Cladomyrma andrei

This species has been found nesting in lianas, which is unusual for Cladomyrma.

Identification
Agosti et al. (1999) placed Cladomyrma species into two groups based on the shape of the queen's petiole, raised (an erect node or scale) or depressed (dorsally truncate and low). Cladomyrma andrei belongs to the depressed petiole group.

A larger Bornean species of Cladomyrma. It is also the most variable in size, in head shape from a very short to a medium long head, an almost black body color to brown (rarely uniform yellowish [one collection]), and long to short gastral hairs. The synonymy with cryptata indicates that the status of this species is similar to that of petalae (see below). Though there might be several species included, it is at the very moment impossible to separate them. The typical cryptata and andrei differ somewhat in the fine chagrinate sculpture on the head and the matte surface, which is very distinct in cryptata as opposed to the brilliant shining and completely smooth surface in andrei. The type series of cryptata includes one queen with a short head and one with an elongate head, which is similar to the type of andrei. Another variation includes workers from Poring Hot Springs (J. Moog, 95-018 and 95-017) which have a slightly elongated head, and very conspicuous long, heterogeneous hairs (some longer than others) on the dorsum of the alitrunk. In contrast, the workers of the typical andrei have subhomogeneous shorter setae. This variation is also the only population of andrei living in Drypetes longifolia (Euphorbiaceae). One collection (J. Moog, 93-061) shows a uniform yellowish-colored queen that closely resembles andrei (cryptata form) in most characters except body color. We observed a very slight difference in the density of the pubescence on the anterior and lateral parts of the mesonotum but since this character exhibits some variation in andrei, it was not used to erect a new species. Considerable variation in body color of queens may be a rather common phenomenon in Cladomyrma (see under petalae).

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

Biology
Agosti et al. (1999) - The species has been found colonizing the endemic woody climbers Callerya (formerly Millettia) nieuwenhuisii (Maschwitz et al., 1989), Spatholobus oblongifolius (both Papilionaceae) and the tree genus Neonauclea (Rubiaceae). In general, liana saplings usually possess a primary stem diameter too thin to allow ant inhabitation. However, saplings of these host lianas (Callerya, Spatholobus) provide some stem internodes with distinctly enlarged diameter (ant domatia) to permit colonization by foundress queens (Moog et al., in press). In Poring Hot Springs, Sabah, samples of this species have been obtained on a canopy walkway from a huge Callerya, about 40m above ground.

Nomenclature

 *  andrei. Dimorphomyrmex andrei Emery, 1894b: 73, fig. (q.) BORNEO. Combination in Aphomomyrmex: Emery, 1899e: 494; in Cladomyrma: Emery, 1925b: 45. Senior synonym of cryptata: Agosti, Moog & Maschwitz, 1999: 7.
 * cryptata. Cladomyrma cryptata Agosti, 1991: 304, figs. 2, 18, 23 (s.w.q.m.) BORNEO. Junior synonym of andrei: Agosti, Moog & Maschwitz, 1999: 7.

Worker
Agosti et al. (1999) - AL 0.84–1.64,HL 0.86–1.42, HW 0.76–1.32, EL 0.16–0.30, SL 0.38–0.68, CI 89–98, EI 21–42, SI 44–53 (n = 8).

Generally larger body size; pilosity and dorsum of alitrunk and gaster variable, generally short and not very dense; generally reddish dark brown to dark brown; clypeus angulate; gastral pubescence thin, hair at least as long as distance between their insertions.

Minor: AL 0.64–1.00, HL 0.59–1.04, HW 0.52–0.78, EL 0.13– 0.22, SL 0.29–0.46, CI 83–95, EI 23–27, SI 55–66 (n = 8).

Generally larger body size; pubescence on gaster dense, short, and appressed; metapleural gland orifice large.

Queen
Agosti et al. (1999) - AL 2.08–2.56, HL 1.30–1.46, HW 1.02–1.24, EL 0.47–0.54, SL 0.61–0.78, CI 76–86, EI 40–47, SI 58–66 (n = 17).

Large body size (AL > 2.0 mm); body color usually dark brown to black (rarely uniform yellowish); head distinctly bicolored with genae and clypeus lighter than reminder of the head capsule; metapleural gland orifice large but covered with a bunch of hairs inserted ventral to the opening; petiole low and dorsally truncate; gaster with many long, erect hairs scattered all over the tergites and generally appressed, widely set pubescence.

PARATYPE: Queen AL 2.28, HL 1.36, HW 1.14, SL 0.68, EL 0.53, CI 84, EI 46, SI 60.

Type Material
Agosti et al. (1999) - Syntype queen, BORNEO: Indonesia, South Kalimantan, Poulo Laut, Doherty; [examined].

Holotype queen Cladomyrma cryptata Agosti, 1991, Borneo: East-Malaysia, Sabah, Poring Hot Springs, #815, Ulrich Maschwitz, ex Callerya(= Millettia) nieuwenhuisii;.