Cataulacus setosus

Nothing is known about the biology of Cataulacus setosus.

Identification
A member of the granulatus group, Cataulacus setosus is separated from the majority of the species by its long propodeal spines, a character more in keeping with the species of the taprobanae-group. It is quickly distinguishable from Cataulacus nenassus, its closest relative, by the different gastral sculpturation in the latter, which has longitudinal rugulation over the entirety of the first tergite.

Regional Cataulacus Key

Distribution
Known from Indonesia, New Guinea and Philippines. Its presence in New Guinea C. setosus represents the furthest known easterly penetration of the genus.

This taxon was described from Indonesia (Batjan Island).

Nomenclature

 *  setosus. Cataulacus setosus Smith, F. 1860b: 114, pl. 1, fig. 7 (w.) INDONESIA (Batjan I.). Smith, F. 1863: 24 (q.). See also: Bolton, 1974a: 71.

Holotype worker in. Labelled “Bac. 31.”

Worker
Bolton (1974) - TL 4.1 – 4.2, HL 1.06 – 1.08, HW 1.16 – 1.20, CI 109 - 111, EL 0.40 – 0.42, OI 34 - 36, IOD 0.90 – 0.96, SL 0.58 – 0.62, SI 50 - 52, PW 0.92 – 1.07, AL 1.08 – 1.18, MTL 0.58 – 0.62 (5 measured).

Occipital crest complete, with dentic1es throughout its length. Sides of head behind eyes denticulate, the occipital corners with a small tooth which is, however, larger than either the dentic1es of the sides or of the occipital crest. Sides of pronotum marginate, the margins strongly denticulate. Sides of mesonotum and propodeum denticulate, the dentic1es extending onto the outer margins of the propodeal spines. Propodeal spines long, broad basally and tapering to an acute apex, each spine at least as long as half the distance separating it from its twin. Sides of first gastral tergite not margined but with a few small to minute dentic1es or prominences on the basal quarter of the sides when the gaster is examined in dorsal view.

Sculpturation of head and alitrunk coarse, conspicuous and somewhat variable. Dorsum of head posteriorly with a distinct rugoreticulum and with reticulate-punctate interspaces. Anteriorly the rugae tend to have a longitudinal direction, usually restricted to the area in front of the level of the anterior ocular margin although occasionally the rugoreticulum may extend almost to the clypeus. Pronotal dorsum strongly but rather loosely reticulate-rugose, the points of intersection of the rugae raised into small prominences; the interspaces reticulatepunctate. Mesonotal and propodeal dorsa sculptured as pronotum or with the sculpturation less intense, or with the rugae tending to assume a roughly longitudinal pattern. First gastral tergite densely and rather coarsely reticulate-punctate with fine longitudinal rugulae present basally and on the sides of the sclerite. The disc bears only the basic puncturation or has a few disorganized, short, broken rugulae.

Short, thick, blunt erect hairs numerous and conspicuous upon all dorsal surfaces of the head, body and appendages.

Queen
Bolton (1974) - TL 5.5 – 5.9, HL 1.22 – 1.26, HW 1.34, CI 106 - 109, EL 0.46 – 0.48, OI 34 - 36, IOD 1.06 – 1.08, SL 0.64 – 0.72, SI 48 - 54, PW 1.22 – 1.26, AL 1.68 – 1.76, MTL 0.72 – 0.74 (2 measured).

As worker but dentic1es on sides of head reduced, as are those on the sides of the alitrunk in dorsal view. Propodeal spines short and broad, acute. Sculpturation of head and pronotum as described above, but with the cephalic rugae having a more distinct longitudinal direction than in the worker. The mesothoracic sc1erites and the propodeum are longitudinally rugose dorsally with the interspaces finely reticulate-punctate.

Type Material
Bolton (1974) - Holotype worker, INDONESIA: Moluccas, Batjan (=Batchian) Island (A. R. Wallace) (UM, Oxford) [examined].