Myrmoteras ceylonicum

Known only from the type series.

Identification
Moffett (1985) - Head and trunk conspicuously sculptured. Distinguished from Myrmoteras scabrum by its smaller size; evenly granulate head sculpture; relatively feeble mandibular bend; dorsally flattened pronotum; node of petiole taller than wide in side view; and lighter color.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Sri Lanka.

Nomenclature

 *  ceylonicum. Myrmoteras ceylonica Gregg, 1957: 41, fig. 1 (w.) SRI LANKA. See also: Moffett, 1985b: 27.

Moffett (1985):

Worker
Holotype: Length excluding missing gaster 3.1 mm (est. original TL 4.0 mm), HW 0.94, HL 0.83 mm (not 0.90 mm, as Gregg [1956] reported) (CI 113), ML 0.83 (MI 100), SL 0.85 (SI 90), EL 0.56, HFL 0.95 (TWI 28), WL 1.17 mm. Size small. Frontal sulcus very feeble, a narrow smooth line extending from just above clypeus to median ocellus. Frontal area poorly defined. Clypeus strongly convex, as described for Myrmoteras brachygnathum but not as narrow. Scapes relatively short, overreaching posterior border at 62% of their length. Palpal segmentation 6,4. Mandibles with 3 to 4 preapical denticles. Mandible shafts weakly bent downward distally, so that when seen from above with the proximal portions of the shafts in the plane of view both the apical tooth and apical denticles are clearly visible; bend at penultimate tooth only about 35°.

Pronotum and propodeum flattened dorsad. Metanotal groove conspicuously impressed. Petiole with node narrow, much taller than broad in side view, with steep, virtually straight sides and a flat or slightly concave summit with feeble ridges along the apices of the anterior and posterior faces; short and squat when viewed from behind. In holotype curvature of ventral margin of petiole beneath node uncertain because of obscuring glue (illustration of Gregg [1956], which is of doubtful value because it is based on the same specimen, shows ventral margin virtually straight except for a small scooped-out area near the anterior peduncle). Tibia of the single intact middle leg on the holotype strongly dilated (in other species in the subgenus TWI 16 to 22).

Dorsal surface of head evenly granulate, with grains ca. 0.01 to 0.02 mm in diameter; clypeus finely granulo-rugose; back of head smooth. Smooth laterally beneath eyes except for faint longitudinal rugae; ventrum of head smooth. Pronotum more weakly granulate than head, smoother laterally; mesothorax with 2 to 3 widely spaced longitudinal rugae on sides and more numerous and weaker longitudinal rugae above; propodeum almost smooth laterally, dorsally and behind with narrow, relatively straight and evenly spaced transverse rugae ca. 0.03 mm apart. Pilosity long and dense, with 37 hairs breaking dorsal margin of trunk viewed in profile. Hairs rising 0.13 mm on head and 0.20 mm on trunk. Two prominent hairs on or near each metathoracic tubercle; six hairs on node of petiole. Reddish orange but with petiole, legs, gaster and antennae orange yellow and mandibles lighter orange yellow.

Type Material
Sri Lanka: Udawaddatekele Sanctuary, Kandy, 2,000 ft, VII. 13. 1955, #1243, three workers (E. O. Wilson, holotype in [examined]; paratypes in collection of R. E. Gregg).