Pristomyrmex boltoni

This species occurs in lowland forest and has been collected in litter samples.

Identification
Pristomyrmex boltoni is a sibling species of Pristomyrmex longus and Pristomyrmex coggii. The three species are all from New Guinea. Their workers possess very small eyes. Pristomyrmex boltoni differs from P. longus and P. coggii as follows: The dorsum of the petiole node in dorsal view is slightly broader than long or about as broad as long in the workers of P. boltoni, but long oval and distinctly longer than broad in P. longus. The dorsal surfaces of the head between the frontal carinae and the alitrunk are smooth in the workers of P. boltoni but are covered with numerous foveolate punctures in P. coggii. The workers of P. boltoni are also similar in appearance to those of Pristomyrmex levigatus, but they can be separated by the following characters: P. boltoni - Eyes smaller, with the maximum diameter 0.08, containing two to three ommatidia in the longest row. P. levigatus - Eyes larger, with the maximum diameter 0.12 to 0.16 (rarely 0.10), containing five to seven ommatidia in the longest row. (Wang 2003)

A member of the Levigatus species group

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

Nomenclature

 *  boltoni. Pristomyrmex boltoni Wang, M. 2003: 492, figs. 203-204 (w.) NEW GUINEA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.48, HL 0.66, HW 0.66, CI 100, SL 0.52, SI 79, EL 0.08, PW 0.42, AL 0.62, PPW 0.18, PPL 0.16, PPI 113. Paratypes, two workers. TL 2.40, 2.40; HL 0.65, 0.66; HW 0.66, 0.66; CI 100, 102; SL 0.55, 0.55; SI 83, 83; EL 0.08, 0.08; PW 0.44, 0.44; AL 0.60,0.61; PPW 0.18, 0.18; PPL 0.16, 0.16; PPI 113, 113 (n. = 2).

Mandibles smooth and shining but with few longitudinal rugae in the paratypes. A broad-based short tooth present about midway on the basal margin of the mandible. Frontal area concave with a median carina. Clypeus flat, unsculptured, smooth, and shining, its anterior margin with two lateral teeth, but in the two paratypes, an additional weak median tooth present. Frontal carinae distinct, extending to the level of the posterior margins of eyes. Scrobal impressions shallow, present lateral to the frontal carinae in full-face view. Frontal lobes weak so that the antennal articulations are almost entirely exosed. Antennal scapes, when lying on the head, close to the occipital margin. Eyes very small, with two to three ommatidia in the longest row. Pronotum unarmed. Propodeum with a pair of triangular teeth. Metapleural lobes rounded. Petiole node in profile high with the anterodorsal angle higher than the posterodorsal, its anterior peduncle about as long as the node. Postpetiole in profile higher than long with a rounded dorsum. In dorsal view, petiole node subrounded, about as broad as long; postpetiole broader than long. Dorsum of head between the frontal carinae smooth and shining but with some foveolate punctures present around the eyes. Dorsum of alitrunk smooth and shining. Petiole and postpetiole smooth and shining. Gaster unsculptured. Dorsal surfaces of head and alitrunk with numerous erect or suberect hairs. Two pairs of hairs present on the dorsum of petiole node, three pairs on the dorsum of postpetiole, and a few on the base of the first gastral tergite. A few pairs of forward-projecting hairs present near the anterior clypeal margin. Scapes and tibiae with some erect or suberect short hairs. Color reddish-brown.

Type Material
Holotype Worker. . New Guinea: Gulf Prov., lvimka Camp, Lakekamu Basin, 7.73°S, 146.76°E, 120 m, #96-235, lowland wet forest, ex sifted leaf litter, 28.x.1996 (R. R. Snelling). Paratypes. LACM, .Two workers, New Guinea: Gulf Prov., lvimka Camp, Lakekamu Basin, 7.7°S, 146.8°E, 140 m elevation, #96-280, lowland wet forest, ex sifted leaf litter, 6.xi.1996 (R. R. Snelling).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.
 * Wang M. 2003. A Monographic Revision of the Ant Genus Pristomyrmex (Hymenoptera:Formicidae). Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 157(6): 383-542.
 * Wang M. 2003. A monographic revision of the ant genus Pristomyrmex (Hymenoptera:Formicidae). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 157(6):383-542