Polyrhachis loweryi

A successful visit to the vicinity of Miles (see above) yielded numerous nests of Rhytidoponera spp. (aciculata- and convexa-groups). Following examination of ten nests of the aciculata-group sp. and five nests of the convexa-group sp., six colonies of P. loweryi were located within the nests of the former. However, on a subsequent visit to the same locality, several worker specimens of P. loweryi were also located within a nest of a Rhytidoponera species belonging to the convexa-group. (Kohout 2010)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Castes
Kohout (2010) - Males and immature stages (eggs, larvae and pupae) originally deposited in the Forschungsinstitute Senckenberg, Frankfurt am Main, Germany (see Maschwitz et al., 2003) were accidently destroyed (Dorow, pers. comm.).

Nomenclature

 *  loweryi. Polyrhachis loweryi Kohout, 1990: 505 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Kohout, 2010: 200 (q.).

Queen
Kohout (2010) - Closely resembling worker and apart from sexual characters, including three ocelli, complete thoracic structure and wings, differing as follows: pronotal spines distinctly reduced to more-or-less triangular, acute teeth. Mesoscutum with anterior margin evenly rounded in dorsal view; in profile anterior face distinctly swollen, widely rounding onto flat dorsum; median line bifurcate dorsally; parapsides flat anteriorly, weakly raised posteriorly. Mesoscutellum in lateral view elevated above dorsal plane of mesosoma, relatively flat, rounding posteriorly into distinct metanotal groove. Propodeal spines short, obliquely elevated; petiolar spines similar to those in worker but distinctly shorter, their inner margins continued medially and posteriorly, forming rather blunt, V-shaped posterior margin of petiolar dorsum. Sculturation, pilosity and colour virtually identical to worker.