Technomyrmex mixtus

Collected from higher elevation forests (rainforest, montane), with one collection being foragers from a roadside and the other from a live Hydnophytum in a recently fallen tree.

Identification
Bolton (2007) - A member of the T. cheesmanae complex in the Technomyrmex albipes group. T. mixtus belongs to a small complex of New Guinea species of the Technomyrmex albipes group that also includes Technomyrmex albicoxis, Technomyrmex cheesmanae and Technomyrmex prevaricus. They are characterised by their relatively rounded, as opposed to distinctly angular, junction of propodeal dorsum and declivity.

A non-paratypic series includes a couple of alate males and a number of worker-queen intercastes in which at least the median ocellus is developed and the mesonotum is somewhat inflated and slightly projects posteriorly.

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

Nomenclature

 *  mixtus. Technomyrmex mixtus Bolton, 2007a: 91, fig. 43 (w.) NEW GUINEA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.2, HL 0.79, HW 0.72, SL 0.82, PW 0.50, WL 1.08. Indices: CI 91, SI 114, OI 24, EPI 85, DTI 136.

Frontal carina with 2 setae: in profile the first above the torulus and the second at the level of the anterior margin of the eye. Dorsum of head behind this with only one other pair of setae, located about half-way between the level of the posterior margin of the eye and the posterior margin of the head, this pair slightly shorter than the maximum diameter of the eye; posterior margin itself without setae. With head in full-face view the anterior clypeal margin with an extremely feeble median indentation; sides of head convex and the posterior margin shallowly indented medially. Eyes located in front of midlength (EPI above) and their outer margins just fail to break the outline of the sides of the head in full-face view. With mesosoma in profile the mesonotal outline forms a more or less flat shallow slope to the metanotal groove, without a declivitous face posteriorly. Number of setal pairs on mesosoma: pronotum 2 3; mesonotum 2, only about half the length of the main pronotal setae and located posteriorly, just before the metathoracic spiracles; propodeal dorsum 0; lateral margin of propodeal declivity 2 - 3. Propodeum in profile with the dorsum rounding evenly into the declivity, the two surfaces not separated by an angle. Gastral tergites 1 - 4 each with numerous setae, distributed everywhere on the sclerites; maximum length of setae on first gastral tergite only slightly less than the maximum diameter of the eye. Head and mesosoma black, gaster blackish brown. All leg segments except tarsi dark brown to blackish brown, the tarsi dull yellow to brownish yellow. Microreticulate-punctulate sculpture of dorsal head dense and strongly developed.

Paratypes. TL 3.2 - 3.3, HL 0.79 - 0.80, HW 0.72 - 0.73, SL 0.84, PW 0.50 - 0.51, WL 1.10 - 1.14 (2 measured). Indices: CI 91, SI 115 - 117, OI 25, EPI 85 - 88, DTI 135 - 140. As holotype.

Other workers. TL 3.2 - 3.3, HL 0.76 - 0.79, HW 0.71 - 0.73, SL 0.78 - 0.80, PW 0.46 - 0.50, WL 1.02 1.08 (3 measured). Indices: CI 92 - 93, SI 108 - 113,01 24 - 25, EPI 87 - 90, DTI 136 - 139.

Type Material
Holotype worker (top specimen of three on pin), Papua New Guinea: 15 km. NW Mendl, 6.03S, 143.33E, 2200 m., 29.vii.1980, ground forager(s) montane rainfor. edge, roadside, #4632 (P.S. Ward). Paratypes. Two workers (middle and bottom specimens on same pin) with same data as holotype.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton B. 2007. Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste. Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 35(1): 1-150.
 * Bolton, B. "Taxonomy of the dolichoderine ant genus Technomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) based on the worker caste." Contributions of the American Entomological Institute 35, no. 1 (2007): 1-149.
 * CSIRO Collection
 * Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.