Heteroponera majeri

This species is so far known only from type material. It is the only species of the genus to occur in Western Australia.

Identification
Heteroponera majeri is one of the most highly distinctive of all Heteroponera species. The major features distinguishing it from Heteroponera leae and Heteroponera crozieri include the very differently structured head, mesosoma and metasoma.

The species-group association of this somewhat aberrant taxon with Heteroponera leae and Heteroponera crozieri is based on the reasonable assumption that the propodeal and petiolar spines, vestigial antennal scrobes and strongly reflexed gaster in these species are synapomorphies.

Identification Keys including this Taxon

 * Key to Australian Heteroponera Species

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 * . Heteroponera majeri Taylor, 2011: 122, figs. 13-16 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Western Australia).
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 2 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Australia: Western Australia, Dwellingup (132/116), ca 85 km. S Perth, (132°43’S, 116°04’E), 7.vii.1975, acc. 049, 17238 (J.D. Majer); paratypes: 1 worker Worsley (33/116), Alcoa survey site, pitfall trap AL31 A1018, 15.x.1976, JDM acc. 92 (J. Wallace), 1 worker with same data but pitfall trap AL31 A731, 25.vi.1976, JDM acc. 92.
 * Type-depositories: ANIC (holotype); WAMP (paratypes).
 * Distribution: Australia.

Description
Measurements and indices: (mm – holotype; smallest paratype, largest paratype): TL (ca.): 6.0; 5.4, 6.4. HW: 1.37; 1.26, 1.49. HL: 1.47; 1.28, 1.48. CI: 93; 98, 100. EL: 0.29; 0.26, 0.30. SL: 1.04; 0.94, 1.07. SI: 76; 75, 72. PW: 0.90; 0.81, 0.98. WL: 1.79; 1.56, 1.94. PetH: 0.78; 0.71, not measurable. PetW: 0.44; 0.39, 0.48; GW: 1.24; 1.05, 1.29.

Etymology
Named for Prof. J.D. Majer of Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Taylor R. W. 2011. Australasian ants of the subfamily Heteroponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): (1) General introduction and review of the Heteroponera leae (Wheeler, 1923) species group, with descriptions of two new species. Myrmecological News 15: 117-123.