Monomorium capeyork Sparks

Sparks, Kathryn S., Andersen, Alan N. & Austin, Andrew D., 2014, Systematics of the Monomorium rothsteini Forel species complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a problematic ant group in Australia, Zootaxa 3893 (4), pp. 489-529 : 500-501

Monomorium capeyork Sparks , NEW SPECIES

( Fig. 4 g–i, 11a)

Holotype worker. Queensland. 69 km N Archer R.house, Wenlock Riv , -12.4533, 143.4722, 30 Jul 2007, A.L. Hertog, TERC4 (deposited in QM).

Paratypes. 4 workers, same data as holotype; 5 workers, Queensland Merepah Station, Cape York Peninsula, - 13.585, 141.8748, 21 Sep 2011, A. Andersen, ANA11–39 (deposited in QM, SAM).

Diagnosis. A large amber orange species with small eyes, a deeply concave clypeus, strigate frons and a finely reticulate T1.

Worker measurements (n=9). HW 0.94–0.99, HL 0.98–1.01, EL 0.16–0.18, PMH 0.35–0.41, PH 0.29–0.33, PNH 0.2–0.25, LHW 0.55–0.60, EW 0.11–12, PML 0.59–0.64, ML 0.99–1.07, PL 0.43–0.51, PNWdv 0.23–0.27.

Worker Description. Large species with a large, rectangular head; posterior cephalic margin shallowly concave. Anterodorsal margin of the clypeus deeply concave with frontolateral carinae produced anteriorly, extending well beyond anteroventral margin, with acute anterolateral angles and with small, rounded, preapical teeth or nodules; clypeus anteroventral margin with or without a small median projection. Frons strigate, extending well above antennal lobes or with strigae, restricted to antennal lobes and area in between; coarse lateral cephalic strigae reach anterior eye margin. Eyes small, EW <0.2 x LHW, 12 ommatidia in longest vertical axis, 9 in longest horizontal axis.

Mesonotum strigulate/alveolate laterally and on posterior mesonotum, in many specimens also over promesonotal suture, central area smooth; posterior mesonotum appears raised in some specimens. Mesopleuron alveolate with a few strigae extending anteriorly from metanotal groove. Propodeum in lateral view with dorsolateral angles clearly forming an obtuse angle, sculpture alveolate with strigae extending over metapleural gland bulla and a few strigulae on lateral surface of posterodorsal corners; dorsal surface with a raised, transverse anterior carina, transverse strigae absent, longitudinal strigae faint or absent. Petiole node of medium breadth, between 2 and 2.5 x eye width when viewed from above; shape in posterior view broadly oval, in lateral view anterior and posterior faces converging to rounded dorsum. Petiole node and postpetiole finely reticulate, sculpture not extending more than half way to dorsal surface. T1 finely reticulate covering at least anterior half of surface.

Head, mesosoma and legs light to dark amber orange or crimson orange, petiole and postpetiole infuscated on dorsal half, metasomal tergites dark brown except T1 amber with a brown posterior margin, sternites amber, hairs dull yellow.

Distribution. This species is known from two localities on the Cape York Peninsula. Its range overlaps with M. merepah sp. nov.

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the region where this species has been found.

Remarks. Monomorium capeyork bears a close morphological relationship with the three other species with a deeply concave clypeal margin: M. maryannae sp. nov., M. merepah sp. nov. and M. stagnum sp. nov. but can be distinguished by the lack of sculpture on the central mesonotum and T1 having fine reticulate sculpture that extends over at least the anterior half.

COI sequences. Genbank accession numbers for this species are KC572903 and KC573009 .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Workers of the M. rothsteini (Forel) species complex in lateral, head and dorsal view of the mesosoma. Fig. 4 a – c: M. bogischi, (Port Wakefield, SA, KSS 241), d – f: M. broschorum holotype (Dajarra, QLD, KSS 60), g – i: M. capeyork, holotype (69 km N Archer River Roadhouse, QLD, TERC 4), j – l: M. eremoides, holotype (9 km E 80 mile Beach, WA, KSS 89), m – o: M. eremum, holotype (33 km N Barkley Homestead, NT, KSS 77). Scale bars are 0.5 mm for all views.