Chelaner burcherae

Mebbin State Forest, near Murwillumbah, is the only known locality for this striking species. The sting apparatus is strongly developed in C. burcherae, suggesting that the bright colouration may have an aposematic function. (Heterick 2001)

Identification
Heterick (2001) - A member of the rubriceps group. Chelaner burcherae has a similar colour pattern to some Chelaner rubriceps populations, but the features of the alitrunk and nodes indicate that this ant belongs to the Chelaner edentatus-Chelaner gilberti complex.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  burcherae. Monomorium burchera Heterick, 2001: 421, figs. 45, 97, 104 (w.) AUSTRALIA.
 * Combination in Chelaner: Sparks et al., 2019: 232.

Worker
Holotype. HML 2.74; HL 0.97; HW 0.76; Cei 79; SL 0.56; SI 74; PW 0.53. Others. HML 2.55-2.96; HL 0.89-0.97; HW 0.72-0.77; CeI 76-82; SL 0.52-0.58; SI 72-76; PW 0.46-0.57 (8 measured).

As for the worker of Chelaner rubriceps, but with the following apomorphies.

Head. Head square or rectangular; vertex slightly concave; frons smooth and shining with combination of appressed setulae and erect and suberect setae. (Viewed laterally) compound eyes set posterior of midline of head capsule; Anteromedial clypeal margin convex, straight or slightly emarginate, median clypeal carinae indistinct. Palp formula unknown. Mandibles (viewed from front) triangular and striate, with piliferous punctures.

Alitrunk. Metanotal groove present as distinct and deeply impressed trough between promesonotum and propodeum. Propodeal sculpture present as uniform rugosity, with well defined costulae on declivitous face of propodeum; dorsal propodeal face sloping posteriad, with wedge-shaped flattening or shallow depression that is widest between propodeal angles; processes absent (propodeum smoothly rounded in profile or with slight hump at propodeal angle). Propodeal angle absent; declivitous face of propodeum smoothly convex. Erect and suberect propodeal setae >5. Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar node cuboidal; sculpture absent, petiolar node smooth and shining. Ratio of greatest node breadth (viewed from front) to greatest node width (viewed in profile) near 1: 1. Anteroventral process always present as pronounced spur. Height ratio of petiole to postpetiole near 1: 1 to near 4:3; height-length ratio of postpetiole near 4:3 to near 1: 1.

General characters. Colour of head reddish orange, alitrunk, petiole and post-petiole piceous, gaster orange with a broad, transverse brown band or bands, appendages brown. Worker caste monomorphic.

Type Material
Holotype. Worker (top point), New South Wales, Mebbin SF, 15 miles SW of Murwillumbah, 5.ix.1967, B. B. Lowery, med. sclerophyll, 600 ft. Paratypes. New South Wales: 2 workers, data as for the holotype; 4 workers, collection data as for the holotype (except locality given as: “15 miles W of Murwillumbah”), additional data: “on dead stump, A352” ; 3 workers, data as for the 4 paratype workers.



Etymology
Named in honour of Ms Jennifer Manthey (nee Burcher), late of CSIRO, Indooroopilly, Brisbane.