Dolichoderus albamaculus, Shattuck, Steven O. & Marsden, Sharon, 2013

Shattuck, Steven O. & Marsden, Sharon, 2013, Australian species of the ant genus Dolichoderus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 3716 (2), pp. 101-143 : 106

Dolichoderus albamaculus sp. n.

( Fig. 1 )

Types. Holotype worker from Billabong, 26°49'S 114°37'E, Western Australia, 12 August 1984, B.B. Lowery, sand, scrub (ANIC, ANIC32-066614); 7 paratype workers, same data as holotype except ANIC32- 061315 (5 in ANIC, 2 in MCZC).

Diagnosis. Pale markings present near lower margin of eye; sculpturing on head consisting of large, shallow to moderately deep fovea; pronotum and propodeum lacking spines; posterior face of the propodeum strongly concave, separated from the dorsal face by a distinct carina; dorsum of propodeum weakly convex and elongate (longer than posterior); pubescence on first gastral tergite sparse, the individual hairs generally not overlapping, or hairs absent.

This species is easily confused with D. semiorbis . It can be distinguished from this species by the presence of erect or suberect hairs on the tibiae ( Fig. 1 ); and the more distinctive carina protruding upwards separating the dorsal and posterior face of the propodeum ( Fig. 1 and Fig. 25 ).

Worker description. See Fig. 1 . The available material shows little variation from the imaged specimen.

Measurements (n=5). CI 74–79; EI 41–43; EL 0.30–0.34; HL 0.92–1.05; HW 0.72–0.78; ML 1.24–1.53; MTL 0.69–0.83; PronI 68.82–78.05; PronW 0.51–0.61; SI 112–128; SL 0.82–0.99.

Material examined. Northern Territory: 60km N Alice Springs (Zakharov) (ANIC); South Australia: 51km W Emu Junction (Forrest,J.A.) (ANIC); Sevenhill (Lowery,B.B.) (ANIC); Western Australia: 0.6km W of Neergabby (Heterick,B.E.) (JDMC); Caiguna RH (Heterick,B.E.) (JDMC); Henderson (Heterick,B.E.) (JDMC); Int. Holland Tr./Norseman Rd. (Heterick,B.E.) (JDMC); The Granites (Mt. Magnet) (Heterick,B.E.) (JDMC).

Comments. Although rarely encountered, D. albamaculus is widespread across semi-arid southern Australia, occurring from the Western Australian coast to eastern South Australia. It has been found in open scrub and Acacia woodland habitats.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Dolichoderus albamaculus, paratype worker (ANIC 32 - 0061315). A. Front of head; B. Side of body; C. Top of body; D. Distribution of material examined.

FIGURE 25. Dolichoderus semiorbis, holotype worker (ANIC 32 - 059627). A. Front of head; B. Side of body; C. Top of body; D. Distribution of material examined.