Prionopelta media

Known only from the holytype, nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Shattuck (2008) - Anterolateral corners of head, near mandibular insertions, rounded. Dorsal mesosomal sculpturing composed of widely spaced foveae which are only slightly more dense on the pronotum than on the mesonotum and propodeum, and which are uniformly distributed across the width of the propodeum. Body small, head less than 0.48mm, petiole narrow, PetW less than 0.20.

This species is morphologically intermediate between Prionopelta kraepelini and Prionopelta opaca. The colour is pale yellow as in some kraepelini while the sculpturing is similar to opaca (large, widely spaced punctations). However, this combination of characters, as well as the shape of the petiole, is unique and suggests that this is a distinct species separate from others in the genus.

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

Nomenclature

 *  media. Prionopelta media Shattuck, 2008b: 27, figs. 6, 7, 11-13 (w.) NEW GUINEA.

Worker
(holotype) CI 78; HL 0.46; HW 0.36; ML 0.54; PetL 0.15; PetW 0.19; PI 127; SI 67; SL 0.25; T1W 0.30.

Anterolateral corners of head, near mandibular insertions, rounded and lacking a tooth. Dorsal pronotal sculpturing consisting of widely spaced foveae which are only slightly more dense than on the mesonotum and propodeum. Foveae on dorsum of propodeum uniformly distributed across its width. Lateral mesosomal sculpturing consisting of small foveae on pronotum and anterior and ventral region of mesopleuron, dorsal region of mesopleuron and majority of propodeum smooth. Very small fenestra present within subpetiolar process. Colour yellow.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * CSIRO Collection
 * 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.
 * Shattuck, S. O. 2008. Revision of the ant genus Prionopelta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Indo-Pacific region. Zootaxa 1846:21-34.