Metapone bakeri

This species is so far only known from type material.

Identification
All body surfaces smooth, shining, very highly reflective, with at most a few extremely obscure, minute, generally ripple-like apparent vestiges of longitudinal striation (Figs 34–38). Head relatively broad (CI of only known specimen 91); clypeal outline in frontal view broadly semicircular. (Philippines: Luzon, gyne)

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

Nomenclature

 * . Metapone bakeri Wheeler, W.M. 1916b: 10, fig. 1 (q.) PHILIPPINES (Luzon I.).
 * Type-material: holotype queen.
 * Type-locality: Philippines: Luzon, Mt Banahao (C.F. Baker).
 * Type-depository: MCZC.
 * Status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1919h: 186 (redescription); Emery, 1921f: 20; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 114; Gregg, R.E. 1958: 119; Kusnezov, 1960a: 126; Baltazar, 1966: 253; Bolton, 1995b: 258; Taylor & Alpert, 2016: 516 (redescription).
 * Distribution: Philippines (Luzon).

Queen
Taylor and Alpert (2016) - TL: ca 7.7; HL: 1.48; HW: 1.36; CI: 92; MSL: 2.39; PMW: 1.05; PDW: 0.90; PetL: 0.60; PetW:0.66; PetH: 0.89; PpetL: 0.54; PpetW: 0.81; PpetH: 0.73; GW: 1.50.

Gyne diagnosis. General features as in original description (Wheeler, 1916), in the key to Asian species and as illustrated. Metapone bakeri is one of the most distinctive of all known Metapone species. Entire body, including mandibles and legs, uniquely smooth and highly reflective; almost completely without sculpturation except for a few, largely effaced, smoothed, highly vestigial longitudinal costular traces laterally on the pronotum, below the wing bases, on the extreme posteroventral areas of the mesepisternites, sides of propodeum and lower sides of petiole—all clearly visible only in appropriately reflected light. Cephalic surfaces and profiles generally more rounded, and the head more broad (CI 92) than in other species. Clypeus relatively broad, barely extended anteriorly, lacking denticles or other armament; anterior border a broad semicircle rounding continuously into frons; no trace of frontoclypeal suture. Ocelli relatively small. Very sparse pilosity on sides of pronotum and propodeum, petiole and postpetiole. Gaster more pilose than other parts of body. Pubescence lacking, except apically on antennal funiculi and parts of legs. Colour dark blackish-brown with reddish tinges, which are more distinct on postpetiole and gaster. Mandibles antennae and legs mahogany brown; mandibles slightly darker than antennae or legs. Subpetiolar extension a semi-translucent, relatively small, anteriorly-positioned blunt scalenetriangle (apex posteroventral), occupying less than one-third of the subpetiolar edge; remaining edge minutely concave, almost straight, curving very slightly ventrally at its posterior limit which is minutely rounded. Posterior subpetiolar face small, approximately semicircular in oblique view, with an entire, very slightly raised, finely carinate outer margin. Subpostpetiolar process barely inflated anteroventrally, lacking denticles or extensions.

Type Material
Taylor and Alpert (2016) - Alate Gyne; Type locality: Mt Banahao (= Banahaw) [14°04´N, 121°29´E], Luzon I, Philippines.

Known only from the holotype gyne. The specimen is mounted on a card point. The scutum has been damaged by a former mounting pin and a forewing is glued to a second card mount on the same pin.

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.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1916. Four new and interesting ants from the mountains of Borneo and Luzon. Proceedings of the New England Zoological Club 6: 9-18.