Crematogaster laeviceps chasei

Crematogaster laeviceps chasei is the most common species of Crematogaster found in the southwest of Western Australia. It nests arboreally and is ubiquitous in nearly all environments.

Wheeler (1934) collected many workers and females of this ant near Government House, on Rottnest Island (X. 22, '31, under bark of large Callitris robustai trees and running in files on their trunks), near White Hill (X. 23, '31, under stones), near Longreach Bay (X. 24, '31, under stones) and Serpentine Lake (X. 25, '31, on the trunks of wattles and nesting under their bark). This variety has also been taken by Mr. Glauert and was previously recorded from the island by Clark.

Distribution
The types were collected in Perth.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Biology
Heterick (2009) - The most common of the Crematogaster species in the SWBP, WA, it is ubiquitous in nearly all environments. Crematogaster laeviceps chasei is an arboreal nester.

Nomenclature

 *  chasei. Crematogaster laeviceps var. chasei Forel, 1902h: 413 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Wheeler, W.M. 1934d: 144 (q.m.). Combination in C. (Acrocoelia): Emery, 1922e: 152. Currently subspecies of laeviceps: Taylor & Brown, D.R. 1985: 61.

Queen
Wheeler (1934) - (dealated) Length 7.5-8 mm.

Much larger than the worker, which measures only 3.2-3.7 mm. Head subquadrate, very nearly as long as broad, with straight, subparallel sides, feebly concave posterior border and broadly rounded posterior corners. Eyes feebly convex, as long as their distance from the anterior corners. Antennal scapes reaching slightly beyond the posterior orbits. Thorax elongate-elliptical, somewhat more than twice as long as broad; mesonotum distinctly longer than broad, epinotum with very short, convex base, about one-fourth as long as the abrupt, slightly concave declivity, quite unarmed or with only minute angles representing the spines of the worker epinotum. Gaster long and voluminous, parallel-sided, acuminate at the tip. Sculpture, pilosity and coloration as in the worker, but the front and sides of the head more strongly striated or longitudinally regulose as far back as the level of the posterior orbits.

Male
Wheeler (1934) - Length 3-3.2 mm.

Head very small, though the eyes nearly one and one-half times as broad as long, with convex and broadly rounded postocular portion and very short cheeks. Mandibles small, narrow, with acute, obscurely tridenticulate masticatory borders. Clypeus short, convex in the middle, its anterior border straight and transverse. Antennal scapes more slender than the funiculus, cylindrical, one and one-half times as long as broad; funiculi 11-12-jointed; first joint not globular, broader than long, second and third more or less completely fused to form a single joint; fourth as long as broad, remaining joints longer. Thorax short and high; mesonotum very convex in front where it overhangs the neck; scutellum large and protuberant; epinotum small, with subequal base and declivity and indications of a pair of small, broad denticles or angles, the base convex, the declivity abrupt and somewhat concave. Petiole and postpetiole short, their nodes subequal, broad and compactly united, the node of the postpetiole emarginate behind. Legs slender, hind femora bowed. Wings rather broad.

Sculpture and pilosity as in the worker but head subopaque, punctate-rugulose and mesonotum with coarse, scattered, piligerous punctures. Black; mandibles, appendages, thoracic sutures, posterior borders of gastric segments and genitalia piceous; femora infuscated in the middle. Wings white, with white veins and pale brown pterostigma.