Mesostruma turneri

This rare species has been collected only once and is the northern most species known in the genus.

Identification
Shattuck (2000) - This species can be separated from the similar Mesostruma inornata by the evenly spaced, elongate rugae over fine microreticulations on the first gastral tergite immediately posterior of the postpetiolar insertion (in M. turneri this area has irregular, very short rugae overlying the smooth integument) and the essentially square head (CI 96 – 103, the head is elongate (CI < 95) in M. turneri''),

Brown (1952) - Distinguished by the broad, convex head, with very convex, protruding eyes. Humeri broadly and evenly rounded, without traces of angulation or dentation. Propodeal lamellae and petiole. Body in general rather opaquely sculptured, with spaces between foveolae mostly minutely reticulate. Coriaceous or subgranulose; segment I of gaster with dorsum finely striate longitudinally and subopaque for more than the basal half of its length. Head ferrugineous in colour, darker than the rest of the body, which is ferrugineous yellow, gastric segment I dorsally lighter yellow.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  turneri. Strumigenys (Epopostruma) turneri Forel, 1895f: 424 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Combination in Epopostruma: Emery, 1924d: 330; in Mesostruma: Brown, 1948e: 119. See also: Taylor, 1973: 32; Shattuck, in Bolton, 2000: 52.

Worker
Shattuck (2000) - TL 3.0 - 4.0, HL 0.75 - 0.86, HW 0.72 - 0.89, CI 96 - 103, ML 0.32 - 0.38, MI 43 - 45, SL 0.40 - 0.46, SI 53 - 56, PW 0.47 - 0.57, AL 0.81 - 0.96 (6 measured). Head essentially square (CI 96 - 103). In dorsal view the anterolateral corners of pronotum rounded. Dorsum of mesosoma with dense, shallow foveolate punctures which are generally spaced less than their width apart, and with the area between the punctures covered with weak but distinct sculpturing. Propodeal lamellae broad, the dorsal margins weakly convex, the posterior margins weakly concave, the angles between these margins slightly less than 90 degrees. Sculpturing on the metaplerual gland bulb punctate with several weak rugae ventrally. Lateral surfaces of postpetiole with well developed wings. First gastral segment immediately posterior of the postpetiole with evenly spaced, elongate rugae and fine microreticulations. Body colour honey yellow, the dorsum of the head slightly darker.

Type Material
Brown (1952) Mackay. Queensland (Gilbert Turner, May 1894). Cotypes in the Forel Collection, British Museum (Natural History). J. Clark collection, and in several of the larger Australian museums. The locality near Mackay, where Turner probably collected this ant, is now apparently under cultivation. Originally. it was more than likely dry, low woodland like that covering most of the coastal strip of Queensland.



References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * 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.