Amblyopone australis

Amblyopone australis forage and nest in rotten logs.

Distribution
Heterick (2009) - A broad distribution throughout Australia. Within the SWBP, WA, most records come from the Darling Range and near the south coast.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia, Lord Howe Island, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island. Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea, Solomon Islands.

Biology
A. australis feeds on a range of soft-bodied arthropods and nests in logs above ground (Shattuck, 1999; Wheeler 1933)

In the SWBP, WA, nests of A. australis are not uncommon under logs and rocks. This is the Amblyopone most commonly encountered in the hills behind Perth.

Castes
Queen–worker dimorphism in body size is very pronounced in A. australis (Peeters & Molet 2010). Workers are polymorphic, and large individuals may be better adapted for digging galleries in rotten logs.





Nomenclature

 *  australis. Amblyopone australis Erichson, 1842: 261, pl. 5, fig. 7 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Smith, F. 1858b: 109 (q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1952a: 116 (l.); Imai, Crozier & Taylor, 1977: 347 (k.). Senior synonym of laevidens, nana: Wilson, 1958a: 142; of cephalotes (and its junior synonym maculata): Brown, 1958h: 14; of fortis, foveolata, minor, obscura, and material of the unavailable names howensis, norfolkensis, pallens. queenslandica referred here: Brown, 1960a: 167 (these previously provisional synonyms in Brown, 1958h: 13). See also: Taylor, 1979: 835.
 * obscura. Amblyopone obscura Smith, F. 1858b: 109 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA. Clark, 1925b: 138 (m.). Subspecies of australis: Froggatt, 1905: 8; Forel, 1910b: 2; Wheeler, W.M. 1927c: 10. Junior synonym of australis: Brown, 1960a: 167.
 * cephalotes. Amblyopone cephalotes Smith, F. 1876c: 490 (w.) NEW ZEALAND. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1952a: 117 (l.). Subspecies of australis and senior synonym of maculata: Wheeler, W.M. 1927c: 13. Junior synonym of australis: Brown, 1958h: 14.
 * laevidens. Amblyopone laevidens Emery, 1887b: 447 (w.) NEW GUINEA. Subspecies of australis: Wheeler, W.M. 1927c: 12. Junior synonym of australis: Wilson, 1958a: 142.
 * fortis. Amblyopone australis var. fortis Forel, 1910b: 1 (w) AUSTRALIA. Wheeler, W.M. 1927c: 9 (q.). Junior synonym of australis: Brown, 1960a: 167.
 * maculata. Amblyopone cephalotes var. maculata Stitz, 1911a: 351 (w.) NEW ZEALAND. Junior synonym of cephalotes: Wheeler, W.M. 1927c: 13.
 * nana. Amblyopone nana Emery, 1914f: 394 (w.q.) NEW CALEDONIA. Subspecies of australis Wheeler, W.M. 1927c: 16. Junior synonym of australis: Wilson, 1958a: 142.
 * minor. Amblyopone minor Forel, 1915b: 1 (w.q.m.) AUSTRALIA. Junior synonym of australis: Brown, 1960a: 167.
 * foveolata. Amblyopone australis subsp. foveolata Wheeler, W.M. 1927c: 9 (w.q.m.) AUSTRALIA. Junior synonym of australis: Brown, 1960a: 167.

Amblyopone australis type material

Lectotype worker (Yoshimura & Fisher, 2012: 3) from Tasmania, Australia, Scheyer (misspelling of Schayer) : 7228, CASENT0104575. Two specimens with same locality and collector information; one labeled ‘‘Type.’’ The original description of this species does not include detailed type information; however, Erichson mentions in the same paper that Schayer provided much material from Tasmania. Original labels on this specimen seem to have been replaced by new labels, and the collector on the new label is listed as ‘‘Scheyer,’’ a misspelling of Schayer, the collector’s name.

Amblyopone obscura type material

Syntype worker(s) and queen(s) from Australia.

Amblyopone australis fortis type material

Syntype workers from Kuranda and Cairns, Queensland.

Amblyopone australis minor type material

Syntype workers, queen(s) and male(s) from Tamborine Mt. (as Mt. Tambourine), Queensland (1 worker in, location of other material uncertain).

Amblyopone australis foveolata type material

Syntype workers, queen and males from Denmark, Western Australia (2 workers, 1 queen and 3 males in ).

Type Material


Amblyopone cephalotes

Holotype worker (presumed) in, mounted on card with a pupa. Labelled “Amblyopone cephalotes Smith. N. Zeal.” The specimen matches the original description but there is no datum label that proves it to be the true holotype. The original description states that the holotype was “collected by Mr Lawson at Auckland.”

Amblyopone obscura

One syntype queen in (syntype worker could not be found). Labelled “Australia,” and “A. obscura Sm. Type.”