Polyrhachis linae

Nothing has been published about the biology of Polyrhachis linae.

Identification
Polyrhachis linae is somewhat simlar to Polyrhachis debilis, but it differs by its larger size and more steeply convex pronotum that is widest just behind the narrowly rounded humeri. The propodeal spines are short, but distinct. In contrast, specimens of Polyrhachis debilis are distinctly smaller with a weakly convex pronotal profile. The pronotal humeri are widely rounded and the propodeal spines very short, present as tuberculae or completely absent. (Kohout 2006)

Distribution
From Kohout (2006): Polyrhachis linae appears to be a rather uncommon, but widespread, New Guinean species with several colonies collected recently by R. Snelling at the Lakekamu Basin (Gulf Prov., Papua New Guinea).

This taxon was described from New Guinea.

Nomenclature

 *  linae. Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) linae Donisthorpe, 1938c: 262, fig. 12 (w.q.) NEW GUINEA. See also: Kohout, 2006b: 131.

Worker
Black, shining; legs dark brown, anterior tibial lighter, antennal, coxae, and tarsi black, palpi yellow, claws red. Usual reticulation and small scattered punctures, but the epimera of thorax and base of front of scale almost rugosely punctured, the anterior portion of the latter transversely striate.

Head transverse posteriorly, posterior angles distinct; mandibles finely punctured and longitudinally striate, the punctures large near the teeth, furnished with sharp teeth, the small tooth at the corners of the slightly projecting anterior margin of clypeus small, but: sharp and distinct. Thorax convex, anterior angles of pronotum rounded, broadest a little before the centre; pro-mesonotaZ suture well marked, meso-epinotal suture faintly indicated; epinotum armed with two short sharp spines projecting outwards and upwards; the declivity of the epinotum is somewhat abrupt and about as long as the anterior surface; scale armed with four short teeth of about equal length, the centre ones nearer to each other than to the lateral ones.

Long. 6·2 mm.

Queen
Similar to worker, puncturation of head stronger; spines on epinotum and scale blunter. Wings dusky; pterostigma and veins yellow.

Long. 7·6 mm.

Type Material
Syntype workers, queens and  – as reported by Kohout (2006).

Type Locality Information
NEW GUINEA, Cyclops Mts, Mt Lina, 3500 ft. Five workers and three winged females taken by Miss L. E. Cheesman, February 1936.

Additional References
Donisthorpe, H. 1938. The subgenus Cyrtomyrma Forel of Polyrhachis Smith, with descriptions of new species, etc. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (11)1: 246-267.

Kohout, R. J. 2006. Review of Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) of Australia, Borneo, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands with descriptions of new species. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 52:87-146.