Metapone salomonis

A Solomon Islands species known from a queen, captured in flight during midday.

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

Nomenclature

 * . Metapone salomonis Taylor & Alpert, 2016: 531, figs. 106-110 (q.) SOLOMON IS (San Cristobal I.).
 * Type-material: holotype queen.
 * Type-locality: Solomon Is: San Cristobal I., Wainoni Bay, 21.vii.1965, in flight (P.J.M. reenslade).
 * Type-depository: ANIC.
 * Distribution: Solomon I.

Queen
TL: (estimated) ca. 5.5–6mm; HL: 1.27, HW: 0.87, CpL: 0.46, CpI: 36, MSL: 1.97, PetL: 0.52, PetW: 0.43, PetH: 0.65. TL measurement is estimated (compare proportions of other species) because the specimen has lost its gaster.

General and diagnostic features, sculpturation, pilosity and colour as illustrated and in the key to Melanesian and Pacific species. Clypeus anteriorly rostrate, lateral margins of its posterior section converging anteriorly and indented on each side at the base of the narrower rostrum, anterior border concave, edentate, anterolateral corners in frontal view slightly raised, acute, almost right-angled, apices narrowly rounded. Subpetiolar angle in profile strongly obtuse, rounding to the subpetiolar edge, subpetiolar extension relatively very small, subsemicircular with tapered anterior border.

Type Material
Solomon Islands: San Cristobal: Wainoni Bay [10°68′S, 162°00′E]. (Type No. 32-069959). san Cristobal (= Makira): in flight, noon (P.J.M. Greenslade, 21;7;1965).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Taylor R. W., and G. D. Alpert. 2016. The myrmicine ant genus Metapone Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): a global taxonomic review with descriptions of twelve new species. Zootaxa 4105(6): 501-545.