Lordomyrma

Taylor, Robert W., 2009, Ants of the genus Lordomyrma Emery (1) Generic synonymy, composition and distribution, with notes on Ancyridris Wheeler and Cyphoidris Weber (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae), Zootaxa 1979, pp. 16-28 : 18-20

The Asian Lordomyrma fauna

Apart from the Japanese L. azumai ( Figs 1, 2 ), known from southern Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu ( Imai et al, 2003: 102), the Bornean L. reticulata , and a generic listing from Sabah in Brühl et al (1998), Lordomyrma species have not been previously reported from areas north or west of New Guinea. Six or seven undescribed, allopatrically-distributed species are now represented in the ANIC and BMNH collections. Others considered here were provided by Seiki Yamane, Katsuyuki Eguchi, Fuminori Ito and Martin Pfeiffer. These taxa will be reviewed in the second paper of this series, now in preparation. No sympatric associations are known.

These species are morphologically conservative, with relatively low disparity (in the sense of Gould, 1989: 49 - i. e. without major interspecific variability in structure). All are basically similar to L. azumai . The latter has palpal formula maxillary 4:labial 3, versus 3: 3 in one SE Asian species and 3: 2 in others. A small, wide-ranging species from peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, Sabah and Rakata I (Krakatau) resembles L. azumai , as do others from Luzon and Sarawak. Several Bornean species are larger, with heavier sculpturation and long pilosity. Compared to the Lordomyrma type-species, L. furcifera ( Figs 7, 8 - illustrated also in dorsal view as L. bensoni by Donisthorpe, 1949, figs 1, 2) all are relatively heavily sculptured, with strongly defined antennal scrobes, which are differently (less heavily) sculptured than other frontal parts of the head, much more conservative mesosomal structure and unexceptionally developed propodeal spines. They lack dorsally rounded or spinose extensions to the petiole or postpetiole. Several have relatively heavy gastral sculpturation (see illustrations of L. reticulata (Sarnat & Lucky, 2008)) .

The congeneric affinity between L. azumai and L. furcifera was recognized by Yasumatsu (1950). The extremes between the azumai habitus and that of furcifera are now more clearly bridged than before by several known New Guinean species, including L. cryptocera (Figs 5, 6) and L. infundibuli (Figs 9, 10).

Given this wide distributional range with limited records it is certain that more Asian Lordomyrma species in nature must await discovery.

Figures

FIGURES 1, 2. Lordomyrma azumai, Honshu, Japan, HW 0.80 mm, WL 1.14 mm.

FIGURES 7, 8. Lordomyrma furcifera, Papua New Guinea, HW 0.89 mm, WL 1.32 mm. FIGURES 9, 10. Lordomyrma infundibuli, West Papua, HW 0.99 mm, WL 1.36 mm.