Gesomyrmex kalshoveni

W. M. Wheeler was sent the specimens used for the description of this ant by a Dr. Kalshoven. Details of the collections and other remarks by Wheeler followed in a second paper about this species (Wheeler 1929): "The new Gesomyrmex was found in a branch of an Artocarpus elastica ("bendo") in a stand of various deciduous trees-relics of the old natural mixed forest-amidst the teak-forests of Semarang." This statement confirms my supposition in regard to the habits of Gesomyrmex, which evidently lives much like many twig-or branch-inhabiting Camponoti of the subgenera Myrmentoma, Colobopsis, Pseudocolobopsis, Hypercolobopsis, Myrmocladrecus and Myrmobrachys. That the specimens collected by Dr. Kalshoven were living in a piece of primitive forest is of some interest in connection with the fact that the extant species of Gesomyrmex are sporadic survivors, or relicts of an ancient ant-fauna of much wider distribution during the Oligocene Tertiary. Females from a second nest were found to be pupating without cocoons.

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

Nomenclature

 *  kalshoveni. Gesomyrmex kalshoveni Wheeler, W.M. 1929a: 2, fig. 1 (s.w.) INDONESIA (Java). Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1953c: 140 (l.). Current subspecies: nominal plus gracilis. See also: Wheeler, W.M. 1929c: 91.