Calyptomyrmex fritillus, Shattuck, Steven O., 2011

Shattuck, Steven O., 2011, Revision of the ant genus Calyptomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in South-east Asia and Oceania, Zootaxa 2743, pp. 1-26 : 11-12

Calyptomyrmex fritillus sp. n.

( Figs 7 , 18 )

Types. Holotype worker from Mt. Webb National Park, Queensland, 27–30 April 1981, A. Calder & J. Feehan, rainforest, litter (ANIC32-053398). Paratypes: 4 workers, same data as holotype except ANIC32- 051612 (2 in ANIC, 1 in BMNH, 1 in MCZC); 1 worker, same data as holotype except ANIC32- 051613; 1 worker, same data as holotype except ANIC32- 051614; 2 worker, same data as holotype except ANIC32- 051615; 1 worker, same data as holotype except ANIC32- 051616.

Diagnosis. Hairs on head and body spatulate (noticeably narrower near the body and expanded distally and with a rounded tip), gaster shallowly punctate, propodeum armed with short spines, in dorsal view petiole much broader than long and rectangular in shape and body smaller. This species is most similar to danum and sparsus but differs in having a smaller body (HW <0.90mm) and in dorsal view the petiole being much broader than long and rectangular in shape (in danum and sparsus the body is larger (HW> 1.0mm) and in dorsal view the petiole is only slightly broader than long and is oval in shape).

Worker description. Mandibles striate, more strongly basally, less so apically. Eyes with 3–4 ommatidia in greatest diameter, the individual facets ill-defined. Propodeum in lateral view armed with short spines. Propodeal lobes thin anteriorly, thickened posteriorly. Node of petiole in profile slightly higher and larger than that of postpetiole. Peduncle of petiole in lateral view relatively long and slender. In dorsal view the petiolar node slightly narrower than postpetiolar node. Head with weak longitudinal rugae anteriorly becoming net-like posteriorly where they form weakly defined foveolate spaces, the underlying surface punctate. Promesonotum and sides of mesosoma indistinctly rugo-reticulate, the dorsum more strongly sculptured than the sides, dorsum of propodeum with lateral rugae, entire mesosoma with a punctate background. Petiole, postpetiole and gaster punctate, the strength of the sculpture on the gaster fading slightly posteriorly. Hairs on head and body narrowly spatulate and raised above the surface of the body. Clypeal fork with enlarged, short and thin, elongate hairs. Colour yellow-red to red-brown.

Measurements. Worker (n = 7) - CFW 0.10–0.14; CI 94–97; HL 0.77–0.83; HW 0.72–0.80; ML 0.67–0.83; MTL 0.32–0.39; PetI 144–179; PetL 0.15–0.19; PetW 0.25–0.29; PronW 0.48–0.53; SI 57–62; SL 0.41–0.48. Additional material examined (ANIC). Australia: Queensland: Gap Creek, 5km ESE Mt. Finnigan, near Cooktown (Calder,A. & Feehan,J.), Mt. Cook National Park (Calder,A. & Feehan,J.); Mt. Webb National Park (Calder,A. & Feehan,J.).

Comments. Calyptomyrmex fritillus is known from a restricted region of Far North Queensland where it has been found in leaf litter samples from rainforest.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Calyptomyrmex fritillus (paratype, ANIC 32 - 051612): A. Front of head; B. Side of body; C. Top of body; D. Distribution of material examined.

FIGURE 18. Head length versus head width for C. asper, C. beccarii, C. danum, C. fritillus, C. loweryi, C. ryderae, C. sparsus and C. taylori.