Chelaner capito

The one known specimen of this interesting ant comes from a remote area of Western Australia, where very little collecting has been done (Heterick 2001).

Identification
Heterick (2001) - A member of the longinode group. Monomorium capito has three teeth, as opposed to two in Monomorium bifidum, and four or five in the smaller-headed Monomorium flavonigrum and Monomorium longinode.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  capito. Monomorium capito Heterick, 2001: 391, figs. 30, 64 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Worker
HML 3.60; HL 1.38; HW 1.33; Cel 97; SL 0.91; SI 66; PW 0.64.

As for the worker of Monomorium longinode, but with the following apomorphies.

Head. Vertex of head capsule strongly concave; frons longitudinally striate with combination of appressed setulae and erect and suberect setae. (Viewed laterally) compound eyes set anterior of midline of head capsule; eye large, eye width greater than 1.5x greatest width of antennal scape. Antennal club gradually tapering and barely discernible. Anteromedial clypeal margin emarginate, median clypeal carinae produced apically as pair of pronounced teeth. Longest lateral anterior clypeal setae short, not reaching dorsal margin of closed mandibles. Venter of head capsule with elongate, basketshaped setae. Palp formula unknown. Maximum number of mandibular teeth and denticles: three.

Alitrunk. Dorsal promesonotal face evenly convex; erect and suberect promesonotal setae >5. Dorsal propodeal face strongly convex; processes absent (propodeum smoothly rounded in profile or with slight hump at propodeal angle. Erect and suberect propodeal setae absent or very sparse; propodeal setulae appressed. Propodeal spiracle lateral and nearer declivitous face of propodeum than metanotal groove.

Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar spiracle ventral and slightly anteriad of petiolar node. Petiolar sculpture present in form of microreticulation. Ratio of greatest node breadth (viewed from front) to greatest node width (viewed in profile) near 3:4. Anteroventral process vestigial in specimen seen. Height ratio of petiole to postpetiole near 3:4. Sculpture present in form of microreticulation. Ventral process absent or vestigial.

General characters. Colour crimson; legs brown.

Etymology
Latin: “big head”.