Polyrhachis dolomedes

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

Nomenclature

 *  dolomedes. Polyrhachis dolomedes Smith, F. 1863: 14 (w.q.) INDONESIA (Seram I.). Combination in P. (Myrmatopa): Donisthorpe, 1932c: 469. Senior synonym of amboinae: Kohout, 2012: 35.
 * gracilior. Polyrhachis (Myrmatopa) schang var. gracilior Karavaiev, 1927e: 11 (w.q.m.) INDONESIA (Ambon I.). [Junior primary homonym of gracilior Forel, above.] Replacement name: amboinae Santschi, 1928h: 139.
 * amboinae. Polyrhachis (Myrmatopa) schang var. amboinae Santschi, 1928h: 139. Replacement name for gracilior Karavaiev, 1927e: 11. [Junior primary homonym of gracilior Forel, 1893c: 25.] Junior synonym of dolomedes: Kohout, 2012: 35.

Polyrhachis dolomedes type material.


 * Syntype workers and queen from Seram I., Indonesia, A.R. Wallace (examined by Kohout, 2012).

Note: Barry Bolton supplied Kohout (2012) with a copy of his unpublished ‘Catalogue of F. Smith type-material from UM, Oxford’ which contains the following notes on the syntype material of P. dolomedes: 'Syntypes 1 worker and 1 queen in UM, Oxford. One further syntype (worker) in BMNH. The UM Oxford specimens bear a Donisthorpe type-label and the BMNH specimen a ‘compared with type’ label of Donisthorpe. However, if the writing on the underside of the stage cards is consulted it becomes obvious that all three specimens were originally mounted together and that the card has been divided at a later date. The underside of the stage card of the BMNH specimen has ‘P. /’ (part of the ‘D’) and ‘Ceram’. The Oxford specimens have ‘Dolomedes’ (with part of the ‘D’ missing). The two cards fit together perfectly to read ‘P. Dolomedes. Ceram’' (Bolton unpublished data, cited by Kohout, 2012).

One worker syntype and one queen syntype in (on a single piece of card); one worker syntype in. The specimens have a Donisthorpe type-label and the  specimen has a Donisthorpe “compared with type” label. However, when the writing on the underside of the stage cards is consulted, it becomes obvious that all three were originally mounted together and that the card has been divided at a later date.

The underside of the stage card of the specimen has, “P”, plus part of a letter “D,” and “Ceram.” The  card has “Dolomedes” (with part of the “D” missing). The two cards fit together perfectly to read, “P, Dolomedes. Ceram” (= Seram I.).

Polyrhachis schang gracilior type material.


 * Syntype workers, queens, males and ergatogynes from Ambon I., Indonesia, Leitimor, Hito (V. Karavaiev # 2501, 2503) (IZAS, ) (examined by Kohout, 2012).

Type locality(-ies): “Amboina (Leitimor und Hito), 20.II.1913 (Nr. 2501, 2503), ww, geflüg. qq, 1 Königin, mm und 2 Ergatogynen”.

Original Karawajew label(-s): “Polyrhachis (Myrmatopa) / schang For. v. amboinae Sant. / (n. nom.). Amboina, Karavaev, / 2502, 2503, 2504”.

Material: SYNTYPES, 4 w, 2 q, 2 m (newly mounted, IN 314/6/1), 142 w, 10 q, 13 m (in alcohol, IN 314/BAMS1/Karaw7–10).

Notes. In his original description Karawajew (1927a) provided the collection numbers 2501 and 2503 for the type series of this taxon, while in the single vial with alcohol material in NMNH NASU there are original Karawajew labels with collection numbers 2502, 2503 and 2504. We investigated several tens of workers, queens and males from this vial and confirm their conspecificity. We may only suppose that Karawajew did not provide all the collection numbers when describing this taxon, and we consider all the material from NMNH NASU as syntypes.