Peronomyrmex bartoni

The single workers of this species were collected in pitfall traps at two locations in central Victoria, the Inglewood Flora Reserve and the Wehla State Forest. Muir et al. (1995) describe the Inglewood Flora Reserve as in the Sandstonerise Broombush Ecological Vegetation Class and the area is dominated by Eucalyptus viridis (green mallee). It has an average rainfall of 400–500 mm and a mean altitude of 194 m. The Wehla State Forest, approximately 25 km from the first site, is in the Box Ironbark Ecological Vegetation Class. This area has a mean rainfall of 400–600 mm and an altitude of 220 m. It consists of generally open forest and at the specific collection site is dominated by Eucalyptus leucoxylon (yellow gum) and E. microcarpa (grey box). The ground layer is sparse and the understorey open and shrubby. (Shattuck and Hinkley 2002)

Identification
Shattuck and Hinkley (2002) - While matching Peronomyrmex overbecki in most ways, this species differs as follows: overall body size slightly longer; scape shorter (scape index 74 vs 87); longitudinal rugae well developed and distinct on head and mesosoma; erect hairs absent from dorsum of mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole, those on gaster longer and more abundant; anterior face of petiole essentially flat (strongly concave in P. overbecki) and postpetiole broader, its anterior face more convex and its posterior face more concave (both faces straighter in P. overbecki).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  bartoni. Peronomyrmex bartoni Shattuck & Hinkley, 2002: 104, figs. 1, 2 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Worker
Total length 4.3 mm; maximum head length 1.04 mm; maximum head width (behind eyes) 0.84 mm; maximum diameter of eye 0.24 mm; scape length 0.62 mm; cephalic index 81; scape index 74; width across pronotal humeri 0.64 mm; Weber’s length of thorax 1.21 mm; dorsal petiole width 0.26 mm; maximum petiole height 0.56 mm; dorsal postpetiole width 0.40 mm; maximum postpetiole height 0.62 mm. Head capsule with distinct, longitudinal rugae, those on dorsal surface between antennal scrobes essentially straight, those on lateral surface ventral of eyes slightly wavy, those on underside weakly developed and absent medially; area between rugae with indistinct striations or punctations. Dorsal surface of mesosoma with distinct longitudinal rugae and a limited number of randomly placed short transverse rugae connecting longitudinal rugae, underlying surface with indistinct, irregularly shaped punctations and/or striations. Lateral regions of mesosoma similar to dorsal surface but with longitudinal rugae less well defined and more wavy. Petiole and postpetiole with indistinct microsculpturing resulting in a slightly matte appearance. Gaster smooth, shiny and with microreticulate sculpturing. Entire head covered with suberect, bluntly pointed hairs. Mesosoma lacking erect hairs but with scattered appressed hairs. Petiole and postpetiole with abundant appressed hairs. Gaster with 2 sets of abundant, scattered, elongate hairs, 1 set essentially perpendicular to the surface, other set raised at about a 30° angle with the surface. Colour chestnut-brown, petiole and postpetiole slightly infuscated, gaster dark red-black.

Etymology
The species is named for Percy Barton, grandfather of SH.