Froggattella

Froggattella is sporadically distributed and uncommonly encountered. They generally forage arboreally while nesting either in soil or arboreally. Workers are most often encountered as they forage in distinct trails on low vegetation or small trees. The genus contains two species, Froggattella kirbii and Froggattella latispina. Froggattella kirbii is widely distributed in sclerophyll woodlands of Australia while F. latispina is restricted to arid southern Australia.

Identification
Workers of Froggattella are immediately recognisable by the unique elongate, flattened, rearward-directed, blunt spines on the propodeum, and by the location of the propodeal spiracles which are found on the spines near their bases. No other group of ants in the subfamily Dolichoderinae has this combination of features.

The only other dolichoderine genus with similar placement of the propodeal spiracles is Turneria, but here the propodeum lacks spines, the spiracles are located on the propodeum proper and the petiolar node is only weakly inclined anteriorly and with distinct anterior and posterior faces. In Froggattella the petiolar node is strongly inclined anteriorly and the anterior face is short.

Queen: First gastral segment elongate posteriorly and smooth, without a groove or indentation near the petiolar insertion; anterior clypeal margin with a lateral shoulder, a central projection, either pointed or rounded (sometimes only feebly projecting), and 2 to 4 setae; dorsum of petiole rounded and venter without a lobe.

Male: Mandible without teeth or denticles (tip of mandible rounded and without a differentiated tooth); petiolar scale rounded and forming an even arch dorsally; venter of petiole with a slight or reduced lobe; first gastral segment vertical and not concealing the petiole in dorsal view.


 * To identify species see Key to Froggattella Species.

Castes
Description

WORKER.

HEAD. Vertex weakly concave. Compound eyes present, approximately round; relatively anterior on head. Ocelli absent. Antennae 12 segmented. Scape short, at most surpassing the vertex by less than one-third its length. Anterolateral clypeal margin posterior to the mediolateral region and separated from it by a shoulder. Anteromedial clypeal margin with a central projection, either pointed or rounded (sometimes only feebly projecting). Anterior clypeal setae 0-4; when present short, less than twice the maximum scape diameter; straight. Posterior clypeal margin even with or posterior to the posterior surfaces of the antennal socket cavities. Anterior tentorial pit nearer the antennal socket than the mandibular insertion. Frontal carina present. Anterolateral hypostoma reduced to a thin sclerite. Medial hypostoma entire. Psammophore absent. MOUTHPARTS. Palp formula 6:4. Third maxillary palp segment subequal in length to segment 4. Fifth maxillary palp segment at the apical extreme of segment 4. Mandible with about 9 teeth and no denticles. Apical tooth subequal in length to the subapical tooth. Basal angle weakly defined by a denticle. Basal margin denticulate distally, smooth proximally. MESOSOMA. Posteroventral pronotum lateral, rounded or angled. Mesopleural process absent. Anteromedial mesosternum even with the lateral regions. Declivitous face of propodeum concave; dorsal face convex, longer than the declivitous face. Propodeal angle distinct. Pronotal spines absent. Erect pronotal hairs about 20; elongate, much longer than the maximum scape width. Mesonotal spines absent. Propodeal spines present, distinct (dorsoventrally flattened, extending posteriorly). Propodeal tooth absent. Dorsal pro-mesonotal junction with the pronotum and mesonotum even. Metanotal groove forming a distinct angle between the mesonotum and propodeum. Metanotal spiracle dorsal and lying on the dorsal surface when viewed in lateral profile. Propodeal spiracle dorsal and posterior, located on propodeal spines distal of base. Hind tibial spur with well developed barbules along entire inner surface (except extreme base). PETIOLE. Scale present; rounded and forming an even arch dorsally; strongly inclined anteriorly and with the anterior face much shorter than the posterior face. Venter with a slight or weakly developed lobe. GASTER. First tergite vertical and not concealing the petiole in dorsal view and with a groove or indentation for the reception of the basal portion of the petiole. Anterior tergosternal suture of the first segment very weakly developed immediately lateral of the helcium and forming a distinct arch which extends dorsal of the dorsal helcial surface. Fifth tergite ventral, gaster with 4 apparent tergites. Gastral compression dorsoventral. Fourth sternite flat across entire posterior border. GENERAL CHARACTERS. Worker caste monomorphic. Chromosome number unknown. Integument thin and flexible, weakly sculptured. PROVENTRICULUS. Cupola much broader than bulb; round; with short pile; smooth, without sculpture; and with narrow phragma. Bulb completely hidden by cupola in lateral view. Longitudinal muscle No. 1 absent. Occlusory tract absent.

QUEEN.

HEAD. Vertex flat to weakly concave. Compound eyes relatively anterior on head. Antennae 12 segmented. Scape short, surpassing the vertex by less than one-half scape length. Anterolateral clypeal margin posterior to the mediolateral region and separated from it by a shoulder. Anteromedial clypeal margin with a central projection, either pointed or rounded (sometimes only feebly projecting). Anterior clypeal setae 2-4; short, less than twice the maximum scape diameter; straight. Posterior clypeal margin even with or posterior to the posterior surfaces of the antennal socket cavities. Anterior tentorial pit nearer the antennal socket than the mandibular insertion. Anterolateral hypostoma reduced to a thin sclerite. Medial hypostoma entire. Psammophore absent. MOUTHPARTS. Palp formula 6:4. Third maxillary palp segment subequal in length to segment 4. Fifth maxillary palp segment at the apical extreme of segment 4. Mandible with about 6 teeth and no denticles. Apical tooth subequal in length to the subapical tooth. Basal angle weakly defined by a denticle. Basal margin denticulate distally, smooth proximally. MESOSOMA. Posteroventral pronotum lateral, rounded or angled. Episternal suture complete but weakly developed anteriorly. Mesopleural process absent. Anteromedial mesosternum even with the lateral regions. Axilla parallel and entire. Anterior axillar suture straight. Declivitous and dorsal faces of propodeum convex; dorsal face longer than the declivitous face. Propodeal angle moderately distinct. Propodeal suture absent. Mesosomal spines and tooth absent. Erect mesoscutal hairs about 25; short, less than twice the maximum scape diameter. Propodeal spiracle lateral and ventral of the propodeal dorsum. Hind tibial spur with well developed barbules along entire inner surface (except extreme base). WINGS. Radial cell closed. Fore wing with 2 cubital and 1 discoidal cell. Hind wing with 2 cells. PETIOLE. Scale present; rounded and forming an even arch dorsally; strongly inclined anteriorly and with the anterior face much shorter than the posterior face. Venter without a lobe. GASTER. First segment elongated posteriorly, smooth and without a groove or indentation. Fifth tergite ventral, gaster with 4 apparent tergites. Gastral compression absent (gaster circular in cross section). Fourth sternite flat across entire posterior border.

MALE.

HEAD. Inner margin of eye entire, flat. Scape length shorter than the length of funicular segments 2+3. First funicular segment barrel-shaped. Second funicular segment cylindrical, straight. Funicular segments 2 and 3 at most twice as long as broad. Third and fourth funicular segments straight. Anteromedial clypeal margin entire, without a central notch or concavity of any type. Anterior clypeal setae 4-6; short, about as long as the maximum diameter of the scape; straight. Posterior clypeal margin between the anterior and posterior surfaces of the antennal socket cavities. Anterior tentorial pit nearer the antennal socket than the mandibular insertion. Anterolateral hypostoma reduced to a thin sclerite. Medial hypostoma entire. MOUTHPARTS. Palp formula 6:4. Third maxillary palp segment subequal in length to segment 4. Fifth maxillary palp at the apical extreme of segment 4. Mandible without teeth or denticles. Apical tooth absent (tip of mandible rounded and without a differentiated tooth). Basal angle indistinct, with a relatively uninterrupted curve between the two margins and without a distinct tooth or angle. Basal margin smooth and without teeth or denticles. MESOSOMA. Posteroventral pronotum lateral, rounded or angled. Episternal suture present, complete. Anteromedial mesosternum even with the lateral regions. Axilla parallel and entire. Anterior axillar suture straight. Declivitous and dorsal faces of propodeum convex. Propodeal angle indistinct. WINGS. Radial cell closed. Fore wing with 1 cubital and 1 discoidal cell. Pterostigmal appendage absent. Hind wing with 2 cells. PETIOLE. Scale present; rounded and forming an even arch dorsally; vertical and not inclined anteriorly. Venter with a slight or weakly developed lobe. Attachment to gaster broad. GASTER. First segment vertical and not concealing the petiole in dorsal view, smooth and without a groove or indentation. GENITALIA. Pygostyles present. Posterior margin of subgenital plate concave. Paramere divided by a membranous region. Digitus with a down-turned tip. Cuspis parallel with digitus. Ventral lobe of volsella present as weakly developed concave lobe. Aedeagus with ventral teeth.

LARVA.

Shape dolichoderoid. Protuberances present as 6 bosses located mid-dorsally. Body hairs sparse; simple; short. 10 spiracular pairs. Antennae short.

Nomenclature

 *  FROGGATTELLA [Dolichoderinae: Leptomyrmecini]
 * Froggattella Forel, 1902h: 459. Type-species: Acantholepis kirbii, by original designation.

Froggattella was established by Forel (1902) for the species Acantholepis kirbii Lowne (1865) and the newly described F. kirbii bispinosa Forel. Earlier, A. kirbii had been transferred to Hypoclinea by Mayr (1870) and then to the related genus Dolichoderus by Dalla Torre (1893). The placement of these species in a distinct genus, as suggested by Forel (1902), has been followed by all subsequent authors.

Additional References

 * Fiedler, K. (2001). Ants that associate with Lycaeninae butterfly larvae: diversity, ecology and biogeography . Diversity and Distributions. 7: 45–60 [association with Lepidoptera].
 * Shattuck, S. O. (1990). Revision of the dolichoderine ant genus Turneria (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Systematic Entomology. 15: 101–117 [relation to Turneria].
 * Shattuck, S. O. (1996). The Australian ant genus Froggattella Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) revisisted. Australian Journal of Entomology. 35: 43–47 [revision].
 * Shattuck,S.O. (1995). Generic-level relationships within the ant subfamily Dolichoderinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Systematic Entomology. 20: 217–228.
 * Wheeler, G. C., Wheeler, J. (1951). The ant larvae of the subfamily Dolichoderinae. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 53: 169–210 [larva].
 * Wheeler, G. C., Wheeler, J. (1966). Ant larva of the subfamily Dolichoderinae: supplement. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 59: 726–732 [larva].