Adelomyrmex hirsutus

The single specimen Mann collected was a worker of A. hirsutus found beneath a stone, and his conclusion that the species was hypogaeic is supported by recent collections. All of the specimens collected during the recent survey were taken from sifted litter. (Sarnat and Economo 2012)

Identification
Sarnat and Economo (2012) - Adelomyrmex hirsutus is a dark shiny species with wide well-defined foveae evenly distributed across the head and gaster. Although there is some minor variation in the sculpture across the archipelago, there is no morphologic evidence of highly structured populations. The specimens from New Caledonia that are reported as A. hirsutus (Wilson & Taylor, 1967) were apparently not examined by Fernández (2003), who did not include the island as part of the Adelomyrmex distribution, although they do lend circumstantial credence to the Gondwanian origin hypothesis. The two New Caledonian specimens examined for the present study match poorly against the type specimen and the additional Fijian material. Though near A. hirsutus, the New Caledonian specimens entirely lack the distinctive foveae of the Fijian specimens, and in profile the petiole is characterized by a significantly narrower node and longer peduncle.

Fernández (2003) - A. hirsutus can be separated from Adelomyrmex samoanus by eye condition (they are reduced to dark spots); mesosoma outline, as seen in side view; and head sculpturing (punctate in hirsutus, punctate striate in samoanus).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Fiji.

Nomenclature

 * . Adelomyrmex (Arctomyrmex) hirsutus Mann, 1921: 458, fig. 21 (w.). FIJI IS (Vanua Levu).
 * Status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1935g: 29; Dlussky, 1994: 55; Bolton, 1995b: 58; Fernández, 2003b: 18 (redescription); Sarnat & Economo, 2012: 70.

Worker
Fernández (2003) - (n=1). HL 0.61 HW 0.50 SL 0.35 EL 0.06 WL 0.58 GL 0.72 TL 2.36 CI 82 SI 70.

The last antennal flagellomere large, nearly as long as the remainder of antennal funiculus. Eyes reduced to dark spots. Metanotal groove slightly impressed. Propodeal spiracle round and small. Dorsal surface of propodeum shorter than declivituous face, with two very short and triangular spines. Propodeal lobe subtriangular, slightly pointed. Protibiae swollen near apex. Head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole smooth and shining, puncturated, punctures more or less closed. Longitudinal midline of head without punctures. Most of declivitous face of propodeum smooth and shining with median keel joining the propodeal spines; most of lateral sides of thorax smooth and shining with spaced punctures; meso and metapleuron longitudinally rugose; petiolar sculpture similar to head. Body light brown, legs yellowish brown; abundant median whitish pilosity on head dorsum, scapes, thorax dorsum, petiole, postpetiole and gaster. Appressed pilosity on funiculus. Shorter and reclinated pilosity on legs.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * CSIRO Collection
 * Dlussky G.M. 1994. Zoogeography of southwestern Oceania. Zhivotnoe naselenie ostrovov Iugo-Zapadnoi Okeanii ekologo-geograficheskie issledovanii 48-93.
 * Fernández, F. 2003. Revision of the myrmicinae ants of the Adelomyrmex genus-group. Zootaxa 361: 1-52.
 * Mann W. M. 1921. The ants of the Fiji Islands. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 64: 401-499.
 * Sarnat Eli M. 2009. The Ants [Hymenoptera: Formicdiae] of Fiji: Systematics, Biogeography and Conservation of an Island Arc Fauna. 80-252
 * Ward, Darren F. and James K. Wetterer. 2006. Checklist of the Ants of Fiji. Fiji Arthropods III 85: 23-47.
 * Wheeler W.M. 1935. Check list of the ants of Oceania. Occasional Papers of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum 11(11):1-56.
 * Wheeler, William Morton.1935.Checklist of the Ants of Oceania.Occasional Papers 11(11): 3-56
 * Wilson E.O., and G.L. Hunt. 1967. Ant fauna of Futuna and Wallis islands, stepping stones to Polynesia. Pacific Insects 9(4): 563-584.
 * Wilson, Edward O. and George L. Hunt. 1967. Ant Fauna of Futuna and Wallis Islands, Stepping Stones To Polynesia. Pacific Insects. 9(4):563-584.
 * Wilson, Edward O. and Hunt, George L. Jr. 1967. Ant Fauna of Futuna and Wallis Islands, Stepping Stones to Polynesia. Pacific Insects. 9(4):563-584