Polyrhachis rufofemorata

Polyrhachis rufofemorata is lignicolous, selecting various plant cavities for its nesting sites, with most colonies found occupying hollow internodes of standing dead bamboo.

Identification
As indicated by Kohout (1989, 1998), P. rufofemorata appears in two distinct forms that differ primarily in the development of the petiolar node. In the nominal form, including most of its synonyms (P. merops Fr. Smith, 1860, P. biroi Forel, 1907 and P. biroi paprika Forel, 1911), the petiole is simply angulate or at most minutely dentate, while it is clearly spinose in P. biroi bidentata. Both forms are relatively common throughout New Guinea and are occasionally sympatric. However, it appears that Indonesian populations of P. rufofemorata include only the nominal form, while Australian populations are characterised by the distinctly spinose petiole. Queens of both forms are very similar with only a little variability demonstrated between various populations.

Distribution
This taxon was described from Indonesia (Aru Island).

The known distribution of P. rufofemorata extends from the Moluccas and New Guinea to northern Australia, where it occurs at Iron Range on Cape York Peninsula (Kohout, 2012).

Nomenclature

 *  rufofemorata. Polyrhachis rufofemoratus Smith, F. 1859a: 142 (w.) INDONESIA (Aru I.). Kohout, 1989: 514 (w.q.). Combination in P. (Myrma): Emery, 1925b: 202. Senior synonym of merops: Bolton, 1974b: 178; of bidentata, biroi, paprika: Kohout, 1998: 523. Current subspecies: nominal plus atra.
 * merops. Polyrhachis merops Smith, F. 1860b: 98, pl. 1, fig. 17 (w.) INDONESIA (Batjan I.). Combination in P. (Myrma): Emery, 1925b: 202. Subspecies of rufofemorata: Emery, 1898a: 228; Donisthorpe, 1932c: 460. Junior synonym of rufofemorata: Bolton, 1974b: 178.
 * biroi. Polyrhachis biroi Forel, 1907a: 40 (w.) INDONESIA (Ambon I.). Combination in P. (Myrma): Emery, 1925b: 200. Junior synonym of rufofemorata: Kohout, 1998: 523.
 * paprika. Polyrhachis biroi var. paprika Forel, 1911e: 296 (w.) NEW GUINEA. Combination in P. (Myrma): Emery, 1925b: 200. Junior synonym of rufofemorata: Kohout, 1998: 523.
 * bidentata. Polyrhachis biroi var. bidentata Stitz, 1912: 512 (w.) NEW GUINEA. Combination in P. (Myrma): Emery, 1925b: 200. Junior synonym of rufofemorata: Kohout, 1998: 523.

Polyrhachis rufofemoratus type material.

Holotype worker from Aru Island, Indonesia (A.R. Wallace) (examined by Kohout, 2012).

Polyrhachis biroi bidentata type material.

Syntype workers from Sattelberg, New Guinea (Lauterbach) (examined by Kohout, 2012).

Additional References

 * Kohout, R.J. 2012. A review of the Australian Polyrhachis ants of the subgenera Myrma Billberg, Myrmatopa Forel, Myrmothrinax Forel and Polyrhachis Fr. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature 56(1): 25-59.