Mayriella transfuga Baroni

Shattuck, S. O. & Barnett, N. J., 2007, Revision of the ant genus Mayriella., Advances in ant systematics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Homage to E. O. Wilson - 50 years of contributions. (Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80), pp. 437-458 : 449-450

Mayriella transfuga Baroni Urbani, 1977

Figures 23 - 25

Mayriella transfuga Baroni Urbani, 1977: 411.

TYPE MATERIAL

Holotype worker and 7 worker paratypes from Nepal, 6 km NW Narainghat ( NHMB, BMNH) (examined) .

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

(In ANIC unless otherwise noted). China, Hong Kong SAR: Tai Po Kau forest, New Territories (Winney, R.) ( BMNH); India, Uttar Pradesh: Lachiwala forest, Dehra Dun , Garwal District ( Lobl , I); Indonesia, South Kalimantan: 17 - 46 km W Batulitjin (Brown, W. L.) ( BMNH, MCZC) ; West Java: Bogor (Imadate, G.) ( BMNH) ; Lampung: Liwa , 5 ° 04 ' S 104 ° 03 ' E (Harvey, M. S.) ; Malaysia, Johor: Kota Tinggi (Murphy, D. H.) ; Pahang: Tanjong Bunga (Murphy, D. H.) ; Perak: Sungei Simei Falls , Cameron Highlands (Jaccoud, T . & Marcuard, P.) ; Pulau Pinang: George Town Botanic Gardens ( Waterfall ) (Taylor, R. W. & Barrett, R. A.) ; Sabah: Poring Hot Springs (Burckhardt & Loebl) ( BMNH) ; Sepilok Forest Reserve, nr. Sandakan (Taylor, R. W.) ; Umas Umas nr. Tawau (Taylor, R. W.) ; Sarawak: Kampong Segu , 20 mi SW Kuching (Taylor, R. W.) ; Semengoh Forest Reserve, 11 mi SW Kuching (Taylor, R. W) ; nr. Miri (Hammond, P.) ( BMNH) ; G. Mulu Natl Pk, RGS Expd Long Pala (Bolton, B.) ( BMNH) ; Gn. Mulu Natl Pk (Hammond, P. & Marshall, J. E.) ( BMNH) ; Selangor: Gombak , vic. of Univ. of Malaya Field Station , 9 th Mile (Murphy, D. H.) ; Ulu Gombak Forest Reserve (Crozier, R.) ( MCZC) ; Ulu Gombak , nr. Kuala Lumpur (Taylor, R. W.) ; upper Gombak Valley (Murphy, D. H.) ( MCZC) ; upper Gombak Valley , nr. Kuala Lumpur (Taylor, R. W.) ; Nepal: 6 km NW Narainghat (Wittmer, W. & Baroni Urbani, C.) ( BMNH) ; Philippines, Luzon: Mt. Makiling , Lagunas (Dumont, K. & Morse, R.) ( MCZC) ; Singapore: Nee Soon (Taylor, R. W.) ; Thailand: Khao Sabap Natl Pk ( Loebl & Burckhardt ) ( BMNH) .

DIAGNOSIS

This taxon can be separated from other species in the genus by the presence of well developed sculpturing in the posterior section of the scrobe, the large, closely spaced pits on the mesosomal dorsum, the parallel lateral surfaces of the postpetiole, the strongly angular petiolar node and the relatively long propodeal spines (length greater than 1.5 times the width of their bases). It is most similar to M. granulata but can be separated based on the longer and narrower propodeal spines.

WORKER DESCRIPTION

Sculpturing in posterior section of antennal scrobe well developed and distinct; sculpturing on dorsal surface of mesosoma consisting of large, closely spaced pits; propodeal spines relatively long and thin; dorsal surface of petiole in lateral profile uniformly convex, without distinct dorsal and posterior faces and forming a sharp angle with the anterior face; in dorsal view, postpetiole with the anterior and posterior regions approximately the same width (the region connecting them either flat or weakly convex); postpetiole and gaster lacking erect hairs dorsally.

Measurements. Worker (n = 10) - CI 0.95 - 1.01; HL 0.40 - 0.46; HTL 0.20 - 0.23; HW 0.39 - 0.45; ML 0.41 - 0.47; PW 0.28 - 0.35; SI 0.49 - 0.61; SL 0.22 - 0.25.

COMMENTS

M. transfuga was described by Baroni Urbani (1977) from material collected in Bhutan and Nepal. It is now known to occur much more widely, being found from Nepal and India east to Hong Kong and the Philippines and south to Borneo and Java, Indonesia. While this is by far the broadest geographic range of any species in the genus, this species shows minimal geographic variation and there is no suggestion that more than one species is involved. The majority of records are from primary and secondary rainforests where workers have been found foraging in leaf litter or nesting in soil.

Recently, the species granulata was described from Vietnam by Dlussky and Radchenko (1990). This species is morphologically similar to transfuga and may be conspecific with it. For further discussion see under that species.