Metapone titan

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
The large size (which we expect will also characterise the workers) immediately identifies M. titan among all Metapone species discussed here. The clypeal and petiolar structures and sculpturation are also unusual in the genus.

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

Nomenclature

 * . Metapone titan Taylor & Alpert, 2016: 532, figs. 111-115 (q.) NEW GUINEA (Papua New Guinea).
 * Type-material: holotype queen.
 * Type-locality: Papua New Guinea: New Ireland Prov., Lemkamin (no collector’s name)).
 * Type-depository: ANIC.
 * Distribution: Papua New Guinea.

Queen
TL ca.: 14.3, 16.0; HL: 2.86, 3.08; HW: 2.30, 2.51; CI: 80, 81; CpL: 1.22, 1.29; CpI: 42, 42; MSL: 4.31, 4.85; PetL: 0.99, 1.12; PetW: 1.32, 1.51; PetH: 1.55, 1.70; PpetL: 0.92, 0.98; PpetW: 1.26, 1.41; PpetH: 1.18, 1.36; GW: 2.41, 2.68.

General and diagnostic features, sculpture, pilosity and colour as illustrated and in the key to Melanesian and Pacific species. Clypeus relatively broadly rostrate over almost its full width; anterior border straight; anterolateral corners slightly acute, anterolateral borders minutely concave apically, as illustrated. Petiole in dorsal view overall somewhat wider than long; dorsal posterolateral spines well developed, acute, apices minutely rounded. Subpetiolar edge concave, posterior subpetiolar angle approximately right angled, subpetiolar a relatively long, narrow posteriorly-directed hook-like process.

Type Material
Papua New Guinea: New Ireland Province: Lemkamin. The type locality is not recognisable. It will be within 25km of an axis between 2°25’ 150° 23”S and 4° 51’ 152° 52”E. (Type No. 32-069963).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Taylor R. W., and G. D. Alpert. 2016. The myrmicine ant genus Metapone Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): a global taxonomic review with descriptions of twelve new species. Zootaxa 4105(6): 501-545.