Cladomyrma crypteroniae

This species was collected from Crypteronia griffithii in Borneo (Lambir NP, Sarawak, Danum Valley, Sabah) and from Muarabungo district in Sumatra. Both ant partners associated with Crypteronia (maschwitzi and crypteroniae) are the only Cladomyrma species extending to Sumatra. (Agosti et al. 1999)

Identification
Agosti et al. (1999) placed Cladomyrma species into two groups based on the shape of the queen's petiole, raised (an erect node or scale) or depressed (dorsally truncate and low). Cladomyrma crypteroniae belongs to the raised petiole group.

The combination of yellow body color and smooth clypeus surface is unique among Cladomyrma workers. Crypteroniae workers are distinguished from maschwitzi workers by the smooth clypeus, more numerous and smaller ommatidiae, more densely set, long pubescence on alitrunk and along posterior margins of gastral tergites, darker yellow golden body color, and larger size of both workers and queens. Sumatran material differs from the rest by having somewhat smaller and darker-colored queens with slightly longer heads (CI 82–84), showing otherwise the typical character set of crypteroniae.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia.

Biology
Agosti et al. (1999) - This species was collected from Crypteronia griffithii in Borneo (Lambir NP, Sarawak, Danum Valley, Sabah) and from Muarabungo district in Sumatra. Both ant partners associated with Crypteronia (maschwitzi and crypteroniae) are the only Cladomyrma species extending to Sumatra. Cladomyrma crypteroniae shares its host with maschwitzi, and preliminary data suggest crypteroniae to be a competitor for the host plant. In Borneo, as indicated by herbarium material, crypteroniae (or maschwitzi) appears to be associated with another Crypteronia species, C.ladomyrma macrophylla, but field data are lacking. Cladomyrma macrophylla is restricted to the central part of Sarawak and field trips to the collecting sites known from herbarium specimens have not been successful due to the rapid and destructive exploitation of formerly untouched primary forest. Two collections (#0022, #0032) by Diane Davidson were made from a Crypteronia species supposed to be different from Crypteronia griffithii and Crypteronia macrophylla (D. Davidson, personal commun.). However, all Crypteronia specimens, other than griffithii and macrophylla, seen by JM in several herbaria did not show signs of former ant occupation, but sample size for some species was low. Lack of ant occupation, as indicated by herbarium studies, may not reflect the proportion of occupied trees in the field. For instance, the very high proportion of ant habitation in young Cladomyrma griffithii trees is not seen in herbarium specimens because botanists usually collect plant parts from adult, flowering trees (Moog et al., 1998). Thus, we cannot yet exclude or verify a third Crypteronia species as host plant of Cladomyrma crypteroniae.

Nomenclature

 *  crypteroniae. Cladomyrma crypteroniae Agosti, Moog & Maschwitz, 1999: 17, figs. 20, 32 (s.w.q.) BORNEO.

Worker
Major worker. AL 1.12–1.28, HL 1.20–1.28, HW 1.06–1.13, EL 0.18–0.20, SL 0.48–0.58, CI 88–92, EI 17–19, SI 46–52 (n = 8).

Clypeus smooth, not longitudinally striate; body color yellow; long erect hair all over alitrunk; appressed, dense gastral pubescence; large ants.

Minor worker. AL 0.76–0.88, HL 0.68–0.80, HW 0.66–0.74, EL 0.14–0.16, SL 0.34–0.42, CI 87–95, EI 19–23, SI 53–61 (n = 8).

Whole body evenly yellowish; dorsum of mesonotum with many erect hairs.

Queen
Queen. AL 2.40–2.72, HL 1.60–1.74, HW 1.34–1.52, EL 0.54–0.58, SL 0.78–0.84, CI 85–87, EI 37– 40, SI 52–58 (n = 8). HOLOTYPE: Queen AL 2.64, HL 1.72, HW 1.48, EL 0.58, SL 0.78, CI 86, EI 39, SI 53.

Clypeus smoothly rounded; head slightly elongate with rounded sides in lateral view; genae same color as reminder of head; dorsal part of katepisternum punctulate and with pubescence; metapleural gland orifice large; petiole in lateral view high, dorsally truncated with the posterior face meeting the dorsal in an angle; whole body covered with long, erect hairs; gaster with long semidecumbent pubescence, space between hairs as long as hairs; whole body evenly yellowish, sometime with gaster slightly darker.

Type Material
HOLOTYPE : E-MALAYSIA, Sarawak, Lambir NP, Miri, 1/30/1997, Joachim Moog, 97-073, ex: Crypteronia griffithii, queen,. PARATYPES : EMALAYSIA, Sabah, vic. Danum Valley Res. Center, 85 km W Lahad Datu, 6/24/1991, Diane Davidson, 91-003; Sarawak, Lambir NP, Miri, 2/23/1995, Joachim Moog, 95-083, ex: Crypteronia griffithii, mature colony; Sarawak, Lambir NP, Miri, 2/23/1995, Joachim Moog, 95-086, ex: Crypteronia griffithii ; Sarawak, Lambir NP, Miri, 2/25/1995, Joachim Moog, 95-090, ex: Crypteronia griffithii, mature colony; Sarawak, Lambir NP, Miri, 2/26/1995, Joachim Moog, 95-091, ex: Crypteronia griffithii ; Sarawak, Lambir NP, Miri, 2/27/1995, Joachim Moog, 95-093, ex: Crypteronia griffithii; Sarawak, Lambir Hills NP, Miri, 1/31/1997, Joachim Moog, 97-078, ex: Crypteronia griffithii. AMNH,, , , , , Collections of Agosti and Maschwitz.