Probolomyrmex aliundus

Probolomyrmex aliundus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Proceratiinae
Tribe:	Probolomyrmecini
Genus:	Probolomyrmex
Species:	P. aliundus
Binomial name
Probolomyrmex aliundus Shattuck, Gunawardene & Heterick, 2012 Specimen labels

This rarely encountered species is known from a limited number of collections made in rainforest on Cape York Peninsula, Queensland.

Identification

Petiolar node relatively long and narrow (best viewed dorsally), the dorsal face (in side view) uniformly convex and without a separation of the anterior and dorsal faces; posterior projection of the subpetiolar process forming a 90° angle.

Probolomyrmex aliundus is similar to Probolomyrmex maryatiae (from Sabah, Malaysia) and will key to that species in Eguchi et al. (2006), and to Probolomyrmex simplex (from Papua New Guinea). The first two species differ in that the posterodorsal margin of the petiole in dorsal view is straight to weakly convex in P. aliundus (it is concave in P. maryatiae) and the posterior face of the node in lateral view is much less convex when compared to P. maryatiae (and more so than in P. vieti, another similar species from Indonesia and Thailand). Probolomyrmex aliundus differs from P. simplex in having less well developed and prominent foveae and in having the posteroventral tooth of the subpetiolar process angular rather than tooth-like. Probolomyrmex aliundus also averages larger than both P. maryatiae and P. simplex (HL > 0.59mm vs. < 0.59mm, HW > 0.38mm vs. < 0.38mm).

Keys including this Species

• Key to Australian and Melanesian Probolomyrmex species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -12.75° to -12.75°.

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

Worker. Specimen code casent0172419. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by ANIC, Canberra, Australia.

Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0172418. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by ANIC, Canberra, Australia.

Nomenclature

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

• aliundus. Probolomyrmex aliundus Shattuck, Gunawardene & Heterick, 2012: 42, figs. 1, 7 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA (Queensland).
  • Type-material: holotype worker, 4 paratype workers, 3 paratype queens.
  • Type-locality: holotype Australia: Queensland, Iron Range, West Claudie River, 12°45’S, 143°14’E, 5.xii.1985 (G. Monteith); paratypes with same data.
  • Type-depository: ANIC.
  • Distribution: Australia.

Type Material

• Holotype, worker, West Claudie River, Iron Range, Queensland, Australia, 12°45′0″S 143°14′0″E, 5 Dec. 1985, G. Monteith, ANIC32-030952, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Paratype, 4 workers, 3 dealate queens, West Claudie River, Iron Range, Queensland, Australia, 12°45′0″S 143°14′0″E, 5 Dec. 1985, G. Monteith, ANIC32-011639, ANIC32-030950, ANIC32-030951, Australian National Insect Collection.

Description

Worker description. Body ferruginous brown. Head in full-face view with weakly convex sides and weakly concave posterior margin. Eyes absent. Antennae relatively long. Dorsal outline of mesosoma essentially straight, the pronotum curving downwards slightly; posterior margin of propodeal dorsum in dorsal view straight; posterior face of propodeum margined laterally with a well-developed, thin, translucent lamella. Petiole including subpetiolar process longer than high, its dorsal surface in profile forming a relatively gentle and uniform curve; subpetiolar process with conspicuous anteroventral and posteroventral projections; the anteroventral projection forming a blunt tooth, the posteroventral projection forming a 90° angle. Abdominal segment III (gastral segment I) in profile narrowed anteriorly, broadest near its posterior margin.

Measurements. Worker (n=9)—CI 60–64; DPetW 0.18–0.20; HL 0.59–0.65; HTL 0.30–0.47; HW 0.38–0.40; LPetI 99–111; ML 0.77–0.88; PetH 0.27–0.29; PetNL 0.27–0.33; PronW 0.29–0.31; SI 96–112; SL 0.36–0.44

References

• Shattuck, S.O., Gunawardene, N.G. & Heterick, B. 2012. A revision of the ant genus Probolomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Proceratiinae) in Australia and Melanesia. Zootaxa 3444: 40–50.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Shattuck S. O., N. R. Gunawardene, and B. Heterick. 2012. A revision of the ant genus Probolomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Proceratiinae) in Australia and Melanesia. Zootaxa 3444: 40-50.