Polyrhachis eureka

The type series of P. eureka, from the Gulf Country of north-western Queensland, are the only specimens known of this apparently rare species. The specimens were collected foraging on the ground in savannah woodland.

Identification
Polyrhachis eureka is very similar to Polyrhachis micans but differs in several characters including distinctly coarser and less regular sculpturation of the mesosomal dorsum. The eyes in P. eureka are more convex (Fig. 6A) and the propodeal teeth distinctly longer and wider (Fig. 6F), about as wide as the distance between their bases. In contrast, the eyes in P. micans are relatively flat (Fig. 7A) and the propodeal spines shorter, more acute and relatively slender (Fig. 7F), with their basal width about half of the distance between their bases. Dorsal margin of petiole strongly rising medially and dorsally, armed with a pair of closely approximate dorsal spines that are dorsoposteriorly directed and form, in lateral view, a single continuous line with anterior face of petiole (Fig. 6F). In contrast, the dorsal petiolar spines in P. micans are distinctly longer, more widely separated and distinctly more dorsally directed in lateral view (Fig. 7F).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  eureka. Polyrhachis (Campomyrma) eureka Kohout, 2013: 110, figs. 6A-B, E-F (w.) AUSTRALIA.