Pseudonotoncus

Pseudonotoncus is found along the Australian east coast from the wet tropics in North Queensland to southern Victoria in rainforest and wet and dry sclerophyll forests. Specimens of this genus are uncommon and forage primarily on vegetation and tree trunks, both during the day and at night. The only known nest was found in soil. Nothing more is known of their biology. (Shattuck and Reilly 2013)

Identification
Clark (1934) - In size and sculpture this genus is apparently nearest to Notoncus. The same variation in size of workers is found in both genera and both have the maxillary palpi with six, and the labial palpi with four, segments.

Distribution
Most records of Pseudonotoncus come from the area just north of the New South Wales/Queensland border south to southern Victoria with the most westerly from the Otway Peninsula. There have been occasional collections further north in Queensland, most notably specimens from the Tambourine Mountains (the type of Pseudonotoncus turneri was collected here) and a single specimen from Mount Elliot, south-west of Townsville. Many specimens come from forests in and around Melbourne, Victoria, with samples from Gellibrand, the Dandenong Ranges, Kew, Hurstbridge and Woori Yallock. There are also several collections from south-east Queensland and single specimens from Black Mountain in the ACT and Eastwood State Forest, near Armidale in New South Wales.

Castes


Worker of Pseudonotoncus from Queensland.

Nomenclature

 *  PSEUDONOTONCUS [Formicinae: Myrmecorhynchini]
 * Pseudonotoncus Clark, 1934c: 64. Type-species: Pseudonotoncus hirsutus, by original designation.

Worker
Monomorphic, varying slightly in size. Mandibles triangular, dentate. Maxillary palpi with six segments, labial palpi with four segments. Clypeus broad, carinate, produced in front, slightly overhanging mandibles. Frontal area small, transverse. Frontal carinae feeble, diverging behind. Antennae twelve segmented. Scapes extending beyond occipital border. Eyes circular, placed at posterior third of head. Ocelli distinct. Pronotum broad, strongly convex in all directions. Pro-mesonotal suture deep and wide. Spiracles placed on dorsum at anterior of depression. Posterior border of epinotum furnished with two long sharp spines; flattened laterally. Two similar but shorter spines near middle of epinotal declivity at sides. Node thick, furnished with two spines similar to those on epinotum, parallel, directed backward; a short blunt tooth below in front directed forward. Gaster oval. Legs robust, all femora and tibiae thickened at middle. Tibia with one pectinate and one bristle-like spur; middle and posterior tibiae each with one strong bristle-like spur. Claws simple.

Queen
Differs from the worker only in slightly larger size; the spines ofepinotum slightly shorter. Wings missing.