Froggattella latispina

Essentially nothing is known concerning the biology of this rare species. It has been collected just a few times from arid areas in southern Australia.

Identification
Sculpturing on the upper surface of the head smooth or very weakly leather-like posteriorly (above the level of the eyes) and very finely striate anteriorly (especially between the frontal carinae) so that there is a noticeable difference in the development of the sculpturing between the anterior and posterior regions; rugae on mesopleuron are weakly developed and are interrupted by the underlying punctations so that individual rugae are not straight; posterior region of the propodeal spines in dorsal view with their outer surfaces flat or convex.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  latispina. Froggattella latispina Wheeler, W.M. 1936a: 10 (w.) AUSTRALIA. See also: Shattuck, 1996b: 47.

Description
Shattuck (1996) - Measurements Worker (n = 5) - CI 0.86-0.92; EL 0.15-0.16; EW 0.08-0.11; HL 0.65-0.73; HTL 0.40-0.46; HW 0.56-0.67; ML 0.26-0.29; PnL 0.36-0.46; PpL 0.25-0.32; SI 0.67-0.77; SL 0.41-0.47.

CI: cephalic index: HW/HL. EL: maximum eye length measured in full face view. EW: maximum eye width measured in full face view. HL: maximum head length in full face view, measured from the anterior-most point of the clypeal margin to the midpoint of a line drawn across the posterior margin of the head. HTL: maximum length of hind tibia, excluding the proximal part of the articulation which is received into the distal end of the hind femur. HW: maximum head width in full face view, excluding eyes. ML: mesonotal length measured from the pronotal-mesonotal suture to the metanotal groove parallel to the measuring axis. PnL: pronotal length measured from the anterior edge of the pronotal collar to the pronotal-mesonotal suture parallel to the measuring axis. PpL: propodeal length measured from the metanotal groove to the posterior-most point of the petiolar insertion parallel to the measuring axis. SI: scape index: SL/HW. SL: length of the scape (first antennal segment) excluding the basal radicle.

Worker
Length, 2.2-2.5 mm.

Smaller than any of the subspecies of kirbyi and differing in the shape of the head and epinotal spines, in sculpture, etc. Head longer in proportion to its width, narrowed posteriorly so that the sides behind the eyes are less convex and more nearly parallel, the posterior border nearly straight; antennal scapes very short, not reaching the posterior border of the head by fully twice their greatest diameter; funicular joints 3-10 distinctly shorter than in the various forms of kirbyi, not longer than broad. Eyes slightly more convex. Pronotum less convex, broader than long without the neck; promesonotal suture more deeply impressed; mesonotum shorter, scarcely one and one-fourth times as long as broad; metanotal spiracles less projecting dorsally; mesoepinotal impression somewhat deeper and more abrupt than in the subsp. bispinosa; epinotum somewhat longer than broad, the base convex, rising abruptly from the mesoepinotal impression and terminating behind in two very broad, thick spines only slightly longer than the width of their bases from which they taper rapidly to very blunt tips. They are not curved inward and their mesial borders when seen from above form a perfect" semicircle with the median posterior border of the base included between them. The epinotal spiracles are borne on the sides of the spines near their tips. Epinotal declivity much shorter and much more deeply concave in profile than in any of the forms of kirbyi. Petiole distinctly shorter but the node shaped as in the subsp. bispinosa with its superior border feebly convex when seen from behind.

Microscopic reticulation of the body and appendages much more pronounced than in any of the other forms of kirbyi, especially on the head, meso- and epinotum. On the front the reticulation becomes longitudinal so that the surface has a finely granulated-striolate appearance. On the meso- and epinotum it is even coarser and the sharp longitudinal rugae of kirbyi are reduced to fine granular rugules except on the mesoepinotal impression which is traversed by the usual sharp rugae or costae. Pronotum, epinotal declivity and petiolar node much smoother and more shining than the head; costae on the posterior peduncle of the petiole well developed.

Erect hairs white and distributed much as in kirbyi and its subspecies but distinctly shorter on the body and decidedly less numerous on the legs.

Head yellowish red; coxae, thorax and petiole slightly paler; mandibles and antennae yellow; last joint of funiculi fuscous; femora and tibiae brown; gaster brown-black.