Polyrhachis hexacantha

Polyrhachis hexacantha is restricted to the mountainous parts of southeastern NSW and ACT, and south through the Victorian Alps to Tasmania. It was collected in sympatry with Polyrhachis fuscipes and Polyrhachis smithersi at Smokers Gap in ACT.

Identification
Polyrhachis hexacantha is very similar to Polyrhachis fuscipes but differs by the sculpturation of the body consisting of very closely spaced reticulate punctations that gives specimens a rather dull, opaque appearance. In contrast, the sculpturation of the body in P. fuscipes is distinctly finer, notably on the head, and on the mesosomal dorsum it forms more-or-less longitudinal striae with a somewhat semipolished appearance. The intercalary spines in P. hexacantha are rather long, while in P. fuscipes they are distinctly shorter.

Distribution
This taxon was described from Tasmania.

Nomenclature

 *  hexacantha. Formica hexacantha Erichson, 1842: 260 (w.) TASMANIA. Combination in Polyrhachis: Smith, F. 1858b: 74; in P. (Campomyrma): Emery, 1925b: 179. Senior synonym of froggatti: Taylor, 1989a: 24.
 * froggatti. Polyrhachis froggatti Forel, 1910b: 89 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Combination in P. (Campomyrma): Emery, 1925b: 179. Junior synonym of hexacantha: Taylor, 1989a: 24.

Additional References

 * Kohout, R. 2012. A new species of the subgenus Campomyrma Wheeler of the genus Polyrhachis Fr. Smith from the Australian Capital Territory (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Australian Entomologist 39, 321-329.