Technomyrmex butteli

All butteli material examined was collected on vegetation, usually tree trunks or low canopy. (Bolton 2007)

Identification
Bolton (2007) - Morphological intercastes between workers and queens are present in which one or three ocelli are developed and in which the mesoscutel1um occurs as a projecting separate or semi-separate sclerite in otherwise worker-like forms.

At first glance workers of this species resemble Technomyrmex albipes specimens in which the mesosomal sclerites have become bloated, swollen and more rounded, and the two species are certainly closely related. However, workers of butteli tend to be somewhat larger than those of albipes (HW 0.58 - 0.61 in the former, as opposed to HW 0.52 - 0.58 in the latter) and always have longer scapes, with SI 114 - 124 in butteli and SI 91 - 102 in albipes. Also, in butteli the longest setae on the first gastral tergite are longer than the maximum diameter of the eye and the propodeal dorsum in profile rounds broadly into the declivity. The pronotum of butteli is relatively broader than that of albipes, so that in the former PW is 0.77 – 0.80 x HW, while in the latter PW is 0.69 - 0.74 x HW.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia. Oriental Region: Thailand.

Nomenclature

 *  butteli. Technomyrmex butteli Forel, 1913k: 97, fig. C (w.m.) WEST MALAYSIA. See also: Bolton, 2007a: 75.

Worker
Bolton (2007) - TL 3.0 - 3.4, HL 0.64 - 0.69, HW 0.58 - 0.61, SL 0.68 - 0.72, PW 0.45 - 0.48, WL 0.92 - 1.00 (12 measured). Indices: CI 85 - 92, SI 114 - 124, OI 25 - 28, EPI 80 - 92, DTI 123 - 136.

Frontal carina with 2 setae: in profile the anterior seta above the torulus, the posterior seta approximately at the level of the anterior margin of the eye, Dorsum of head posterior to this entirely lacks setae. With head in full-face view the anterior clypeal margin at most with a slight median indentation or small shallow concavity (approximately transverse in the most worker-like intercastes); posterior margin of head approximately transverse or with a slight median indentation, Eyes located just in front of midlength; outer margin of eye just touches or very slightly interrupts the outline of the side in full-face view. With mesosoma in profile the mesonotum appears somewhat swollen and its dorsal outline is strongly convex. Number of setal pairs on mesosoma: pronotum 3 - 4 (usually 3); mesonotum 1, located on the posterior half of the strongly curved surface; propodeal dorsum 0; lateral margins of propodeal declivity 2 - 3. Propodeum in profile appears swollen and somewhat hypertrophied, the shallowly convex and quite short dorsum curves broadly into the declivity, the two surfaces not separated by an angle. Dorsum of mesosoma is usually uniformly blanketed by very tine and very dense reticulate-punctulation; in some samples this sculpture is weaker on the pronotal dorsum than elsewhere. Gastral tergites 1 - 4 each with numerous setae, distributed everywhere on the sclerites; maximum length of setae on first gastral tergite is greater than the maximum diameter of the eye. Head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster dark brown to blackish brown. Coxae, femora and tibiae uniformly dark brown to blackish brown, approximately the same colour as the mesosoma or gaster; never with strongly contrasting lighter coxae. Tarsi of middle and hind legs dull yellowish to pale brown, lighter than the tibiae.

Type Material
Bolton (2007) - Syntype workers and males, Malaysia: Malacca, Taiping, Maxwell's Hill, No. 79a (v. Buttel-Reepen) [examined].