Technomyrmex dubius

One collection of this species is noted as being found in a forest. Heterick & Kitching (2022) collected this species in the canopy of a lowland dipterocarp forest in Brunei.

Identification
Bolton (2007) - A member of the Technomyrmex textor group. This small species is closely related to Technomyrmex textor and mostly matches the description of that species. However, dubius has smaller eyes (textor OI 27 - 30) and the outer margins of the eyes are conspicuously further from the sides of the head than in textor. In the latter species the outer margins of the eyes in full-face view usually just touch the outline of the sides. In some they just fail to touch, but in these the separation of eye margin from outline of side of head is only a tiny fraction of the basal width of the scape.

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

Nomenclature

 *  dubius. Technomyrmex dubius Bolton, 2007a: 78 (w.) INDONESIA (Sulawesi).

Bolton (2007) - Two collections from Sabah, each of a single specimen are currently referred to this species but with some doubt. The first, from Mahua Waterfall, matches the dubius types in most respects but is slightly larger (HW 0.48), has somewhat longer scapes (SI 98), and has a relatively long propodeal dorsum, the straight-line dorsal length being greater than the depth of the declivity to the spiracle. The second, from Kalabakan has very slightly longer scapes (SI 96) and eyes that are located somewhat more posteriorly (EPI 60). Both specimens are being included in dubius for the present, until more material becomes available for analysis.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.3, HL 0.52, HW 0.45, SL 0.42, PW 0.31, WL 0.65. Indices: CI 87, SI 93, OI 24, EPI 48, DTI 142.

Dorsum of head behind clypeus entirely lacks setae. Anterior clypeal margin with a broad but very shallow median impression. Posterior margin of head in full-face view with a median indentation. Eyes small and located very far forward on the head (EPI 48); in full-face view the outer margins of the eyes are conspicuously inset from the outline of the sides, a distance almost equal to the basal width of the scape. Dorsal surfaces of mesosoma, and declivity of propodeum, entirely lack setae. In profile the mesonotal dorsal outline with a horizontally flat, or nearly flat, anterior section and a shorter, much more steeply sloped declivitous surface posteriorly, the two separated by a distinct angle or step in the outline. Propodeal dorsum convex in profile and meeting the declivity through a blunt angle; straight-line length of dorsum distinctly less than depth of declivity to the spiracle. Gastral tergites 1 - 3 without setae, gastral tergite 4 with two pairs of setae present. Head, mesosoma, petiole, legs and gaster a more or less uniform dull yellow.

Paratypes. TL 2.0 - 2.2, HL 0.49 - 0.51, HW 0.44 - 0.45, SL 0.40 - 0.42, PW 0.31, WL 0.63 - 0.64 (2 measured). Indices: CI 88 - 90, SI 91 - 93, OI 24 - 25, EPI 46 - 48, DTI 132 - 138. As holotype.

Type Material
Holotype worker (top specimen of 3 on pin), Indonesia: Sulawesi Utara, Dumoga-Bone N,P., ii.1985 (N Stork). Paratypes. 2 workers (middle and bottom specimens on same pin), with same data (BMNH).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton B. 2007. Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 35(1): 1-150.
 * Bolton, B. "Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste." Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 35, no. 1 (2007): 1-149.
 * CSIRO Collection
 * Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.