Technomyrmex lisae

A few of the known collections are noted as being made within wet forest habitat, with the ants obtained from sweeping and litter samples.

Identification
Bolton (2007) - Probably the most extremely polymorphic species in the genus. As worker size increases then CI also increases, but SI, OI and EPI all decrease, the SI markedly so. The change of head shape with increasing size is the most striking feature. In the smallest workers HL is greater than HW (i.e. CI < 100) but in the largest HW is greater than HL. As size increases the sides of the head become more strongly convex and the posterior margin more extensively and deeply cleft, so that the head shape of the smallest workers is markedly different from the strongly cordate heads of the largest workers.

Technomyrmex horrens appears to be a related polymorphic species, but horrens is smaller, lacks setae on gastral tergite 3 and has only a shallow median concavity in the anterior clypeal margin.

Distribution
Peninsular Malaysia; Sabah and Sarawak, Bornea; Sumatra.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia.

Nomenclature

 *  lisae. Technomyrmex lisae Forel, 1913k: 94, fig. B (w.q.) WEST MALAYSIA. See also: Bolton, 2007a: 89.

Worker
Bolton (2007) - TL 4.0 - 6.0, HL 0.92 - 1.68, HW 0.85 - 1.78, SL 0.88 - 1.34, PW 0.47 - 0.82, WL 1.16 - 1.80 (25 measured). Indices: CI 89 - 108, SI 75 - 106, OI 17 - 22, EPI 47 - 61, DTI 142 - 170.

Dorsum of head behind clypeus entirely lacks setae. Anterior c1ypeal margin with a long U-shaped median cleft; inner margin of cleft meets the anterior clypeal margin in a sharp angle at each side. Posterior margin of head strongly concave in small workers; deeply cleft in large workers so that the head is cordate. Eyes relatively small (OI < 25) and located far in front of the midlength; in full-face view the outer margins of the eyes inset far from the outline of the sides of the head. Scapes without setae but with dense short pubescence that is slightly elevated. Dorsum of mesosoma and declivity of propodeum entirely lack setae. In profile the metathoracic spiracles well in front of the metanotal groove and the propodeal dorsum rounds into the declivity. Gastral tergites 1 - 2 without setae; gastral tergites 3 - 4 each with a transverse row of 6 - 8 stout stiff setae. Tibiae without setae but some elevated short pubescence may be present. Colour yellow to light brown or yellowish brown; usually the gaster, and frequently both the head and gaster, slightly darker than the mesosoma. Legs yellow to light brown, the tarsi about the same colour as the tibiae and femora.

Type Material
Bolton (2007) - Syntype workers, Malaysia: Malacca, Taiping, Maxwell's Hill (v. Buttel-Reepen) and Perak, Tiefland, Feb. 1912 (no collector's name but presumably v. Buttel-Reelpen); syntype queen, Indonesia: Sumatra, Bandar Baroe (v. Buttel·Reepen)  [examined].