Doleromyrma

Doleromyrma are frequently encountered, most commonly in dry forested areas including coastal scrub or heath. They nest in soil, under rocks or rotten logs, or occasionally in abandoned nests of other ants. Nests usually contain several hundred workers which disperse quickly into protected areas when disturbed. They are occasionally pests in houses (Nikitin 1979).



Worker of Doleromyrma from South Australia.

Identification
The front margin of the clypeus above the mandibles with downwardly curved hairs which are about one-half the length of the closed mandibles. The mandibles with 4 or 5 large teeth and 4 or 5 small denticles, and with a moderately distinct angle between the surface containing the teeth and the surface near the clypeus (basal angle present). The upper face of the propodeum is shorter than the rear face. The petiole is strongly inclined forward but is angular above and the forward and rear faces are present and distinct. The first segment of the gaster projects forward and partially conceals the petiole when viewed from above.

Species of Doleromyrma are most often confused with those of Iridomyrmex, Plagiolepis and Tapinoma. They differ from Iridomyrmex in having the front margin of the clypeus concave in the centre, rather than having a projection. They can be separated from Plagiolepis by the lack of an acidopore. Separating Doleromyrma and Tapinoma can be difficult. Both are about the same overall size and colour, and their mesosomas are essentially identical. They differ in that the hairs on the front margin of the clypeus (above the mandibles) are downwardly curved in Doleromyrma while they are straight in Tapinoma. Doleromyrma has fewer teeth on the mandibles and the mandibles have a moderately distinct angle between the surface with teeth and the surface near the clypeus (in Tapinoma this region of the mandible is rounded). The petioles also differ, with Doleromyrma always having distinct forward and rear faces which are separated by a sharp angle. In Tapinoma, the node of the petiole is generally absent as the forward face is greatly reduced and often completely absent.

Distribution and Habitats
Australian distribution

Regional Species Lists

 * Australia

Keys to Species

 * Australia