Cladomyrma hobbyi

The type series, 3 queens, were collected in Sarawak in 1932. Two were collected from a light trap at the junction of two rivers and the third in a moss forest at 1372 m.

Identification
Agosti et al. (1999) placed Cladomyrma species into two groups based on the shape of the queen's petiole, raised (an erect node or scale) or depressed (dorsally truncate and low). Cladomyrma hobbyi belongs to the depressed petiole group.

All the series available have extremely small workers. The gently rounded dorsoposterior corner of the petiole of the queens is typical for this species, especially separating it from queens of Cladomyrma andrei, which, in addition, have a rather bright colored and elongate head.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia.

Biology
Agosti et al. (1999) - This species has been collected from the woody climber Spatholobus oblongifolius (Papilionaceae) and the understory tree Drypetes longifolia (Euphorbiaceae) in Lambir NP, Miri, Sarawak. The type specimens have been obtained by light traps on Mt. Dulit at an altitude of ca. 4500 ft (5 - 1350 m). We assume that the host plant source was a Spatholobus. Whereas Drypetes does not occur above 900 m (personal obs.) the liana, according to herbaria notes, extends at least up to 1000 m and, furthermore, is known from that locality. The Malayan counterpart, Spatholobus bracteolatus, has been found by us at an elevation of 1300 m, by far exceeding the altitudinal range mentioned on herbarium labels. Therefore, it may be possible that the type specimens originate from Spatholobus oblongifolius.

Also see the biology section of the Cladomyrma genus page for more information about this ant's biology

Nomenclature

 *  hobbyi. Cladomyrma hobbyi Donisthorpe, 1937a: 620, figs. 3, 4 (q.) BORNEO. Agosti, Moog & Maschwitz, 1999: 10 (s.w.m.). Junior synonym of andrei: Agosti, 1991: 303. Revived from synonymy: Agosti, Moog & Maschwitz, 1999: 10.

Description
Agosti et al. (1999):

Worker
Major: AL 0.80–1.08, HL 0.94–1.02, HW 0.64–0.90, EL 0.14–0.18, SL 0.32–0.46, CI 82–89, EI 18–23, SI 50–53 (n 5 8).

Frons without longitudinal, brighter-colored spot; clypeus truncate (= angulate in lateral view); short, square head; small body size; gastral pubescence relatively widely set, but hair longer than the distance between their insertions.

Minor: AL 0.57–0.82, HL 0.59–0.70, HW 0.48–0.64, EL 0.10–0.14, SL 0.28–0.36, CI 83–91, EI 21–29, SI 53–61 (n 5 8).

Small body size; body yellowish brown, with genae slightly more yellowish; metapleural gland orifice large; gastral pubescence relatively widely set, but hair longer than the distance between their insertions.

Queen
AL 1.84–2.16, HL 1.18–1.28, HW 0.93–1.00, EL 0.40, SL 0.54–0.62, CI 75–80, EI 43–47, SI 57–63 (n = 8). PARATYPE. Queen: AL 2.16, HL 1.28, HW 0.99, SL 0.62, EL 0.46, CI 77, EI 46, SI 63.

Head elongate, clypeus smoothly rounded in lateral view; dorsal part of katepisternum with widely set, extremely thin and thus hardly visible pubescence, shining; low petiole, posteriorly gently declining; dense pubescence on gastral tergites; erect hairs scattered all over tergites; dorsum of alitrunk brownish red colored, distinct from head and gaster.

Male
Petiole a high node; subgenital plate long, slender, parallel-sided, and apically truncated; stipites apically wide, extended, and almost hemispherical; small body size.

Type Material
Agosti et al. (1999) - Holotype queen, BORNEO: East Malaysia, Sarawak, Mt Dulit, 4500 ft, moss forest, 10/14/1932, B. M. Hobby; [examined].