Metapone wallaceana

Known only from the unique holotype dealate gyne, collected with 2 worker pupae by Katsuyuki Eguchi (16 May 2006, ex soft rotting fallen log, edge of well-developed forest, ca 860m, colony Eg16V06-17). Eguchi’s field notes recognize the series as a founding gyne with initial brood, but do not specify whether associated termites were present (K. Eguchi, pers com.).

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

Nomenclature

 *  wallaceana. Metapone wallaceana Taylor & Alpert, 2016: 524, figs. 66-70 (q.) INDONESIA.

Queen
TL 7.8; HL 1.34; HW (across eyes) 1.02; CI 76; MSL 2.20; PW 0.79; PetW 0.51; PetH 0.84; PpetW 0.66.

General and diagnostic features as illustrated and in the key to Asian species. Lateral borders of clypeus strongly anteriorly convergent; anterior border shallowly concave between subdentate anterolateral angles. Mesosoma (including propodeum) and head (except its underside) finely longitudinally striate; striae of mesepisternum and katepisternum dissimilar in orientation. Posterior face of subpetiolar process reduced, semicircular in oblique view. Subpetiolar angle in side-view vestigial, broadly rounded; profile of posterior subpetiolar face grading smoothly to join subpetiolar edge. Subpetiolar extension small, as illustrated, obtusely triangular, barely translucent.

Type Material
Indonesia: Lombok: Gaanga District, Rampek Village, 08°22’S x 116°15’E. Holotype in MZBI.

Etymology
Named for the biogeographic province of Wallacea.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Taylor R. W., and G. D. Alpert. 2016. The myrmicine ant genus Metapone Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): a global taxonomic review with descriptions of twelve new species. Zootaxa 4105(6): 501-545.