Froggattella latispina

Essentially nothing is known concerning the biology of this rare species. It has been collected just a few times from arid areas in southern Australia.

Identification
Sculpturing on the upper surface of the head smooth or very weakly leather-like posteriorly (above the level of the eyes) and very finely striate anteriorly (especially between the frontal carinae) so that there is a noticeable difference in the development of the sculpturing between the anterior and posterior regions; rugae on mesopleuron are weakly developed and are interrupted by the underlying punctations so that individual rugae are not straight; posterior region of the propodeal spines in dorsal view with their outer surfaces flat or convex.

Identification Keys including this Taxon

 * Key to Froggattella Species

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  latispina. Froggattella latispina Wheeler, W.M. 1936a: 10 (w.) AUSTRALIA. See also: Shattuck, 1996b: 47.

Description
Shattuck (1996) - Measurements Worker (n = 5) - CI 0.86-0.92; EL 0.15-0.16; EW 0.08-0.11; HL 0.65-0.73; HTL 0.40-0.46; HW 0.56-0.67; ML 0.26-0.29; PnL 0.36-0.46; PpL 0.25-0.32; SI 0.67-0.77; SL 0.41-0.47.

Worker
Length, 2.2-2.5 mm.

Smaller than any of the subspecies of kirbyi and differing in the shape of the head and epinotal spines, in sculpture, etc. Head longer in proportion to its width, narrowed posteriorly so that the sides behind the eyes are less convex and more nearly parallel, the posterior border nearly straight; antennal scapes very short, not reaching the posterior border of the head by fully twice their greatest diameter; funicular joints 3-10 distinctly shorter than in the various forms of kirbyi, not longer than broad. Eyes slightly more convex. Pronotum less convex, broader than long without the neck; promesonotal suture more deeply impressed; mesonotum shorter, scarcely one and one-fourth times as long as broad; metanotal spiracles less projecting dorsally; mesoepinotal impression somewhat deeper and more abrupt than in the subsp. bispinosa; epinotum somewhat longer than broad, the base convex, rising abruptly from the mesoepinotal impression and terminating behind in two very broad, thick spines only slightly longer than the width of their bases from which they taper rapidly to very blunt tips. They are not curved inward and their mesial borders when seen from above form a perfect" semicircle with the median posterior border of the base included between them. The epinotal spiracles are borne on the sides of the spines near their tips. Epinotal declivity much shorter and much more deeply concave in profile than in any of the forms of kirbyi. Petiole distinctly shorter but the node shaped as in the subsp. bispinosa with its superior border feebly convex when seen from behind.

Microscopic reticulation of the body and appendages much more pronounced than in any of the other forms of kirbyi, especially on the head, meso- and epinotum. On the front the reticulation becomes longitudinal so that the surface has a finely granulated-striolate appearance. On the meso- and epinotum it is even coarser and the sharp longitudinal rugae of kirbyi are reduced to fine granular rugules except on the mesoepinotal impression which is traversed by the usual sharp rugae or costae. Pronotum, epinotal declivity and petiolar node much smoother and more shining than the head; costae on the posterior peduncle of the petiole well developed.

Erect hairs white and distributed much as in kirbyi and its subspecies but distinctly shorter on the body and decidedly less numerous on the legs.

Head yellowish red; coxae, thorax and petiole slightly paler; mandibles and antennae yellow; last joint of funiculi fuscous; femora and tibiae brown; gaster brown-black.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Andersen A. N., A. Y. Yen. 1992. Canopy ant communities in the semi-arid Mallee region of North-western Victoria. Australian Journal of Zoology 40: 205-214.
 * Shattuck S. O. 1996. The Australian ant genus Froggattella (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) revisited. Australian Journal of Entomology 35: 43-47.
 * Taylor R. W. 1987. A checklist of the ants of Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) Division of Entomology Report 41: 1-92.