Polyrhachis capeyorkensis

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
A member of the schenkii species-group in the Polyrhachis subgenus Hagiomyrma. Polyrhachis capeyorkensis is similar to several species, but most notably to Polyrhachis lachesis, which is also a characteristic reddish-brown colour and clothed with bristle-like hairs. It differs by its generally smaller size (HL 1.65-1.90 in P. capeyorkensis versus 1.84-1.96 in P. lachesis), the form of its pronotal humeri which lack distinctly dilated, rounded prominences and the vertical carina running along the lateral margin of the posterior face of the petiole that is lacking in P. lachesis.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  capeyorkensis. Polyrhachis (Hagiomyrma) capeyorkensis Kohout, 2013: 554, figs. 11C-D (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Worker
(holotype cited first): TL c. 7.31, 6.50-7.81; HL 1.78, 1.65- 1.90; HW 1.47, 1.31-1.59; CI 82, 78-84; SL 2.03, 1.89-2.12; SI 138, 131-149; PW 1.31, 1.12-1.37; MW 0.75, 0.64-0.78; PMI 175, 175-184; MTL 2.40, 2.18-2.50 (16 measured).

Anterior clypeal margin with denticulate flange medially, flanked by acute denticles. Clypeus with distinctly raised median carina; sinuate in profile; basal magin moderately impressed. Frontal triangle distinct. Frontal carinae sinuate with weakly raised margins; central area rather flat with distinct frontal furrow. Sides of head in front of eyes only weakly convex, rounding into mandibular bases; behind eyes, sides widely rounding into convex occipital border. Eyes marginally exceeding lateral cephalic outline in full face view. Ocelli lacking. Pronotal humeri narrowly rounded with weakly raised margins. Promesonotal dorsum with lateral margins converging posteriorly into medially indistinct metanotal groove. Propodeal dorsum with margins weakly divergent, terminating in horizontal, subparallel, acute spines. Petiole with anterior face straight, posterior face convex, laterally bordered with distinct carina; dorsum with shallow notch medially, armed laterally with pair of divergent, weakly downturned, acute spines. Anterior face of first gastral segment higher than full height of petiole, straight, widely rounding onto dorsum.

Mandibles very finely longitudinally striate. Head and mesosoma very closely reticulate-punctate. Petiole and gaster finely shagreened, rather smooth and polished.

Mandibles with medium length, curved hairs at masticatory borders and shorter hairs along outer borders. Anterior clypeal margin with a few longer setae medially and fringe of shorter setae lining margin laterally. Short to medium length, erect, bristle-like hairs abundant over whole body, including appendages, with distinctly longer, more posteriorly directed hairs on gaster. Rather untidy, relatively long, appressed and semierect pubescence variously distributed over most body surfaces, more abundant and somewhat medially radiating on dorsum of gaster, where it forms a poorly defined midline.

Relatively dark, reddish-brown or rusty red with mandibles, clypeus, central area, anterior portion of pronotum, gaster and appendages distinctly lighter.

Etymology
After the type locality Cape York Peninsula in Queensland.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Kohout R.J. 2013. Revision of Polyrhachis (Hagiomyrma) Wheeler, 1911 (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum  Nature 56: 487577