Melophorus gilliatensis

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  gilliatensis. Melophorus gilliatensis Heterick, Castalanelli & Shattuck, 2017: 250, fig. 57 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Worker
(n = 4): CI 103–120; EI 18–32; EL 0.28–0.30; HL 0.83–1.38; HW 0.85=1.66; ML 1.20–1.66; MTL 0.77–1.05; PpH 0.11–0.20; PpL 0.50–0.81; SI 64–113; SL 0.97–1.07.

Minor. Head. Head square; posterior margin of head planar or weakly concave; frons shining with superficial shagreenation or microreticulation only; pilosity of frons a mixture of short, erect and semi-erect setae interspersed with shorter decumbent setae and well-spaced, short, appressed setae. Eye moderate (eye length 0.20–0.49 length of side of head capsule); in full-face view, eyes set above midpoint of head capsule; in profile, eye set anteriad of midline of head capsule; eyes elliptical or slightly reniform. In full-face view, frontal carinae straight or weakly convex; frontal lobes straight in front of antennal insertion. Anteromedial clypeal margin straight and retrousse anteromedially; clypeal psammophore set below midpoint of clypeus; palp formula 6,4. Five mandibular teeth in minor worker; mandibles triangular, weakly incurved; third mandibular tooth distinctly shorter than apical tooth and teeth numbers two and four; masticatory margin of mandibles approximately vertical or weakly oblique. Mesosoma. Integument of pronotum, mesonotum and mesopleuron shining and microreticulate, microreticulation reduced on humeri; anterior mesosoma in profile broadly convex; appearance of erect pronotal setae short, (i.e., longest erect setae shorter than length of eye) and unmodified; in profile, metanotal groove shallow, broadly V or U-shaped; propodeum shining and finely striolate and microreticulate; propodeum smoothly rounded or with indistinct angle, or angulate, propodeal angle blunt; length ratio of propodeal dorsum to its declivity between 1:1 and 1:2; erect propodeal setae present and sparse to moderate (1-12); appressed propodeal setulae long, each reaching setae behind and in front, but not forming pubescence; propodeal spiracle situated on or beside declivitous face of propodeum, and shorter (length < 0.50 × height of propodeum). Petiole. In profile, petiolar node squamiform; in full-face view, shape of petiolar node uniformly rounded; node shining and faintly striolate and microreticulate. Gaster. Gaster shining, shagreenate (‘LP record’ appearance); pilosity of first gastral tergite consisting of a mixture of curved, erect and semi-erect setae and decumbent and appressed setae that form a variable pubescence. General characters. Colour of foreparts brown, gaster dark brown.

Major. Head. Head square tending to trapezoid anteriad; posterior margin of head weakly concave; cuticle of frons shining with superficial shagreenation or microreticulation only; pilosity of frons a mixture of many long, curved, semi-erect setae over well-spaced short semi-erect, decumbent and appressed setae. Eye moderate (eye length 0.20–0.49 length of head capsule); in full-face view, eyes set above midpoint of head capsule; in profile, eye set anteriad of midline of head capsule; eyes elliptical. In full-face view, frontal carinae straight or weakly convex; frontal lobes straight in front of antennal insertion. Anterior clypeal margin broadly and evenly convex; clypeal psammophore set below midpoint of clypeus; palp formula 6,4. Five mandibular teeth in major worker; mandibles triangular, weakly incurved; third mandibular tooth distinctly shorter than apical tooth and teeth numbers two and four; masticatory margin of mandibles approximately aligned vertically or weakly oblique. Mesosoma. Integument of pronotum, mesonotum and mesopleuron shining with very superficial microreticulation, entire lower mesopleuron distinctly shagreenate; anterior mesosoma in profile pronotum smoothly rounded anteriad and flattened posteriad, mesonotum narrowly convex; erect pronotal setae long (i.e., longer than length of eye) and unmodified; in profile, metanotal groove shallow, indicated mainly by an angle and metathoracic spiracles; propodeum shining and finely striolate and microreticulate; propodeum smoothly rounded or with indistinct angle; propodeal dorsum and declivity confluent; erect propodeal setae present and abundant (at least a dozen); appressed propodeal setae long, each reaching setae behind and in front, but not forming pubescence; propodeal spiracle situated nearer to midpoint of propodeum than to its declivitous face, and shorter (length less than 0.50 × height of propodeum). Petiole. In profile, petiolar node squamiform; in full-face view, shape of petiolar node generally rounded with median indentation; node shining and faintly striolate and microreticulate. Gaster. Gaster shining, shagreenate (‘LP record’ appearance); pilosity of first gastral tergite consisting of a mixture of curved, erect and semi- erect setae and decumbent setae that form a variable pubescence. General characters. Colour of foreparts very variable, including orange, black, or orange with brownish-red head; gaster dark brown to black.

Type Material
Holotype minor worker (top ant) from 3 miles ENE of Gilliat, Queensland, 15 April 1962, J. E. Dowse, A.307 [ANIC32-066645]. Paratypes: 2 major workers on same pin and with same details as the holotype (ANIC); minor worker and 2 major workers from 3 miles ENE of Gilliat, Queensland, 15 April 1962, J. E. Dowse, A.307 [ANIC32-900059] ; minor worker from Ernest Henry Mine 20°28.0'S, 140°43.1'E, M. Sanders, site 1 (grassland A), pitfall 52010, native Atrebla grassland, Queensland Museum Loan Date: Nov. 2012 No. Ent 12.47.

Etymology
Named for the type locality; third declension masculine suffix added to toponym to form an adjective.