Leptomyrmex pallens

L. pallens has been recorded from rainforest. Nests occur in soil, under tree roots and under rocks.

Identification
L. pallens can be distinguished from the other two New Caledonian Leptomyrmex (Leptomyrmex nigriceps and Leptomyrmex geniculatus) by its coloration. The black gaster contrasts with an otherwise unicolored orange body. This species occurs throughout the main island and on Ile des Pins, and is the most commonly encountered of the three species that occur on New Caledonia. (Lucky and Ward 2010)

Key to New Caledonian Leptomyrmex Species

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: New Caledonia.

Castes
Queens have yet to be collected.

Nomenclature

 *  pallens. Leptomyrmex pallens Emery, 1883: 147, fig. (w.) NEW CALEDONIA. André, 1887: 290 (m.). See also: Wheeler, W.M. 1915d: 276; Wheeler, W.M. 1934c: 108; Lucky & Ward, 2010: 44.

Worker
Lucky and Ward (2010) – measurements (n = 10) HL 1.64–1.92, HW 0.92–1.11, MFC 0.19–0.25, IOD 0.54–0.63, SL 3.09–3.61, EL 0.30–0.38, WL 2.94–3.58, PW 0.73–0.93, DPW 0.27–0.39, HTL 3.60–4.09, HTWmin 0.11–0.13, HTWmax 0.14–0.18, CI 0.43–0.46, SI 3.11–3.51, OI 0.10–0.14, HTC 0.66–0.83.

As in Leptomyrmex geniculatus, but femora unicolorous. Entire body rufotestaceous, with black gaster. Head and sometimes pronotum slightly darker yellow than body, terminal abdominal segment pale, contrasting with black gaster.

Male
Lucky and Ward (2010) – HL 1.35, HW 1.00–1.03, SL 0.36–0.37, EL 0.54–0.56, HTL 3.89–4.04, CI 0.74–0.76, SI 0.35–0.37, SI2 0.71–0.76.

Type Material
Lucky and Ward (2010) - Type material examined: Syntypes, 2 workers, New Caledonia: “N. Caléd.” (Gambey)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * André E. 1887. Description de quelques fourmis nouvelles ou imparfaitement connues. Rev. Entomol. (Caen) 6: 280-298.
 * Berman M., A. N. Andersen, C. Hé ly, and C. Gaucherel. 2013. Overview of the distribution, habitat association and impact of exotic ants on native ant communities in New Caledonia. PLoS ONE 8(6): e67245. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0067245
 * CSIRO Collection
 * Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
 * Chazeau J., H. Jourdan, L. Bonnet de Larbogne, J. Konghouleux, and T. Potiaroa. 2003. Etude floristique et faunistique de la foret seche de Nekoro, 2 eme partie: evaluation de l'integrite de la faune par l'etude de la myrmecofaune. Lettre de Commande Programme Forêt Sèche /lRD N°l 54/2002/CP
 * Emery C. 1883. Alcune formiche della Nuova Caledonia. Bullettino della Società Entomologica Italiana 15: 145-151.
 * Emery C. 1895. Descriptions de quelques fourmis nouvelles d'Australie. Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 39:345-358.
 * Emery C. 1913. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Dolichoderinae. Genera Insectorum 137: 1-50.
 * Emery, C. 1914. Les fourmis de la Nouvelle-Calédonie et des îles Loyalty. Nova Caledonia. A. Zoologie 1:393-437.
 * Forel A. 1902. Fourmis nouvelles d'Australie. Rev. Suisse Zool. 10: 405-548.
 * Jennings J. T., L. Krogmann, and C. Burwell. 2013. Review of the hymenopteran fauna of New Caledonia with a checklist of species. Zootaxa 3736(1): 1-53.
 * Jourdan H. 1997. Are serpentine biota free from biological invasions? An example of an ant community from southern New Caledonia. Documents scientifiques et techniques 3: 107108. doi: 10.1111/j.1096-0031.2008.00204.x.
 * Jourdan H., J. Konghouleux. 2005. Bilan entomologique des noyaux forestiers dits, S2 à S5, à Prony, définies par Goro Nickel SA. Rapport d'Expertise IRD / Goro Nickel SA, 15 pages.
 * Le Breton, J., H. Jourdan, J. Chazeau, J. Orivel and A. Dejean. 2005. Niche Opportunity and Ant Invasion: The Case of Wasmannia auropunctata in a New Caledonian Rain Forest. Journal of Tropical Ecology 21(1):93-98
 * Lucky A., and P. S. Ward. 2010. Taxonomic revision of the ant genus Leptomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 2688: 1-67.
 * Shattuck S. O. 1994. Taxonomic catalog of the ant subfamilies Aneuretinae and Dolichoderinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). University of California Publications in Entomology 112: i-xix, 1-241.
 * Stitz H. 1911. Australische Ameisen. (Neu-Guinea und Salomons-Inseln, Festland, Neu-Seeland). Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin 1911: 351-381.
 * Stitz H. 1912. Ameisen aus Ceram und Neu-Guinea. Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin 1912: 498-514.
 * Taylor R. W. 1987. A checklist of the ants of Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) Division of Entomology Report 41: 1-92.
 * Viehmeyer H. 1912. Ameisen aus Deutsch Neuguinea gesammelt von Dr. O. Schlaginhaufen. Nebst einem Verzeichnisse der papuanischen Arten. Abhandlungen und Berichte des Königlichen Zoologischen und Anthropologische-Ethnographischen Museums zu Dresden 14: 1-26.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1915. The Australian honey-ants of the genus Leptomyrmex Mayr. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 51: 255-286.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1934. A second revision of the ants of the genus Leptomyrmex Mayr. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 77: 69-118.
 * Wheeler W.M. 1935. Check list of the ants of Oceania. Occasional Papers of the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum 11(11):1-56.
 * Wheeler, W. M. 1927. The ants of Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island. Proc. Am. Acad. Arts Sci. 62: 121-153
 * Wheeler, William Morton. 1927. The Ants of Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 62(4): 121-153
 * Wheeler, William Morton.1935.Checklist of the Ants of Oceania.Occasional Papers 11(11): 3-56
 * Wilson E. O. 1958. Observations on the behavior of the cerapachyine ants. Insectes Sociaux 5: 129-140.