Polyrhachis alphea

Polyrhachis alphea appears rather uncommon with a patchy distribution extending across New Guinea and neighbouring islands to the extreme tip of Cape York Peninsula. A single colony, including a dealate queen, and several alate queens collected at light trap represent the only Australian records of P. alphea.

Distribution
This taxon was described from New Guinea. It is also known from Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  alphea. Polyrhachis alpheus Smith, F. 1863: 14 (w.) NEW GUINEA. Combination in P. (Myrmatopa): Emery, 1925b: 180. Current subspecies: nominal plus rufiventris (unresolved junior homonym).

Holotype worker from Waigeo Island, New Guinea (A.R. Wallace) (examined by Kohout, 2012).