Technomyrmex pluto

Known from fogging sampling of forest trees.

Identification
Bolton (2007) - A member of the T. albipes complex in the Technomyrmex albipes group. T. pluto has the same arrangement of setae on the head as Technomyrmex albipes and a number of other species of this region, but the combination of its unique colour pattern, long scapes and relatively large eyes serve to characterise the species.

Technomyrmex hades is another arboreal species from Sulawesi that is closely related to pluto and also has a yellow petiole, but hades is smaller, has no yellow on the propodeal dorsum and declivity, has shorter scapes (SI 112 - 115) and has middle and hind tibiae that are distinctly much darker than its yellow tarsi.

Distribution
North Sulawesi.

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

Nomenclature

 *  pluto. Technomyrmex pluto Bolton, 2007a: 94 (w.q.) INDONESIA (Sulawesi).

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.3, HL 0.70, HW 0.66, SL 0.80, PW 0.45, WL 1.02. Indices: CI 94, SI 121,0129, EPI 70, DTI 140.

Frontal carina with 2 setae: in profile the posterior seta approximately at the level of the anterior margin of the eye and shorter than the maximum diameter of the eye. Dorsum of head posterior to this entirely lacks setae. With head in full-face view the anterior clypeal margin with an extremely shallow median concavity; sides of head shallowly convex and the posterior margin more or less transverse, without a median indentation. Eyes located in front of midlength; outer margin of eye just fails to touch the outline of the side in full-face view. With mesosoma in profile the mesonotal outline is mostly more or less flat but curves posteriorly into a short oblique declivitous face. Number of setal pairs on mesosoma: pronotum 1 (abraded away in holotype but present in paratypes); mesonotum 0; propodeal dorsum 0; lateral margins of pro podeal declivity 1, just above the spiracle. With the propodeum in profile its dorsum and declivity meet through a rounded surface, not angular. Straight-line length of propodeal dorsum in profile less than depth of declivity to spiracle. Gastral tergites 1 - 4 each with numerous setae, distributed everywhere on the sclerites; maximum length of setae on first gastral tergite is less than the maximum diameter of the eye. Head and gaster dark brown to blackish brown; pronotum and mesothorax brown; propodeum mostly brown on sides but dorsum and declivity dull yellow; petiole yellow anteriorly, brown posteriorly. Middle and hind coxae and trochanters yellow; base of femora adjacent to trochanters yellow but remainder brown; tibiae and tarsi pale yellow.

Paratypes. TL 2.9 - 3.3, HL 0.66 - 0.72, HW 0.61 - 0.65, SL 0.74 - 0.78, PW 0.44 - 0.46, WL 0.94 - 0.98 (2 measured). Indices: CI 90 - 92, SI 120 - 121, OI 28 -19, EPI 71, DTI 130 - 135. As holotype but one with almost all of the propodeum yellow, with a pale brown patch laterally anterior to the spiracle.

Type Material
Holotype worker (top specimen of 3 on pin), Indonesia: Sulawesi Utara, Dumoga-Bone N.P., Fog 25, 1200 m., 31.vii.l985, G. Ambang F.R., nr Kotamobagu (N Stork) . Paratypes. 2 workers (middle and bottom specimens of 3 on pin), and I queen, 8 workers, with same data (BMNH).