Technomyrmex furens

All examined material of furens has been collected from tree trunks and low foliage; one series was recovered oy pyrethrum knock-down from a tree. (Bolton 2007)

Identification
Bolton (2007) - A member of the T. sophiae complex in the Technomyrmex albipes group. The paratypic worker-queen intercaste is larger than the holotype (HL 0.71, HW 0.67), has relatively larger eyes (OI 25), has a small median ocellus present, and has a much stouter mesosoma. Its mesonotum consists of an enlarged mesoscutum and a distinct mesoscutellum, the two separated by a marked suture dorsally; lateral impressions are developed between the scutellum and the pleuron.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  furens. Technomyrmex furens Bolton, 2007a: 113 (w.w-q intercaste) AUSTRALIA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.1, HL 0.67, HW 0.63, SL 0.64, PW 0.40, WL 0.88. Indices: CI 94, SI 101, OI 22, EPI 96, DTI 137.

Answering the description of Technomyrmex sophiae but the head with fewer setae. In particular, in profile the dorsum of the head lacks setae between the longest pair and the posterior margin (as in sophiae the longest pair is located just less than the length of the maximum diameter of the eye from the posterior margin of the head); with head tilted slightly back from full-face view the posterior margin lacks setae. Colour of funiculi and legs as sophiae: first funicular segment as dark as segments 2 - 5; middle and hind coxae the same colour as the mesosoma; hind femur dark to base, trochanter yellow.

Other workers. TL 2.7 - 3.1, HL 0.64 - 0.69, HW 0.60 - 0.66, SL 0.59 - 0.65, PW 0.40 - 0.44, WL 0.80 - 0.90 (6 measured). Indices: CI 93 - 96, SI 96 - 101, OI 22 - 23, EPI 96 - 100, DTI 132 - 137. As holotype. The eyes of furens appear to average slightly smaller than sophiae (OI 23 - 25) but the difference is small and the number measured probably not large enough for certainty. Workers from Wallaman Falls are lighter in colour, uniformly rich dark brown, rather than blackish-brown to black; at present no taxonomic significance is given to this variation. See also notes under sophiae.

Type Material
Holotype worker (upper specimen of two on pin), Australia: N. Queensland, 3.2 km. E of Lake Barrine, l.vii.l971, rain for., c. 700 m., strays ex trunks and low foliage rainforest, R. W. Taylor accession 71.850 (R. W. Taylor & J. Feehan). Paratype. 1 worker-queen intercaste (lower specimen of two on pin), with same data as holotype (ANIC).



References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton B. 2007. Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 35(1): 1-150.