Pristomyrmex foveolatus

This species occurs only in rainforest in North Queensland, Australia, and has been collected in litter berlesates; its nests are constructed in rotting logs (Taylor, 1965).

Identification
A member of the quadridens species group.

Wang (2003) - Worker. Pronotum with a pair of triangular short spines (ca. 0.06-0.13); propodeal spines long (ca. 0.20-0.30); dorsum of head, except for the antennal scrobes, with foveolate-reticulate sculpture ; postpetiole unsculptured; PPI 133-150; SL 0.70-0.82 and SI 81-93.

Pristomyrmex foveolatus is extremely similar to Pristomyrmex thoracicus, also from Australia, in many characters in the workers and queens, such as (1) the dentition of the masticatory margin of mandible, (2) palp formula, (3) structure and shape of the clypeus, (4) length and shape of the pronotal and propodeal spines, and (5) sculpture of the dorsal surfaces of the head and the alitrunk. The differences between the workers of these two species are slight, as follows: P. foveolatus - Antennal scapes shorter (SL 0.70- 0.82, SI 81-93). Postpetiole in dorsal view much broader than long, PPI 133- 150, with the two sides subparallel, showing a transverse rectangle. P. thoracicus - Antennal scapes longer (SL 0.86- 0.98, SI97- 103). Postpetiole in dorsal view slightly broader than long, PPI 109-121, with the two sides not subparallel, showing a trapezoid.

Identification Keys including this Taxon

 * Key to Australian Pristomyrmex Species
 * Key to Pristomyrmex workers

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  foveolatus. Pristomyrmex foveolatus Taylor, 1965b: 38, figs. 1, 2 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Wang, M. 2003: 447 (m.).

Worker
Wang (2003) - TL 2.74-3.26, HL 0.78-0.92, HW 0.80-0.96, C1 100-108, SL 0.70-0.82, S1 81-93, EL 0.11-0.14, PW 0.50-0.62, AL 0.68-0.86, PPYV 0.23-0.27, PPL 0.16-0.20, PP1 133-150 (n = 74).

Mandibles usually with a few longitudinal rugae. Masticatory margin of mandible with three teeth: an apical + a preapical + a long diastema + a truncated basal tooth. Basal margin of mandible lacking a distinctly curved lobe or tooth. Clypeus with a strong median carina. Anterior clypeal margin with a median denticle and usually two to three others on each side; two or three lateral denticles are often fused into one prominence. Ventral center of clypeus with a low, broad, toothlike prominence. Palp formula 2,3. Frontal carinae well-developed, beyond the level of the posterior margins of eyes. Scrobal areas shallow, pre sent below the frontal carinae. Frontal lobes almost completely absent so that the antennal articulations are entirely exposed. Antennal scapes, when lying in the antennal scrobes, close to or just reaching the occipital margin of head. Eyes containing five to six ommatidia in the longest row. Pronotum armed with a pair of short spines (ca. 0.06-0.13). Propodeal spines long, ca. 0.20 to 0.30, usually straight but sometimes slightly upcurved along their length. Metapleural lobe small-triangular, usually with an acute apex. Petiole node in profile higher than long, with a long anterior peduncle, its anterodorsal angle forming an apex and its dorsum sloping downward posteriorly. Postpetiole in profile much higher than long, with a rounded dorsum; in dorsal view, postpetiole transverse-rectangled, much broader than long, with the two sides subparallel. Dorsum of head, except for the antennal scrobes where there are only a few transverse rugae, with well-developed foveolate-reticulate sculpture. Dorsum of alitrunk usually with foveolate-reticulate sculpture and a few coarse longitudinal rugae. Sides of pronotum with a few foveolate punctures; sides of the rest of alitrunk with some irregularly superficial rugae. Petiole node and postpetiole smooth and shining. Gaster unsculptured. Dorsal surfaces of head and alitrunk with numerous erect or suberect long hairs. Dorsal surfaces of petiole node and postpetiole with a pair of long hairs. First gastral tergite lacking erect or suberect hairs. A few pairs of forward-projecting hairs present near the anterior clypeal margin. Scapes and tibiae with some erect to suberect short hairs. Color reddish-brown.

Queen
Wang (2003) - TL 3.20, HL 0.8.3, HW 0 .86, CI 104, SL 0.74, SI 86, EL 0.16, PW 0.66, AL 0.87, PPW 0.2.5, PPL 0.16, PP1 139 (n = 1).

General shape with normal caste differences from the conspecific worker; pronotum unarmed; other characters similar to worker; propodeal spine length 0.25.