Myrmecorhynchus carteri Clark

S. O. Shattuck, 2015, A review of the ant genus Myrmecorhynchus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 3955 (2), pp. 283-290 : 285-286

Myrmecorhynchus carteri Clark

( Fig. 3)

Myrmecorhynchus carteri Clark, 1934: 43 .

Types. Syntype workers from Barrington Tops, New South Wales (H. J. Carter) [Museum Victoria, Melbourne, examined] and Kinglake, Victoria (T. Greaves) [location unknown] .

Diagnosis. Mesosomal dorsum with at most a few scattered erect hairs, legs with appressed pubescence but lacking erect hairs; at most a narrow band of yellow on anterolateral clypeal margin; mandibles bicoloured, yellow basally and dark apically; propodeum higher and more rounded and metapleural groove more strongly angled when compared to M. nitidus .

Comments. Myrmecorhynchus carteri occurs from north-coastal New South Wales south to Tasmania (it is the only species known from Tasmania). It is found in mallee, thick scrub, dry to wet sclerophyll (including Eucalyptus pauciflora , E. perriniana and E. stellulata forests), coastal scrub (wet scrub; hillside, black soil; at water’s edge) and rainforest. Nests are in dead branches or twigs above the ground (including Acacia sophorae , Eucalyptus perriniana and E. stellulata ) or occasionally on the ground, or less commonly in soil under rocks. One nest was found in a dead, rotten branch with a colony of M. emeryi ; however the relationship between these ants, if any, is unknown. Foragers are commonly found on tree trunks and are known to visit Eucryphia lucida flowers and wander into malaise traps. The larvae were described by Wheeler & Wheeler (1970).

Morphologically this species is similar to M. nitidus , differing in colour pattern and the shape of the metanotal groove and propodeum. While colour pattern shows considerable variation in M. emeryi , this does not seem to be the case here. All known specimens show either the M. carteri or M. nitidus patterns with no intermediate individuals being found. Thus colour suggests that these two taxa are distinct. The shape of the metanotal groove and propodeum also support this conclusion. All known specimens of M. carteri have the propodeum higher and more rounded dorsally compared to M. nitidus workers, resulting in the metanotal groove being more distinct and angular. As with colour, all specimens show one or the other pattern with intermediate forms unknown. Combined, these characters suggest that two separate taxa are involved rather than a single variable species.

Material examined. Australia: Australian Capital Territory: Woods Reserve, nr. Gibraltar Falls (Naumann,I.D.) . New South Wales: Belmore Falls (Top) (Liepa,Z.) ; Blue Knob, Nightcap Range (Lowery,B.B.) ; Dainers Gap (Morrow,P.) ; Dilgry River Barrington Tops S.F. (Weir,T.A.) ; East Boyd State Forest, Goanna Rd., 56km SE Bombala (Lambkin,C. & Starick,N.) ; Kosciuszko National Park, 1.7km ENE of Thredbo (Lambkin,C., Starwick,N. & Recsei,J.) ; Moppy Lookout Barrington Tops S.F. (Weir,T.A.) ; Mt. Wilson, Blue Mountains (Horning,D.S., Jr.) ; New England Nat. Park. via Ebor (Monteith,G.) . Tasmania: 4km N Montagu (Lowery,B.B.) ; 5km E Low Head (Lowery,B.B.) ; 5km N Emita (Lowery,B.B.) ; Blythe Sdg. (Greaves,T.) ; Darling Range, Flinders Island (Lowery,B.B.) ; Derwent Bridge, Bronte (collector unknown) ; Devonport (Lowery,B.B.) ; Friendly Beaches, Freycinet Natl. Pk. (Lowery,B.B.) ; Greens Beach, Asbestos Range Natl. Pk. (Lowery,B.B.) ; Headwaters, Olga R., E of Mt. Eleanor (Howard,C., et al.) ; Leith (Lowery,B.B.) ; Lower Gordon River, E of Goulds Landing (collector unknown) ; near Lake Chisholm (Ettershank,G. & Ettershank,J.A.) ; Olga R. Top Plain, Transects 12 & 13 (Howard,C. & Johnson,C.) ; Sisters Beach (Lowery,B.B.) ; Thule Rd., Flinders Island (Lowery,B.B.) ; Upr. Gordon River, N and W of Denison Camp (Howard,C., et al.) ; Upr. Gordon River, nr. Angel Cliffs (Howard,C., et al.) . Victoria: Coopracambra NP, 27km NNE Cann River, Beehive Creek (Lambkin,C. & Starick,N.) ; Ferntree Gully (Lowery,B.B.) ; Flinders (Lowery,B.B.) ; Harrietville (Lowery,B.B.) ; Kinglake (Greaves,T.) ; Leongatha (Lowery,B.B.) ; Mt. Dandenong (Schwarz,M.) ; Woori Yallock (Thorn,L.B.) .