Pristomyrmex simplex

This species occurs in rainforest and has been collected in litter samples.

Identification
Wang (2003) - Worker. Masticatory margin of mandible lacking a diastema and possessing four teeth, of which the third tooth, counting from the apex, smallest; dorsal surfaces of alitrunk and head between the frontal carinae with scattered foveolate punctures; eyes usually containing five (rarely four) ommatidia in the longest row; a few hairs present on the first gastral tergite.

This species occurs in New Guinea. It is closely related to Pristomyrmex levigatus and Pristomyrmex obesus. It is separable from P. levigatus by possessing some foveolate punctures on the dorsum of the alitrunk in the workers and on the dorsal head between the frontal carinae in the workers and queens. It differs from P. obesus because the workers of P. simplex have only a few hairs on the first gastral tergite. Pristomyrmex simplex differs from Pristomyrmex coggii by the following characters: The eyes usually contain five (sometimes four) ommatidia in the longest row in the workers of P. simplex but two to three ommatidia in P. coggii; the dorsum of the head has foveolate-reticulate sculpture in the workers and queens of P. coggii but scattered foveolate punctures in P. simplex.

A member of the Levigatus species group

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

Castes
Males have yet to be collected.

Nomenclature

 *  simplex. Pristomyrmex simplex Wang, M. 2003: 512, figs. 237-240 (w.q.) NEW GUINEA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.48, HL 0.66, HW 0.69, CI 105, SL 0.52, SI 75, EL 0.12, PW 0.46, AL 0.58. Workers. TL 2.42-2.64, HL 0.65-0.68, HW 0.66-0.70, CI 100-105, SL 0.52-0.54, SI 74-79, EL 0.09-0.12, PW 0.44-0.46, AL 0.58-0.66, PPW 0.18-0.20, PPL 0.14-0.16, PPI 119-129 (n = 6).

Mandibles usually smooth and shining but sometimes with a few small shallow hair pits and a few superficial short rugae. A broad-based triangular short tooth present about midway on the basal margin of the mandible. Clypeus flat, smooth, and shining, usually unsculptured but sometimes the median carina of the frontal area extending to the clypeus. Anterior clypeal margin with a median denticle and two lateral teeth; the median denticle is often smaller than the others; sometimes the median denticle is absent so that the only two teeth are present there. Ventral surface of clypeus lacking rugae or toothlike prominences. Palp formula 1,3. Frontal carinae distinct, extending to the level of the posterior margins of eyes. Scrobal areas slightly concave, present lateral to the frontal carinae. Frontal lobes weakly expanded. Eyes moderately sized, about 0.14 to 0.17 X HW, usually containing five (sometimes four) ommatidia in the longest row. Occipital margin feebly concave in full-face view. Pronotum unarmed. Propodeum with a pair of triangular teeth. Metapleural lobes rounded. Petiole node in profile high with the anterodorsal angle higher than the posterodorsal, its anterior peduncle about as long as the node. Subpetiole with a narrow rim. Postpetiole in profile rounded dorsally. In dorsal view, dorsum of petiole node transoval and dorsum of postpetiole somewhat transversely rectangular. Dorsum of head between the frontal carinae with scattered foveolate punctures, varying from a few feeble punctures to numerous distinct ones; spaces between foveolae often smooth. Dorsum of alitrunk with a few to some scattered foveolate punctures. Petiole, postpetiole, and gaster smooth and shining. Dorsal surfaces of head and alitrunk with numerous erect to sub erect hairs. Two pairs of hairs usually present on the dorsal surfaces of petiole node and postpetiole, respectively, and a few near the base of the first gastral tergite. A few pairs of forward-projecting hairs present near the anterior clypeal margin. Scapes and tibiae with some erect to suberect short hairs. Color reddish-brown.

Queen
TL 2.51-2.84, HL 0.66-0.70, HW 0.66-0.71, CI 100-101, SL 0.51-0.58, SI 76-82, EL 0.14-0.16, PW 0.50-0.55, AL 0.66-0.81, PPW 0.19-0.21, PPL 0.15-0.18, PPI 114-13.3 (n= 3).

Generally similar to worker, except for caste differences. In addition, mesoscutum rather smooth and shining, but mesoscutellum with a few foveolate punctures; propodeal armaments slightly shorter than those in the conspecific worker.

Type Material
Holotype.. . Papua: 8 km S of Kokoda, 800 m, rainforest, ANIC Berleasate, No. 382, l.vi.1972 (R. W. Taylor). Paratypes, six workers and three queens (, ANIC, ). One worker with same data as holotype; two workers, Papua: Karema, Brown R., lowl. rainfor., 8-11.iii.1955 (E. O. Wilson); three workers and one queen, Papua New Guinea: Port Moresby, Brown River, 2.x.1969 (J. Balogh); one queen, Papua: N. Dist., 27.xii.1971 (P. M. Room); one queen, Papua: N. Dist., Debelou, 23.vi.197:3 (P. M. Room).