Lordomyrma desupra

An endemic of Fiji known from higher elevations in the mountains of northern Viti Levu.

Identification
Sarnat (2016) - Lordomyrma desupra lacks a transverse carina between the propodeal dorsum posterior to the metanotal groove and and possesses a robustly produced promesonotum that, in larger workers, bulges above the level of its head and propodeum. Of the three other species that share these characters, L. desupra can be distinguished from Lordomyrma tortuosa by its weaker facial sculpture, from Lordomyrma stoneri by its smaller, more slender appearance and straight propodeal spines, and from Lordomyrma vuda by its facial sculpture, weaker propodeal spines, smaller size and lighter color.

Lordomyrma desupra shows a wider variation in the size of workers than normally encountered within the Fijian Lordomyrma. In smaller workers, the size of the promesonotum and propodeal spines is markedly smaller.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Fiji.

Biology
Sarnat (2016) - Thus far, L. desupra has only been collected from the higher elevations of several mountain ranges in northern Viti Levu. Although the single small worker from the Vaturu Dam area was collected on a log, both large and small workers were abundant in the forest canopy of the Monasavu area where they were captured using fogging methods. The collection of the species from Hydnophytum ant-plants and from canopy fogging, together with its absence from sifted litter collections, suggests L. desupra is a component of Fiji’s arboreal ant fauna.

Nomenclature

 *  desupra. Lordomyrma desupra Sarnat, 2006: 17, figs. 4, 5 (w.) FIJI IS.

Worker
TL 3.55–4.18, HL 0.81–0.93, HW 0.73–0.83, CI 0.87–0.92, SI 0.71–0.76, REL 0.21–0.25, PSLI 0.92–1.12, MFLI 0.99–1.08, DPWI 0.85–1.00 (10 measured).

A medium to large reddish brown species with a large to massive promesonotum, straight to downcurved propodeal spines of modest length and reduced sculpturing on face and body. Posterior margin of head evenly convex with rounded corners. Clypeus bearing one pair of weak carinae. Frontal carinae weakly carinate, terminating just posterior to level of eye. Antennal scrobe weakly impressed. Eyes of moderate size. In lateral view (for larger workers), promesonotum massive, strongly convex, and bulging above the head and propodeum. Propodeal spines triangular, straight to slightly downcurved and of moderate length. Propodeal lobes triangular and of variable size. Petiole robustly built; anterior face strongly sloped and weakly concave; dorsal face more gently sloping and weakly convex; the rounded apex occurring at the anterior angle of node. Postpetiole with anterior and dorsal faces evenly convex, apex occurring at midline. Mandibles smooth and shining with sparse setigerous foveolae. Middorsum of head smooth and shining with scattered setigerous foveolae; several carinae mesad of and parallel to frontal carinae; terminating just after posterior level of eyes. Frontal lobes with one to two pairs of longitudinal carinae in addition to the frontal carinae. In oblique lateral view, scattered, weak and short carinae surrounding eyes. Promesonotum smooth and shining with scattered piligerous foveolae. Sides of mesonotum, metapleuron, and propodeum overlain by coarse, widely spaced and occasionally intersecting rugae. In dorsal view, propodeum smooth and shining, without a transverse carina proximal to the metanotal groove; declivitous face smooth and shining. Petiole with smooth and shining anterior face, banded by coarse transverse rugae that cross the ventral face. Postpetiole coarsely rugoreticulate. All shining surfaces laced with a delicate network of light etchings. All dorsal surfaces with an abundance of suberect to erect acuminate yellowish hairs, the longest of which equal or exceed the length of the eye. Head, mesosoma and gaster reddish brown, appendages lighter.

Type Material
Holotype. Worker, FIJI: Viti Levu: Monasavu Rd., 1.75 km SE Waimoque Settlement, 17°40'13"S 177°59'38"E, 850 m, 28.viii.2006 (E.M. Sarnat #2361) (Fiji National Insect Collection, Suva). Paratypes. 15 workers, same data as holotype.