Chelaner durokoppinensis

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Heterick (2001) - A member of the rubriceps group. The alitrunk and nodes of the two known specimens are similar in appearance to those of Monomorium centrale, but the colour pattern and form of the clypeus place this species close to Monomorium macarthuri and Monomorium xantheklemma.

Distribution
Heterick (2009) - Known from a small area north of Kellerberrin in the WA wheatbelt

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  durokoppinense. Monomorium durokoppinense Heterick, 2001: 424, fig. 48 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Worker
Holotype. HML 1.87; HL 0.66; HW 0.54; CeI 82; SL 0.46; SI 85; PW 0.39. Paratypes. HML 1.84; HL 0.64; HW 0.53; Cei 82; SL 0.46; SI 87; PW 0.39.

As for the worker of Monomorium leae, but with the following apomorphies.

Head. Head square or rectangular; vertex planar. Compound eyes elliptical; (viewed from front) compound eyes set in posterior half of head capsule; eye large, eye width greater than 1.5x greatest width of antennal scape. Anteromedial clypeal margin emarginate, median clypeal carinae produced as pair of bluntly rounded denticles. Longest lateral anterior clypeal setae moderate, reaching dorsal margin of closed mandibles. Posteromedial clypeal margin situated between anterior and posterior surfaces of antennal fossae. Frontal lobes parallel, sinuate. Maximum number of mandibular teeth and denticles: four; apical and basal mandibular margins meeting in curve.

Alitrunk. Promesonotal sculpture present in form of microreticulation on lateral promesonotal surfaces and mesopleuron, otherwise smooth and shining; erect and suberect promesonotal setae >5; dorsal promesonotal face convex anteriad, otherwise flattened. Mesonotal suture visible externally as faint ridge. Metanotal groove absent. Propodeal sculpture present as uniform microreticulation, with few or no striae or costulae; processes absent (propodeum angulate in profile. Propodeal angle present; length ratio of dorsal face to declivitous face near 2:1; declivitous face of propodeum longitudinally concave between its lateral margins. Propodeal setulae decumbent and subdecumbent.

Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar node cuboidal; sculpture present in form of microreticulation. Ratio of greatest node breadth (viewed from front) to greatest node width (viewed in profile) near 1: 1. Anteroventral process a small spur. Ventral lobe always absent. Height ratio of petiole to postpetiole near 1: 1; height-length ratio of postpetiole near 3: 1. Sculpture present in form of microreticulation.

General characters. Colour of alitrunk and nodes brick-red, head and appendages orange, gaster light brown.

Type Material
Holotype. Worker (top point), Western Australia, Durokoppin Reserve, 27 km N ofKellerberrin, iii/vii/xi.1987, L.A. Lobry de Bruyn. Paratype. Western Australia: 1 worker, with same data as the holotype (WAM).



Etymology
Named after the locality where the ants were collected.