Technomyrmex tonsuratus

The type specimen was found on low vegetation in a montane rainforest.

Identification
Bolton (2007) - A member of the T. cheesmanae complex in the Technomyrmex albipes group. Described from a single specimen, tonsuratus falls into an endemic New Guinea complex that also includes Technomyrmex albicoxis, Technomyrmex cheesmanae, Technomyrmex mixtus and Technomyrmex prevaricus. T. tonsuratus easily separates from all of these by its possession of extremely short setae on its head and first gastral tergite. The holotype also entirely lacks setae on the dorsal mesosoma and the propodeal declivity. Setae in these places are universal in all other members of the complex, but a note of caution must be sounded. It is remotely possible that all setae have been abraded from the mesosoma of tonsuratus, and although setal pits have not been detected the discovery of further material is necessary to check the validity of this character.

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

Nomenclature

 *  tonsuratus. Technomyrmex tonsuratus Bolton, 2007a: 103, fig. 42 (w.) NEW GUINEA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.0, HL 0.69, HW 0.62, SL 0.62, PW 0.43, WL 0.88. Indices: CI 90, SI 100, OI 27, EPI 72, DTI 132.

Frontal carina with 2 short setae: in profile the first above the torulus and the second at the level of the anterior margin of the eye. Dorsum of head behind this with only one other pair of setae, located about halfway between the level of the posterior margin of the eye and the posterior margin of the head, this pair very short, only about 0.35 x the maximum diameter of the eye; posterior margin itself without setae. With head in full-face view the anterior c1ypeal margin almost transverse; sides of head convex and the posterior margin indented medially. Eyes located distinctly in front of midlength (EPI 72) and their outer margins just touch the outline of the sides of the head in full-face view. With mesosoma in profile the mesonotal outline forms a shallow slope to the metanotal groove, slightly more steeply inclined above the metathoracic spiracles. Number of setal pairs on mesosoma: pronotum 0; mesonotum 0; propodeal dorsum 0; lateral margin of propodeal declivity. Propodeum in profile with the dorsum rounding evenly into the declivity, the two surfaces not separated by an angle. Gastral tergites 1 - 4 each with scattered sparse setae. Longest setae on first gastral tergite very short, only about 0.35 x the maximum diameter of the eye and only about half as long as the setae on the first gastral sternite. Setae on succeeding tergites progressively slightly longer, those on tergite 4 about 0.60 x the maximum diameter of the eye. Head and mesosoma black, gaster blackish brown, only fractionally lighter than the mesosoma. All leg segments except tarsi blackish brown, the tarsi dull light brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Papua New Guinea: 11 krn. E Baiyer R. Sanct., 5.30S, 144.16E, 2000 m., 23.vi.l980, on low vegetation, montane rainforest, #4530B (P. S. Ward) .