Acropyga gelasis

This species is only known from its type locality.

Identification
LaPolla (2004) - Worker: 11 segmented antennae; head and mesosoma brownish-yellow, gaster darker; clypeus broad, with distinct beak-like tip medially; median portion of head and posterior margin with many erect hairs; appressed hairs on head sparse, none on mesosomal dorsum. Queen: unknown. Male: unknown. Compare with Acropyga hystrix.

With a unique "beak-like" medial portion of the anterior clypeal margin, A. gelasis is fairly easy to separate from other species. The structure of the anterior clypeal margin, "the beak", is similar to that of the butteli species-group, though it seems to be a result of convergence rather than indicative of a close relationship. Overall, this species, along with Acropyga hystrix, is darker (brownish-yellow) and with less pilosity than other Acropyga species.

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

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  gelasis. Acropyga gelasis LaPolla, 2004a: 62, figs. 25, 46 (w.) INDONESIA (Banggai Archipelago).

LaPolla (2004) - The species' placement within the myops species-group is based on the fact that A. gelasis possesses widely separated torulae and mandibles that appear similar to Acropyga myops. Worker morphology suggests A. gelasis is closely related to Acropyga hystrix.

Worker
(n=5): TL: 2.09-2.31; HW: 0.528-0.538; HL: 0.557-0.599; SL: 0.406-0.432; ML: 0.59-0.687; GL: 0.921-1.09; CI: 88.31-96.59; SI: 76.75-81.05.

Head: brownish-yellow, darker toward apex; head longer than broad; posterior margin concave medially; short erect hairs scattered from median portion of head and along posterior margin; 11 segmented, incrassate antennae; scape reaches to nearly reaches (approximately 1/3 length of pedicel) to posterior margin; scape with short erect hairs toward apical end; clypeus broad, convex medially; median portion of anterior clypeal margin projects forward, giving it distinct "beak-like" appearance in full frontal view; mandible with 6 teeth; 3rd tooth from apical often smaller than others; inner mandibular margin uneven. Mesosoma: brownish-yellow; in lateral view, pronotum rises steeply toward mesonotum; pronotum with short erect hairs anteriorly and longer erect hairs posteriorly; mesonotum rounded, with many short and longer erect hairs dorsally; mesonotum slightly higher than propodeum; metanotal area distinct; propodeal dorsum flat, rounding into steep declivity. Gaster: petiole thick and erect, reaching height of upper portion of propodeal spiracle; gaster dark brownish-yellow; with a layer of appressed hairs, scattered longer, erect hairs throughout.

Type Material
Holotype worker, INDONESIA: Banggai Arch., Potil Kecil, I 28'S, 123 34' E (M.J.D. Brendell) ; 14 paratype workers (BMNH). The holotype is labeled JSL TYPE #109.

Etymology
The specific epithet gelasis is Greek for to laugh, alluding to the odd looking medial point of the anterior clypeal margin.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * LaPolla J.S. 2004. Acropyga (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the world. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 33(3): 1-130.