Calyptomyrmex fragarus

This uncommon Australian species has been collected in rainforest and mesophyll notophyll vine forest from both leaf litter samples and as stray ground foragers.

Identification
Shattuck (2011) - Hairs on head and body spatulate (noticeably narrower near the body and expanded distally and with a rounded tip) and gaster with low longitudinal striations running between the spatulate hairs. This species shares the longitudinal striations on the gaster with Calyptomyrmex lineolus but differs in having spatulate rather than thin hairs.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  fragarus. Calyptomyrmex fragarus Shattuck, 2011: 10, fig. 6 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Worker
(n = 6) - CFW 0.24–0.28; CI 102–109; HL 1.17–1.24; HW 1.23–1.31; ML 1.18–1.33; MTL 0.54–0.62; PetI 153–166; PetL 0.27–0.29; PetW 0.44–0.49; PronW 0.84–0.93; SI 49–53; SL 0.63–0.67.

Mandibles indistinctly striate, more strongly basally, less so apically. Eyes with 5–6 ommatidia in greatest diameter. Propodeum in lateral view lacking angles or spines. Propodeal lobes nearly uniform in thickness, only slightly thinner anteriorly than posteriorly. Node of petiole in profile slightly higher than that of postpetiole, both nodes approximately the same volume. In dorsal view the petiolar node slightly narrower than the postpetiolar node. Head, promesonotum and petiolar and postpetiolar nodes indistinctly foveolate, superimposed with punctations which disturb and partially obscure the surface. Sides of mesosoma irregularly rugose over fine but distinct punctations. Dorsum of propodeum very finely sculptured and with several longitudinal rugae. Gaster indistinctly foveolate anteriorly fading into striate posteriorly, the entire surface superimposed with punctations. Hairs on head and body spatulate and appressed. Clypeal fork with spatulate hairs only. Colour dull red-brown, the legs and sometimes the gaster slightly lighter.

Type Material

 * Paratypes: 1 worker from 2km W Paluma, Paluma Range, Queensland, 7 May 1969, R. W. Taylor, rainforest, ground strays (, ANIC32-047442); 1 worker from Bluewater Range, 45km NW Townsville, Queensland, 7 December 1986-16 February 1987, Monteith, Thompson & Hamlet, rainforest (, ANIC32-047445); 1 worker from Bluewater Range (Nth End), Queensland, 8 December 1986, G. Monteith & G. Thompson, rainforest, sieved litter, (, ANIC32-047444); 1 worker from Mt. Spec, Queensland, 8 May–5 June 1995, M. Cermak (, ANIC32- 047440).
 * Paratypes: 1 worker from 2km W Paluma, Paluma Range, Queensland, 7 May 1969, R. W. Taylor, rainforest, ground strays (, ANIC32-047442); 1 worker from Bluewater Range, 45km NW Townsville, Queensland, 7 December 1986-16 February 1987, Monteith, Thompson & Hamlet, rainforest (, ANIC32-047445); 1 worker from Bluewater Range (Nth End), Queensland, 8 December 1986, G. Monteith & G. Thompson, rainforest, sieved litter, (, ANIC32-047444); 1 worker from Mt. Spec, Queensland, 8 May–5 June 1995, M. Cermak (, ANIC32- 047440).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Shattuck S. O. 2011. Revision of the ant genus Calyptomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in South-east Asia and Oceania. Zootaxa 2743:1-26.