Acropyga myops

This is the only species of Acropyga that is endemic to Australia. It is widespread, occurring mainly at drier forested sites and less commonly in wet sclerophyll and rainforest. Nests are in soil under rocks. It is the only known species of Acropyga that tend non-mealybugs (in the family Ortheziidae rather than Pseudococcidae).

Identification
A. myops can be separated from other Australian species by the presence of short erect hairs on the scapes and mesosomal dorsum, the smooth mandibles which lack striations and the large size (head width greater than 0.6mm).

From Lapolla (2004) Diagnosis - Worker: 11 segmented antennae; mesosomal dorsum with short appressed hairs, giving it a bare appearance; mesonotum broadly rounded, higher than propodeum; head width > 0.6 mm. Queen: As in worker, with modifications expected for caste. Male: 12 segmented antennae; parameres taper toward apices where many shorter hairs bend toward penis valves; in dorsal view parameres form "v" shape from apex to the base. Compare with Acropyga acutiventris and Acropyga dubia.

Key to Old World Acropyga Workers / Queens / Males

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  myops. Acropyga myops Forel, 1910b: 59 (w.m.) AUSTRALIA. LaPolla, 2004a: (q.). Combination in Acropyga (Rhizomyrma): Emery, 1925b: 30. Senior synonym of indistincta: LaPolla, 2004a: 66.
 * indistincta. Acropyga indistincta Crawley, 1923b: 178 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Junior synonym of myops: LaPolla, 2004a: 66.

Type Material
Based on LaPolla (2004).

Worker
From LaPolla (2004) - Head: yellow; head covered in a layer of dense appressed hairs; head about as long as broad to slightly longer than broad; posterior margin entire to slightly concave; 11 segmented, incrassate antennae; scape reaches or slightly surpasses (less than half length of pedicel) posterior margin; clypeus broad, medially convex, with longer, erect hairs; mandible broad with 5-6 teeth; small, indistinct tooth often at basal angle; 3rd tooth from apical smaller than others; a short diastema between 4th and 5th tooth (numbered from apical); dorsal surface of mandible covered in many erect hairs (≥ 20 hairs); hairs close to masticatory margin often extend passed length of teeth; inner mandibular margin parallel with anterior clypeal margin. Mesosoma: yellow; in lateral view, pronotum rises steeply toward mesonotum; pronotum covered in dense layer of short appressed to suberect hairs; mesonotum dorsum broadly rounded toward metanotal area; mesonotum covered in dense layer of short appressed to suberect hairs; mesonotum higher than propodeum; metanotal area distinct; propodeum covered in dense layer of short appressed hairs, gently rounded toward steep declivity. Gaster: petiole short, but thick and erect, rounded apically; reaches at most lower portion of propodeal spiracle; gaster yellow; covered in layer of very short appressed hairs, with sparsely scattered erect hairs throughout.

Measurements (n=7): TL: 2.8-3.43; HW: 0.624-0.731; HL: 0.667-0.773; SL: 0.527-0.631; ML: 0.669-0.875; GL: 1.33-1.86; CI: 93.55-100.42; SI: 80.83-87.96.

Queen
From LaPolla (2004) - As in worker, with modifications expected for caste and the following differences: can vary in color from a brownish-yellow to a dark brown (almost black); head broader than long.

Measurements (n=2): TL: 1.98-2; HW: 0.872-0.928; HL: 0.812-0.874; SL: 0.716-0.792; ML: 1.27-1.53; GL: 1.14-.713; CI: 106.18-107.39; SI: 82.11-85.34.

Male
From LaPolla (2004) - Head: brownish-yellow to dark brown; head covered in a dense layer of appressed hairs, with scattered short erect hairs near vertex; head broader than long, though becoming narrower around 3 prominent ocelli; 12 segmented, incrassate antennae; scape surpasses posterior margin by about half length of pedicel; clypeus broad, slightly medially convex, with scattered erect hairs throughout; mandibles broad with 5 distinct teeth; 2nd and 3rd teeth from apical smaller than others; a short diastema often found between 4th and 5th teeth; dorsal surface of mandible hairy (approximately 15 hairs); hairs toward masticatory margin often surpass length of teeth. Mesosoma: brownish-yellow to dark brown; pronotum narrow and collar-like, overarched by broadly rounded mesonotum; mesonotum with dense layer of appressed hairs to short erect hairs; longest and most erect hairs found on scutellum; propodeum rounded, with layer of appressed hairs to erect hairs; declivity not distinct from propodeum. Gaster: petiole thick and erect, rounded apically; petiole can reach height of propodeum; gaster brownish-yellow to dark brown; covered in a dense layer of appressed hairs, with scattered suberect to erect hairs throughout. Genitalia: in lateral view, parameres long, taper to rounded apices; parameres with erect hairs throughout, shorter and more abundant erect hairs at apices; cuspi short and rounded, reaching only approximately 1/4 length of digiti; cuspi with peg-like teeth at apices; digiti long and broad, plate-like with broadly rounded apices, with peg-like teeth where cuspi meet.

Measurements (n=2): TL: 2.48-2.64; HW: 0.525-0.563; SL: 0.48-0.453; ML: 0.971-1.2; GL: 0.713-1.14; CI: 100-109.77; SI: 73.3-91.43.

Additional References

 * Crawley, W. C. (1923). Myrmecological notes. - New Australian Formicidae. Entomologist's Record and Journal of Variation, 35: 177–179.
 * Emery, C. (1925). Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Formicinae. Genera Insectorum, 183: 1–302.
 * Forel, A. (1910). Formicides australiens reçus de MM. Froggatt et Rowland Turner. Revue Suisse de Zoologie, 18: 1–94.
 * LaPolla, J. S. (2004). Acropyga (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the world. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute, 33(3): 1–130.