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Technomyrmex tonsuratus
| Technomyrmex tonsuratus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Dolichoderinae |
| Genus: | Technomyrmex |
| Species: | T. tonsuratus |
| Binomial name | |
| Technomyrmex tonsuratus Bolton, 2007 | |
The type specimen was found on low vegetation in a montane rainforest.
Identification
Bolton (2007) - A member of the T. cheesmanae complex in the Technomyrmex albipes group. Described from a single specimen, tonsuratus falls into an endemic New Guinea complex that also includes Technomyrmex albicoxis, Technomyrmex cheesmanae, Technomyrmex mixtus and Technomyrmex prevaricus. T. tonsuratus easily separates from all of these by its possession of extremely short setae on its head and first gastral tergite. The holotype also entirely lacks setae on the dorsal mesosoma and the propodeal declivity. Setae in these places are universal in all other members of the complex, but a note of caution must be sounded. It is remotely possible that all setae have been abraded from the mesosoma of tonsuratus, and although setal pits have not been detected the discovery of further material is necessary to check the validity of this character.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -5.5° to -6.3°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea (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.
- tonsuratus. Technomyrmex tonsuratus Bolton, 2007a: 103, fig. 42 (w.) NEW GUINEA.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Holotype. TL 3.0, HL 0.69, HW 0.62, SL 0.62, PW 0.43, WL 0.88. Indices: CI 90, SI 100, OI 27, EPI 72, DTI 132.
Frontal carina with 2 short setae: in profile the first above the torulus and the second at the level of the anterior margin of the eye. Dorsum of head behind this with only one other pair of setae, located about halfway between the level of the posterior margin of the eye and the posterior margin of the head, this pair very short, only about 0.35 x the maximum diameter of the eye; posterior margin itself without setae. With head in full-face view the anterior c1ypeal margin almost transverse; sides of head convex and the posterior margin indented medially. Eyes located distinctly in front of midlength (EPI 72) and their outer margins just touch the outline of the sides of the head in full-face view. With mesosoma in profile the mesonotal outline forms a shallow slope to the metanotal groove, slightly more steeply inclined above the metathoracic spiracles. Number of setal pairs on mesosoma: pronotum 0; mesonotum 0; propodeal dorsum 0; lateral margin of propodeal declivity. Propodeum in profile with the dorsum rounding evenly into the declivity, the two surfaces not separated by an angle. Gastral tergites 1 - 4 each with scattered sparse setae. Longest setae on first gastral tergite very short, only about 0.35 x the maximum diameter of the eye and only about half as long as the setae on the first gastral sternite. Setae on succeeding tergites progressively slightly longer, those on tergite 4 about 0.60 x the maximum diameter of the eye. Head and mesosoma black, gaster blackish brown, only fractionally lighter than the mesosoma. All leg segments except tarsi blackish brown, the tarsi dull light brown.
Type Material
Holotype worker, Papua New Guinea: 11 krn. E Baiyer R. Sanct., 5.30S, 144.16E, 2000 m., 23.vi.l980, on low vegetation, montane rainforest, #4530B (P. S. Ward) (Australian National Insect Collection).
References
- Bolton, B. 2007. Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute. 35(1):1-149.
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Bolton B. 2007. Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 35(1): 1-150.
- Bolton, B. "Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste." Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 35, no. 1 (2007): 1-149.
- 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.