Doleromyrma rottnestensis

Identification
This species is quite distinct from the East Australian T. minutum Mayr and its varieties integrum Forel and cephalicum Santschi in its longer, much more rectangular head, much larger eyes and much longer funicular joints. (Wheeler 1934)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  rottnestensis. Tapinoma (Micromyrma) rottnestense Wheeler, W.M. 1934d: 150 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Combination in Doleromyrma: Heterick, 2009: 44.

Worker
Head suboblong; about one and one-fourth times as long as broad, as broad in front as behind, with straight posterior and very feebly convex sides. Eyes larger, rather flat, longer than their distance from the anterior corners of the clypeus. Mandibles with moderately convex external and oblique masticatory borders, the latter with two larger apical and six or seven minute basal denticles. Palpi simple. Clypeus convex in middle, depressed on the sides, its anterior border distinctly sinuate in the middle and on each side. Frontal carinae short, distinctly diverging posteriorly; frontal area and groove obsolete. Antennal scapes curved at base, reaching slightly beyond the posterior border of the head; first funicular joint as long as 2 and 3 together, joints 2-10 sub equal, nearly one and one-half times as long as broad. Thorax rather slender, laterally compressed behind the pronotum, which is twice as broad as long without the neck, and rounder anteriorly and laterally; mesonotum subtriangular, narrowed behind and almost submarginate on the sides, as long as broad. In profile the dorsal outline of the thorax is nearly straight and horizontal, very slightly impressed at the mesoepinotal suture; so that the base of the epinotum continues the general outline of the thoracic dorsum but forms a distinct obtuse angle with the sloping, longer declivity; from behind the declivity is oval, submarginate on the sides and above.

Petiole small; elliptical, about twice• as long as broad, in front with a vestigial, narrow, much inclined scale. Gaster of the usual form, its first segment projecting and covering the petiole.

Slightly shining, head more opaque; surface very finely punctulate; mandibles coarsely and sparsely punctate.

Hairs and pubescence white; the former present only on the mandibles, clypeus and tip of gaster; pubescence very short and fine; not sufficiently dense to conceal the integument; longest in the head, especially on the cheeks and sides.

Reddish brown; the head distinctly darker; mandibles and anterior border of clypeus reddish, the teeth of the former red; antennae, legs and posterior borders of gastric segments pale yellowish brown; funiculi beyond the first joint and median portions of hind femora and tibiae dark brown.

Type Material
Described from four specimens which I found under a stone at Lady Edeline Beach (X. 23, '31).



References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Heterick B. E., B. Durrant, and N. R. Gunawardene. 2010. The ant fauna of the Pilbara Bioregion, Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 78: 157-167.