Acropyga lauta

Johnson et al. (2001) recorded this species as trophophoretic. It has been associated with the mealybugs Eumyrmoccus kolobangarae and E. kusiacus.

Identification
LaPolla (2004) - Worker: 8-9 segmented antennae; mandible with 4 teeth, basal tooth separated by a short diastema. Queen: as in worker with modifications expected for caste. Male: unknown. Compare with Acropyga sauteri.

The worker of this species is easily separated from Acropyga sauteri by the presence of 8-9 segmented antennae and the basal teeth offset by a diastema separating them from the other teeth. The large size of the species and four teeth on the mandible, coupled with the fact it possesses darker queens, has led to its provisional placement within the myops species-group. A. lauta has a similar mesosomal structure to Acropyga kinomurai and A. sauteri. Like A. kinomurai and A. sauteri, A. lauta also displays reduced mandibular dentition. Based on the dense covering of hairs on the mandibles, this species may be most closely related to A. kinomurai. However, A. lauta torulae are closely set, unlike other members of the myops species-group. Therefore, the exact placement of A. lauta awaits discovery of worker-associated males.

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

Nomenclature

 *  lauta. Acropyga (Rhizomyrma) lauta Mann, 1919: 365 (w.q.) SOLOMON IS. See also: LaPolla, 2004a: 65.

Worker
LaPolla (2004) - (n=8): TL: 1.94-2.34; HW: 0.51-0.579; HL: 0.49-0.556; SL: 0.356-0.427; ML: 0.541-0.647; GL: 0.89-1.14; CI: 99.03-108.17; SI: 68.07-78.24.

Head: yellow; head covered in thick layer of appressed hairs; head longer than broad; posterior margin entire; 8-9 segmented, incrassate antennae; scape fails to reach posterior margin by about length of pedicel; clypeus narrow, with many suberect to erect hairs on surface; clypeus convex medially; mandible typically with 4 distinct teeth, the 4th tooth from apical separated by a short diastema; smaller 5th tooth can sometimes form in the diastema region; inner mandibular margin nearly parallel to anterior clypea1 margin; dorsal surface of mandible very hairy (< 20 hairs). Mesosoma: yellow; in lateral view pronotum with short anterior shelf before rising steeply toward mesonotum; mesonotum covered in a dense layer of short suberect to erect hairs; longer hairs occasionally found posteriorly; mesonotum at same height as pronotum and propodeum; mesonotum dorsum flat, covered in a dense layer of short suberect to erect hairs; metanotal area distinctly pinched in laterally from mesonotum and propodeum giving it an "hour glass" appearance in dorsal view; propodeum dorsum flat, covered in a dense layer of short suberect to erect hairs; declivity steep. Gaster: petiole thick and erect, narrowing slightly toward apex, reaching height of bottom portion of propodeal spiracle; gaster yellow; covered in a dense layer of appressed hairs with scattered erect hairs throughout.

Queen
LaPolla (2004) - (n=2): TL: 2.82-3.36; HW: 0.547-0.56; HL: 0.528-0.54; SL: 0.422-0.44; ML: 0.946-0.988; GL: 1.31-1.87; CI: 101.3; SI: 75.36. As in worker with modifications expected for caste, and with the following differences: darker than worker (brownish-yellow in color).

Type Material
LaPolla (2004) - Acropyga (Rhizomyrma) lauta Mann, 1919: 365 (w.q.). 7 syntype workers, 1 syntype queen, SOLOMON ISLANDS: Auki, Malaita (W.M. Mann) [examined]; 12 syntype workers, 4 syntype queens, SOLOMON ISLANDS: Pamua (W.M. Mann)  [examined]. The designated lectotype is a worker labeled JSL TYPE # 127 and is deposited at MCZC.