Cataulacus setosus

Nothing is known about the biology of Cataulacus setosus.

Identification
A member of the granulatus group, Cataulacus setosus is separated from the majority of the species by its long propodeal spines, a character more in keeping with the species of the taprobanae-group. It is quickly distinguishable from Cataulacus nenassus, its closest relative, by the different gastral sculpturation in the latter, which has longitudinal rugulation over the entirety of the first tergite.

Distribution
Known from Indonesia, New Guinea and Philippines. Its presence in New Guinea C. setosus represents the furthest known easterly penetration of the genus.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia, New Guinea, Philippines.

Nomenclature

 *  setosus. Cataulacus setosus Smith, F. 1860b: 114, pl. 1, fig. 7 (w.) INDONESIA (Batjan I.). Smith, F. 1863: 24 (q.). See also: Bolton, 1974a: 71.

Holotype worker in. Labelled “Bac. 31.”

Worker
Bolton (1974) - TL 4.1 – 4.2, HL 1.06 – 1.08, HW 1.16 – 1.20, CI 109 - 111, EL 0.40 – 0.42, OI 34 - 36, IOD 0.90 – 0.96, SL 0.58 – 0.62, SI 50 - 52, PW 0.92 – 1.07, AL 1.08 – 1.18, MTL 0.58 – 0.62 (5 measured).

Occipital crest complete, with dentic1es throughout its length. Sides of head behind eyes denticulate, the occipital corners with a small tooth which is, however, larger than either the dentic1es of the sides or of the occipital crest. Sides of pronotum marginate, the margins strongly denticulate. Sides of mesonotum and propodeum denticulate, the dentic1es extending onto the outer margins of the propodeal spines. Propodeal spines long, broad basally and tapering to an acute apex, each spine at least as long as half the distance separating it from its twin. Sides of first gastral tergite not margined but with a few small to minute dentic1es or prominences on the basal quarter of the sides when the gaster is examined in dorsal view.

Sculpturation of head and alitrunk coarse, conspicuous and somewhat variable. Dorsum of head posteriorly with a distinct rugoreticulum and with reticulate-punctate interspaces. Anteriorly the rugae tend to have a longitudinal direction, usually restricted to the area in front of the level of the anterior ocular margin although occasionally the rugoreticulum may extend almost to the clypeus. Pronotal dorsum strongly but rather loosely reticulate-rugose, the points of intersection of the rugae raised into small prominences; the interspaces reticulatepunctate. Mesonotal and propodeal dorsa sculptured as pronotum or with the sculpturation less intense, or with the rugae tending to assume a roughly longitudinal pattern. First gastral tergite densely and rather coarsely reticulate-punctate with fine longitudinal rugulae present basally and on the sides of the sclerite. The disc bears only the basic puncturation or has a few disorganized, short, broken rugulae.

Short, thick, blunt erect hairs numerous and conspicuous upon all dorsal surfaces of the head, body and appendages.

Queen
Bolton (1974) - TL 5.5 – 5.9, HL 1.22 – 1.26, HW 1.34, CI 106 - 109, EL 0.46 – 0.48, OI 34 - 36, IOD 1.06 – 1.08, SL 0.64 – 0.72, SI 48 - 54, PW 1.22 – 1.26, AL 1.68 – 1.76, MTL 0.72 – 0.74 (2 measured).

As worker but dentic1es on sides of head reduced, as are those on the sides of the alitrunk in dorsal view. Propodeal spines short and broad, acute. Sculpturation of head and pronotum as described above, but with the cephalic rugae having a more distinct longitudinal direction than in the worker. The mesothoracic sc1erites and the propodeum are longitudinally rugose dorsally with the interspaces finely reticulate-punctate.

Type Material
Bolton (1974) - Holotype worker, INDONESIA: Moluccas, Batjan (=Batchian) Island (A. R. Wallace) (UM, Oxford) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton B. 1974. A revision of the Palaeotropical arboreal ant genus Cataulacus F. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 30: 1-105.
 * CSIRO Collection
 * Donisthorpe, Horace. 1943. The Ants of Waigeu Island, North Dutch New Guinea. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History 11 (10): 433-475.
 * Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.
 * Smith F. 1863. Catalogue of hymenopterous insects collected by Mr. A. R. Wallace in the islands of Mysol, Ceram, Waigiou, Bouru and Timor. Journal and Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London. Zoology 7: 6-48.
 * Smith F. 1865. Descriptions of new species of hymenopterous insects from the islands of Sumatra, Sula, Gilolo, Salwatty, and New Guinea, collected by Mr. A. R. Wallace. Journal and Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London. Zoology 8: 61-94.
 * Smith, Fr.. "Catalogue of hymenopterous insects collected by Mr. A. R. Wallace in the Islands of Bachian, Kaisaa, Amboyna, Gilolo, and at Dory in New Guinea." Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London, Zoology 5 (1860): 93-143.
 * Taylor R. W. 1991. Nomenclature and distribution of some Australasian ants of the Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 30: 599-614.
 * Viehmeyer H. 1912. Ameisen aus Deutsch Neuguinea gesammelt von Dr. O. Schlaginhaufen. Nebst einem Verzeichnisse der papuanischen Arten. Abhandlungen und Berichte des Königlichen Zoologischen und Anthropologische-Ethnographischen Museums zu Dresden 14: 1-26.