type-material: holotype worker.
- Type-locality: Indonesia: Irian Jaya, Manokwari, Gn. Meja, ca 300 m., 22-23.ix.1990 (A.Riedel).
- Type-depository: ANIC.
- Distribution: Indonesia (Irian Jaya).
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
(holotype) CI 78; HL 0.46; HW 0.36; ML 0.54; PetL 0.15; PetW 0.19; PI 127; SI 67; SL 0.25; T1W 0.30.
Anterolateral corners of head, near mandibular insertions, rounded and lacking a tooth. Dorsal pronotal sculpturing consisting of widely spaced foveae which are only slightly more dense than on the mesonotum and propodeum. Foveae on dorsum of propodeum uniformly distributed across its width. Lateral mesosomal sculpturing consisting of small foveae on pronotum and anterior and ventral region of mesopleuron, dorsal region of mesopleuron and majority of propodeum smooth. Very small fenestra present within subpetiolar process. Colour yellow.
Type Material
- Holotype, worker, Manokwari, Gn. Meja, c. 300m, Irian Jaya, Indonesia, Australian National Insect Collection.
References
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- CSIRO Collection
- Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.
- Shattuck, S. O. 2008. Revision of the ant genus Prionopelta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Indo-Pacific region. Zootaxa 1846:21-34.