Polyrhachis sericeopubescens

Identification
A member of the Polyrhachis continua species group in the subgenus Myrma

Polyrhachis sericeopubescens is also very similar to Polyrhachis spinifera and differs from that species mainly by its smaller size (HL 2.63 in sericeopubescens versus 2.81-2.96 in spinifera) and in having the pronotal dorsum distinctly narrower (only 1.13x wider than long in sericeopubescens versus 1.5x wider than long in spinifera). Polyrhachis sericeopubescens has also been considered a senior synonym of Polyrhachis inusitata (Kohout 1998); however, recent direct comparison of the types of both species and examination of several more recently collected specimens has confirmed they represent separate taxa (Kohout 2012, 2013).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea.

Nomenclature

 *  sericeopubescens. Polyrhachis (Myrma) sericeopubescens Donisthorpe, 1941h: 61 (w.q.) NEW GUINEA. Senior synonym of cuspidata: Kohout, 2013: 39.
 * cuspidata. Polyrhachis conops var. cuspidata Stitz, 1911a: 376, fig. 22 (w.) NEW GUINEA. [Unresolved junior primary homonym of Polyrhachis cuspidatus Smith, F. 1857a: 63, above (Bolton, 1995b: 346).] Combination in P. (Myrma): Emery, 1925b: 200. Junior synonym of sericeopubescens: Kohout, 2013: 39.

Worker
Kohout (2013) - Dimensions of sericeopubescens syntypes (queen cited last): TL c. 10.73, 13.36; HL 2.62, 3.03; HW 2.00, 2.15; CI 76, 71; SL 3.68, 4.13; SI 184, 192; PW 1.75, 2.81; MTL 3.68, 4.28 (1+1 measured).

Type Material


Kohout (2013) - Polyrhachis conops var. cuspidata Syntype workers. Type locality: New Guinea (Schultze), (examined). Junior primary homonym of Polyrhachis cuspidatus Fr. Smith, 1857: 63.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Donisthorpe, Horace. 1941. The Ants of Japen Island, Dutch New Guinea (Hym. Formicidae). The Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London. 91(2):51-64.
 * 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.
 * Kohout R. J. 1998. New synonyms and nomenclatural changes in the ant genus Polyrhachis Fr. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 42: 505-531
 * Kohout R. J. 2013. A review of the Polyrhachis continua species-group of the subgenus Myrma Billberg (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) with keys and descriptions of new species. Australian Entomologist 40(1): 13-46.
 * Robson Simon Database Polyrhachis -05 Sept 2014
 * Viehmeyer H. 1912. Ameisen aus Deutsch Neuguinea gesammelt von Dr. O. Schlaginhaufen. Nebst einem Verzeichnisse der papuanischen Arten. Abhandlungen und Berichte des Königlichen Zoologischen und Anthropologische-Ethnographischen Museums zu Dresden 14: 1-26.