Polyrhachis brendelli

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
A member of the Polyrhachis relucens species group in the subgenus Myrma

Kohout (2008) - Polyrhachis brendelli is a characteristic species that resembles Polyrhachis browni and Polyrhachis olena, also described from Sulawesi, but is clearly distinct. Polyrhachis brendelli differs from P. browni by its much finer body sculpturation and in the shape of the pronotal spines. In P. brendelli the spines are anterolaterally directed and virtually straight. Those in P. browni are distinctly longer, more slender, bullhorn-shaped and project more laterally before curving anteriorly at mid length. Moreover, the spines in P. brendelli are somewhat dorsally flattened while in P. browni they are more-or-less rounded in cross-section. Also, the posterior ridge separating the propodeal dorsum from the declivity is virtually straight or only weakly bowed in P. brendelli, while it is more deeply bowed inwards in P. browni. The petiolar spines in P. brendelli are virtually parallel and the dorsal petiolar margin bears an intercalary denticle. In P. browni, the dorsal petiolar spines are much shorter, strongly diverging and more widely separated; and the dorsal petiolar margin lacks any trace of an intercalary tooth. Both species differ from P. olena by their distinctly opaque, closely reticulate-punctate body sculpturation that is not hidden by rather diluted pubescence. In contrast all body surfaces in P. olena are shagreened with the sculpturation mostly hidden by relatively dense, appressed pubescence. Polyrhachis olena also differs from P. brendelli and P. browni by a distinctly narrower mesosomal dorsum, particularly the propodeum, and by its more elongated petiolar spines.

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

Nomenclature

 *  brendelli. Polyrhachis brendelli Kohout, 2008a: 269, figs. 2E-F (w.) INDONESIA (Sulawesi).

Worker
(holotype cited first): TL c. 9.22, 8.77-9.73; HL 2.28, 2.25-2.40; HW 1.75, 1.68-1.81; CI 77, 73-77; SL 2.84, 2.74-2.96; SI 162, 161-169; PW 1.31, 1.26-1.36; MTL 3.18, 3.12-3.48 (24 measured).

Anterior clypeal margin arcuate, very weakly and narrowly truncate medially. Clypeus with blunt but distinct median carina; in profile clypeus sinuate with elevated anterior margin, basal clypeal margin almost flat, laterally indicated by a thin line breaking sculpturation. Frontal triangle distinct. Frontal carinae sinuate with moderately raised, laminate margins; central area concave anteriorly, flat posteriorly with distinct frontal furrow. Sides of head in front of eyes almost straight, weakly rounding into mandibular bases; behind eyes sides rounding into broad occipital margin. Eyes moderately convex, situated well forward from occipital corners; in full face view only marginally breaking lateral cephalic outline. Ocelli lacking. Pronotal dorsum with pair of acute, dorsolaterally and weakly downwards directed, somewhat dorsally flattened spines; lateral margins of spines acute and continuous with lateral margins of pronotum. Dorsum of mesonotum transverse, rather flat with weakly raised, posteriorly converging lateral margins. Propodeum with lateral margins weakly converging posteriorly and terminating in distinct, narrowly rounded, upturned ridges; posterior margins of ridges meeting medially, forming a virtually straight line separating propodeal dorsum from declivity. Petiole biconvex in profile, with two, posterodorsally directed spines; dorsal margin between spines concave with blunt intercalary denticle; lateral margin of petiole below base of each spine with a secondary, short, acute tooth. Anterior face of first gastral segment weakly concave with anterodorsal margin narrowly rounding onto dorsum of segment. Mandibles rather polished, very finely striate with piliferous pits. Body finely and closely reticulate-punctate, opaque; dorsum of mesosoma with some reticulae irregularly, mostly longitudinally directed (evident under certain angles of lighting). Gastral sculpturation distinctly finer than on mesosoma, regularly reticulate-punctate.

Only a very few, curved, golden hairs at mandibular masticatory borders. Anterior clypeal margin with several long, anteriorly directed, golden setae medially. A few pairs of erect, medium length hairs on clypeus, along frontal carinae and single pair of anteriorly directed hairs on vertex. Only a few, relatively long, erect hairs lining posterior margins of apical gastral segments. Very short, appressed, white or greyish pubescence, rather diluted and not concealing underlying sculpturation, on most body surfaces.

Colour. Head, mesosoma and petiole black; mandibular masticatory borders, distal ends of antennal scapes and extreme tip of apical funicular segments reddish-brown; legs lighter, reddish-brown, except for bases of tibiae and tarsal segments that are distinctly darker. Dorsum of gaster reddish-brown with ventral surfaces distinctly lighter.

Type Material
HOLOTYPE: SULAWESI TENGAH, nr Morowali, Ranu R. area, 27.i.-20.iv.1980, M. J. D. Brendell (B. M. 1980-280) (worker). PARATYPES: data as for holotype (23 workers). Holotype and most paratypes (10) in, 2 paratypes each in , , , , , and.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Kohout, R. J. 2008. A review of the Polyrhachis ants of Sulawesi with keys and descriptions of new species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 52:255-317.