Polyrhachis wagneri

Nothing is known about the biology of Polyrhachis wagneri.

Identification
Polyrhachis wagneri is relatively similar to Polyrhachis leonidas from the Bismarck Archipelago from which it differs by a distinctly smaller head, higher and more convex pronotum and very short, tooth-like propodeal spines. The petiole is exceptionally broad with widely diverging lateral spines. (Kohout 2006)

Distribution
Polyrhachis wagneri appears to be rare, with only one recent specimen, collected by R.W. Taylor at Yawasora nr Wewak (East Sepik Province, Papua New Guinea), available for examination. (Kohout 2006)

This taxon was described from New Guinea.

Castes
Known only from workers.

Nomenclature

 *  wagneri. Polyrhachis wagneri Viehmeyer, 1914b: 51, fig. 10 (w.) NEW GUINEA. Combination in P. (Cyrtomyrma): Emery, 1925b: 208. See also: Kohout, 2006b: 134.

Worker
Der leonidas For. am nachsten verwandt, aber rein schwarz (leonidas hat auf Kopi und Thorax einen schwachen grunlichen Schimmer) und stark glanzend. Kopf hinten schmaler, Augen etwas konvexer. The rax starker gewolbt. Pronotum kurzer, Vorderecken desselben mehr abgerundet wie bei goramensis (leonidas hat das Pronotum wie rastellata), Mesooepinotum bis zur abschussigen Flache langer Zahne, abschussige Flache hoher. Schuppe des Petiolus auberodentlich breit mit hoher Vorder- und fast horizontaler Dorsalflache, sek kurzen, durch einen flachen Bogen getrennten mittleren Zahnen und langen, stark divergierenden Seitendornen.

L. 6 mm.

Type Material
Holotype worker. . Although Viehmeyer listed only one specimen in the original description, there are four specimens in the labelled as types. – (as reported in Kohout 2006).

Type Locality Information
NEW GUINEA, Wareo.

Additional References
Kohout, R. J. 2006. Review of Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) of Australia, Borneo, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands with descriptions of new species. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 52:87-146.

Viehmeyer, H. 1914. Neue und unvollständig bekannte Ameisen der alten Welt. Archiv für Naturgeschichte 79 (A12) (1913): 24-60.