Adlerzia

Adlerzia contains a single species and is limited to Australia. Specimens are infrequently encountered. They nest under stones as well as in the soil without coverings. Little is known about their biology.

Identification
The antennae are 11 segmented (including the scape). The upper surface of the head is smooth or uniformly sculptured and without grooves for the reception of the antennae when at rest (antennal scrobes are absent). The front margin of the clypeus just above the mandibles has pairs of elongate hairs or setae which straddle the mid-line of the head and lacks a single central hair or seta. The clypeus has a pair of longitudinal ridges or sharp angles immediately below the antennal sockets which separate the central region from the lateral regions (clypeus longitudinally bicarinate). The petiole has a distinct, rounded node. There are major and minor workers but no intermediates (dimorphic).

These ants are most likely to be confused with species Pheidole because of the generally similar body size and shape and the presence of major workers. They can be separated by their 11 segmented antennae and bicarinate clypeus.

Biology
See Adlerzia froggatti

Castes
The single species of this genus is polymorphic.



Minor worker of A. froggatti from New South Wales.



Medium worker of A. froggatti from New South Wales.



Major worker of A. froggatti from New South Wales.

Nomenclature

 *  ADLERZIA [Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini]
 * Adlerzia Forel, 1902h: 445 [as subgenus of Monomorium]. Type-species: Monomorium (Adlerzia) froggatti, by monotypy.
 * Adlerzia raised to genus: Brown, 1952j: 176.
 * Adlerzia senior synonym of Stenothorax: Brown, 1952a: 110.
 * STENOTHORAX [junior synonym of Adlerzia]
 * Stenothorax McAreavey, 1949: 3. Type-species: Stenothorax katerinae (junior synonym of Monomorium (Adlerzia) froggatti, by original designation.
 * Stenothorax junior synonym of Adlerzia: Brown, 1952a: 110.