Metapone hoelldobleri, Taylor, Robert W. & Alpert, Gary D., 2016

Taylor, Robert W. & Alpert, Gary D., 2016, The myrmicine ant genus Metapone Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): a global taxonomic review with descriptions of twelve new species, Zootaxa 4105 (6), pp. 501-545 : 540-542

26. Metapone hoelldobleri sp.n.

( Figs 146 –155)

Type locality. AUSTRALIA: N. E. QUEENSLAND: W. McNamee Creek, 17°40'S, 145°43'E, near Innisfail. Type deposition. holotype and paratypes from all localities in ANIC (Type No. 32-069961). Worker and gyne paratypes in BMNH, MCZC, MHNG, QMBA.

Distribution, material examined. AUSTRALIA: N.E. QUEENSLAND: 1km WNW of Cape Tribulation, 16°04'S, 145°28'E, 10m, (PZ 1–31 May, 1996) paratype alate gyne. Mossman Bluff Track , 5–10km W of Mossman (16°28'S, 145°23'E, 360m) (16–30 Dec 1988, GBM & GIT, ANZSES site 2,) paratype alate gyne; ANZSES site 4, 600m, paratype alate gyne; 1–16 Jan, 1989, ANZSES site 4, 600m, paratype alate gyne. Kuranda [16°49'S, 145°48'E], paratype dealate gyne (FPD, 28 xii 1920). Polly Creek, 17°28'S, 146°01'E, 80m (GBM & JH, 25 Nov 1994 – 10 Jan 1995, flight intercept trap) 2 alate gynes. Mt Bartle Frere, W base, 17°37'S, 145°46'E, 50m (GBM & JH, 25 Nov–10 Jan 1995, flight intercept trap) alate gyne (collected with M. hoelldobleri gyne). McNamee Creek, 17°40'S, 145°43'E (type locality), holotype worker, 4 paratype workers, paratype dealate gyne (RWT & JDF, 6.7.1971, rainforest, in rotting log). All specimens apart from the type-nest series and the Kuranda gyne are labelled “flight intercept” or “pitfall trap”. Worker/gyne association confirmed by McNamee Creek series. Apparently ranging at locally middle to lower elevations (all records below 600m) between at least the latitudes of Cape Tribulation and McNamee Creek in the “base of peninsula” rainforests of N.E. Queensland.

Congeneric sympatric associations. Sympatric with M. mjobergi at Kuranda , and M. tecklini at Mossman Bluff. One of the Mossman Bluff Track worker specimens was originally mounted with the holotype alate gyne of M. tecklini (on the same pin, a separate card point).

Worker diagnosis. General and diagnostic features as in Figs 146–150 and the key to Australian species, above. A distinctive species readily distinguished using the Figures provided here. In some specimens the rostrate portion of the clypeus has striation which is fundamentally longitudinal, but curves divergently to one side anteriorly. This feature is present in several series, so it could be a general characteristic of M. hoelldobleri .

Dimensions: holotype, smallest paratype, largest paratype (N=2): TL: ca 8.5, 7.7, 8.45; HL: 1.95, 1.76, 1.95; HW: 1.42, 1.28, 1.42; CI: 73, 73, 73; CpL: 0.77, 0.72, 0.78; CpI: 39, 41, 40; MSL: 2.51, 2.21, 2.51; PML: 1.27, 1.17, 1.31; PMW: 1.01, 0.88, 0.98; PMI: 51, 53, 52; PDW: 1.02, 0.76, 0.92; PetL: 0.61, 0.56, 0.64; PetW: 0.62, 0.58, 0.63; PetH: 1.05, 0.95, 1.02; PpetL: 0.57, 0.54, 0.62; PpetW: 0.78, 0.70, 0.80; PpetH: 0.78, 0.72, 081; GW: 1.50, 1.4, 1.49.

Gyne diagnosis. General features as in Figs 151–155. The Figures presented here allow ready diagnosis of M. hoelldobleri gynes from those of other known Australian Metapone species.

Dimensions: (Nidoparatype, smallest, and largest specimens (both labelled Mossman Bluff track ): TL: ca 10.5, 10.1, 10.45; HL: 2.07, 2.01, 2.08; HW: 1.45, 1.36, 1.44; CI: 70, 68, 69; CpL: 0.83, 0.78, 0.85; CpI: 40, 39, 41; MSL: 3.37, 3.17, 3.32; ScW: 1.15, 1.12, 1.23; PetL: 0.75, 0.76, 0.81; PetW: 0.72, 0.67, 0.69; PetH: 1.10, 1.01, 1.10; PpetL: 0.68, 0.61, 0.65; PpetW: 0.92, 0.89, 0.91; PpetH: 0.88, 0.80, 0.84; GW: 1.53, 1.40, 1.45.

Etymology. Named for our friend and respected colleague, the distinguished myrmecologist Bert Hölldobler.

Figures

FIGURES 146 – 150. M. hoelldobleri, holotype worker see text for dimensions; FIGURES 151 – 155. paratype gyne, HW 1.45, ScW 1.15, MSL 3.37.