Chelaner sculpturatus

Chelaner sculpturatus is an inhabitant of the moister forests along the east coast of Australia, from the Armidale plateau in New South Wales to Tasmania, where it is a cryptic forager in moss, leaf litter and in rotten logs. (Heterick 2001)

Identification
Heterick (2001) - A member of the rubriceps group. Because of its long propodeal spines, C. sculpturatus cannot be confused with any other Australian Chelaner. However, characters of the clypeus, petiole and postpetiole enable the ant to be placed firmly in the C. leae species-complex.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  sculpturatus. Monomorium (Notomyrmex) sculpturatum Clark, 1934c: 59, pl. 4, figs. 17, 18 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA.
 * Combination in Monomorium: Taylor, 1987b: 4.
 * Combination in Chelaner: Ettershank, 1966: 97; Sparks et al., 2019: 233.
 * See also: Heterick, 2001: 438.

Worker
Heterick (2001) - HML 1.83-2.30; HL 0.72-0.83; HW 0.61-0.76; Cel 87-96; SL 0.50-0.60; SI 72-86; PW 0.34-0.47 (31 measured).

As for the worker of Chelaner leae, but with the following apomorphies.

Head. Head square or rectangular; vertex planar, or convex; frons longitudinally striate with combination of incurved decumbent and subdecumbent setulae and erect and suberect setae. Compound eyes elliptical; (viewed from front) compound eyes set in anterior half of head capsule. Anteromedial clypeal margin convex, straight or slightly emarginate, median clypeal carinae indistinct. Posteromedial clypeal margin level with posterior surface of antennal fossae. Palp formula 2,2. Maximum number of mandibular teeth and denticles: six; mandibles (viewed from front) triangular and striate, with piliferous punctures.

Alitrunk. Promesonotal sculpture present in form of microreticulation and rugosity over entire promesonotum; dorsal promesonotal face evenly convex. Mesonotal suture visible externally as faint ridge. Metanotal groove present as distinct and deeply impressed trough between promesonotum and propodeum. Propodeal sculpture present as uniform rugosity, with well defined costulae on declivitous face of propodeum. Processes present on posterior propodeal angles as sharp spines. Propodeal angle present; length ratio of dorsal face to declivitous face near 4:3; declivitous face of propodeum flat. Propodeal setulae absent.

Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar spiracle lateral and positioned in pedicel well anteriad of petiolar node. Petiolar node tumular and inclined anteriad; sculpture present; petiolar node rugose. Ratio of greatest node breadth (viewed from front) to greatest node width (viewed in profile) near 1:1. Anteroventral process always present as pronounced spur. Ventral lobe always absent. Height ratio of petiole to postpetiole near 1:1; height-length ratio of postpetiole near 3:4 to near 1:2. Sculpture present; postpetiole rugose.

General characters. Colour of head, alitrunk, petiole, postpetiole and gaster amber to russet, legs and mandibles tawny yellow. Worker caste monomorphic.

Queen
Heterick (2001) - HML 2.43-2.79; HL 0.83-0.88; HW 0.78-0.83; CeI 94; SL 0.57-0.67; SI 73-81; PW 0.62 (3 measured- dealate).

As for the worker of Chelaner leae, but with the following apomorphies.

Head. Vertex of head capsule planar; frons longitudinally striate with combination of incurved decumbent and subdecumbent setulae and erect and suberect setae. Compound eyes elliptical.

Alitrunk. Mesoscutum in profile convex anteriad; thereafter flattened. Mesoscutal pilosity consisting of decumbent and subdecumbent setulae anteriad and erect and suberect setae posteriad; length-width ratio of mesoscutum and scutellum combined near 4:3. Axillae separated by distance of about half greatest width of scutellum. Propodeal sculpture present as uniform rugosity, with well defined costulae on declivitous face of propodeum. Propodeal processes present on posterior propodeal angles as sharp spines. Propodeal spiracle lateral and nearer declivitous face of propodeum than metanotal groove.

Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar spiracle lateral and positioned in pedicel well anteriad of petiolar node. Petiolar node tumular and inclined anteriad; sculpture present; petiolar node rugose. Ratio of greatest node breadth (viewed from front) to greatest node width (viewed in profile) near 4:3 to near 1:1. Anteroventral process always present as pronounced spur. Height ratio of petiole to postpetiole near 1:1; height-length ratio of postpetiole near 2:1. Sculpture present; postpetiole rugose.

Gaster. Pilosity of first gastral tergite consisting of combination of decumbent and subdecumbent setulae and longer, erect and suberect setae.

General characters. Colour orange, appendages lighter. Brachypterous alates not seen. Ergatoid or worker-female intercastes seen and examined.