Technomyrmex cheesmanae

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Bolton (2007) - An Australian series from Bellenden Ker has the anterior clypeal margin more deeply indented medially than does the type-series. Colour of the middle and hind coxae is variable within series, ranging from as brown as the femora to dull yellow. Specimens from Ivimka Research Station, Papua New Guinea (UCDC), have longer scapes (SI 119 - 122) than the other material (SI 100 - 104) and have the posterior pair of setae on the dorsum of the head shorter, slightly less than the maximum diameter of the eye, whereas in other series these setae tend to be longer than the maximum diameter of the eye. Among all series there is variation in the degree of curvature between propodeal dorsum and declivity, but the junction is always rounded, never a distinct angle. These variations may imply that cheesmanae, as defined here, may be a complex of sibling species, but further analysis will have to await the amassing of more material.

A few other species share with cheesmanae the characters of rounded propodeum and a pair of long setae located anterior to the posterior margin of the head. Australian species with these features (Technomyrmex quadricolor, Technomyrmex sophiae, Technomyrmex nitens, Technomyrmex furens) all have the head capsule glassy smooth, whereas cheesmanae has the usual blanketing fine microreticulate-shagreenate sculpture present. Technomyrmex albicoxis, originally described as a variety of cheesmanae, has only 4 - 5 pairs of setae in total on the dorsal head and does not have setae at the level of the posterior margin of the eye. Other species in the albipes group that have a more rounded propodeum, such as Technomyrmex prevaricus, Technomyrmex indicus, Technomyrmex pluto and Technomyrmex hades, have very different arrangements of cephalic setae.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia. Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia, New Guinea.

Nomenclature

 *  cheesmanae. Technomyrmex cheesmanae Donisthorpe, 1945b: 57 (w.) NEW GUINEA. See also: Bolton, 2007a: 76.

Worker
Bolton (2007) - TL 2.8 - 2.9, HL 0.59 - 0.66, HW 0.56 - 0.62, SL 0.56 - 0.72, PW 0.38 - 0.47, WL 0.80 - 0.88 (9 measured). Indices: CI 92 - 95, SI 100 - 122, OI 25 - 27, EPI 78 - 85, DTI 131 - 135.

Frontal carina with 3 - 4 setae: in profile the posteriormost at the level of the anterior margin of the eye. Dorsum of head behind this with 3 - 4 pairs of setae, terminating posteriorly in the longest pair, which is located well in front of the posterior margin of the head; these setae usually longer than the maximum diameter of the eye. A pair of very short setae may sometimes be present behind the longest pair, at the posterior margin itself. With head in full-face view the anterior clypeal margin with a slight to moderate median indentation; sides of head shallowly convex and the posterior margin shallowly concave; eyes located in front of midlength (EPI above) and their outer margins just touch the outline of the sides of the head. With mesosoma in profile the mesonotal outline is a shallowly convex slope. Number of setal pairs on mesosoma: pronotum with 2 longer (exceeding maximum diameter of eye) and 2 - 3 shorter; mesonotum 2, one located anteriorly and the other posteriorly; propodeal dorsum 0; lateral margin of propodeal declivity 2 - 3. With propodeum in profile the dorsum rounds into the declivity, the two surfaces never meet in a distinctly defined angle. Gastral tergites 1 - 4 each with numerous setae, distributed everywhere on the sclerites; maximum length of setae on first gastral tergite greater than the maximum diameter of the eye. Head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster uniformly blackish brown to black. Femora and tibiae of middle and hind legs dark brown; tarsi of middle and hind legs dull yellow, paler than the femora and tibiae. Middle and hind coxae varying from dull yellow, higher than the femora, to brown, about the same shade as the femora.

Type Material
Bolton (2007) - Holotype and paratype workers, Indonesia: Irian Jaya ("Dutch New Guinea"), Mt Nomo, S ofMt Bougainville, 600 - 1500 ft, xi.1936 (I. E. Cheesman); paratype workers, Irian Jaya ("E. Dutch New Guinea"), Humboldt Bay, Hollandia, iv.1936 (I. E. Cheesman) [examined].