Metapone mjobergi Forel, 1915

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 : 534-535

22. Metapone mjobergi Forel, 1915

( Figs 116 –125)

M. mjöbergi Forel, 1915: 36 —Worker, Gyne; Type locality: Malanda [17°21’S, 145°35’E], N. Queensland.

Material examined, distribution: AUSTRALIA: N.E. QUEENSLAND: Big Tableland, 15°43'S, 145°17'E, 800m ( ANZSES Expedition, 20 Dec 1990 – 8 Jan 1991), 2 alate gynes. Big Tableland, N.W. corner, 740m ( ANZSES Expedition, 20 Dec 1990 – 8 Jan 1991), alate gyne. Mt Sampson, 15°48'S, 145°12'E, 600–790m ( ANZSES Expedition, 27 Dec 1990 – 18 Jan 1991), 3 alate gynes. Windsor Tableland [16°13S, 145°02’E], ANZSES Site 6 (ES, 27 Dec 88 – 8 Jan 1989), 5 alate gynes. Mt Lewis Rd, [16°58’S, 145°27’E], 11km from highway ( GBM, GIT, ANZSES Site1, 1, 000m, 18 Dec 1989 – 13 Jan 1990), alate gyne. Near Kuranda , [16°44’S, 145°44’E], ca 430m (RWT & JDF, 27/6/71, nesting in rotting log, rainforest) 2 workers. 3.2km E of Lake Barrine [17°15’S, 145°38’E], 700m (RWT & JDF, 1/7/71, nesting in rotting log, with termites) 12 workers. Lake Eacham (17°7'S, 145°7'E], 750m ( GBM, GIT & HJ, 9 Dec 1989 – 14Jan 1990) 3 alate gynes. Gadgarra State Forest, 10km E. of Lake Eacham (17°7'S, 145°37'[, 700m ( GBM, GIT & HJ, 9–31 Dec 1989) 7 alate gynes. Malanda [17°21’S, 145°35’E](Type locality) (E. Mjöberg) syntype worker ( MHNG). PEI Road, Topaz, [17°24'S, 145°41'E], Rainforest, 580m ( GBM, DC & HJ, 6 Dec 93 – 25 Feb 1994) 4 alate gynes. Charmillin Creek crossing, Tully Falls Rd., 950m ( GBM, GIT & HJ, 6 Dec 1989 – 5 Jan 1990) 4 alate gynes. Kenny Road, 17°28'S, 145°32'E, 850m ( GBM & JH, 25 Nov 1994 – 10 Jan 1995, flight intercept trap) 2 alate gynes. Polly Creek, 17°28'S, 146°01'E, 80m ( GBM & JH, 25 Nov 1994 – 10 Jan 1995, flight intercept trap) 2 alate gynes. Massey Creek, 17°37'S, 145°34'E, 1000m (P. Z, 3 Jan–4 Feb 1995, flight intercept trap) alate gyne. Tully River crossing, 10km S of Koombooloomba Dam (17°50'S, 145°36'E], 750m ( GBM, GIT & HJ, 8 Dec 1989 – 4 Jan 1990) alate gyne. Wallaman Falls Rd [18°36′S, 145°48′E]?, 800m ( GBM, GIT & Hamlet, 2 Jan 1987, rainforest) alate gyne. 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. mjobergi gyne).Apparently endemic to the mountains and tablelands of the N.E. Queensland wet tropics at known elevations between 450 and 1000m. Unless stated labels indicate that all modern samples of gynes are from flight intercept or pitfall traps. The latter implying that mated gynes search partly on foot for termite host nests.

Worker diagnosis. General features as in original description (Forel, 1914), as illustrated here and cited in the key to Australian species above. Clypeus projecting anteriorly shortly beyond its lateral sections, not rostrate; anterior border shorter than the width of the body of the sclerite, stepped inwards at each corner; anterior border feebly concave to feebly convex. Eyes vestigial, very small and somewhat obscure, with 3 to 5 minute, irregular, indistinct facets. No evidence of polymorphism in eye size, as seen in M. tillyardi . Petiolar node approximately twice as wide as long in dorsal view. Subpetiolar extension shallowly sub-semicircular to triangular, its apex inclined forwards, base about ¾ as long as subpetiolar edge. Posterior subpetiolar face triangular, margined laterally but not apically. Subpostpetiolar process an acute point in lateral view. Sculpturation as illustrated.

Dimensions: (smallest and largest specimens respectively from Kuranda and E of Lake Barrine, N =14): TL ca: 5.4, 6.9; HL: 1.23, 1.51; HW: 0.96, 1.18; CI: 78, 78; CpL: 0.45, 0.52; CpI: 37, 34; MSL: 1.31, 1.84; PML: 0.78, 0.99; PMW: 0.72, 0.97; PMI: 60, 54; PDW: 0.58, 0.78; PetL: 0.37, 0.46; PetW: 0.50, 0.78; PetH: 0.64, 0.82; PpetL: 0.36, 0.47; PpetW: 0.50, 0.63; PpetH: 0.54, 0.73; GW: 1.0, 1.33. The MHMG syntype worker is relatively large, with HL 1.60; HW 1.23; CI 77; PW 1.05; MSL 2.27.

Gyne diagnosis. General features as in original description ( Forel, 1915), as illustrated and in the key to Australian species above. Petiole in dorsal view about as wide as long with strong posterolateral denticles. Clypeus and subpetiolar process as in worker; subpostpetiolar process in lateral view shorter, less acute, narrowly rounded apically.

Dimensions: (smallest (Lake Eacham) and largest (Wallaman Falls Rd) available specimens (N= 35): TL: ca 8.0, 9.0; HL: 1.55, 1.72; HW: 1.14, 1.31; CI: 74, 76; CpL: 0.54, 0.65; CpI: 35, 37; MSL: 2.48, 2.77; ScW: 1.06, 1.12; PetL: 0.55, 0.63; PetW: 0.61, 0.68; PetH: 0.80, 0.93; PpetL: 0.56, 0.61; PpetW: 0.77, 0.89; PpetH: 0.71, 0.87; GW: 1.17, 1.43.

Illustrations. The illustrated worker is from Lake Eacham N.P. and the gyne from nearby Lake Barrine N.P.

Congeneric sympatric associations. Sympatric with M. tecklini on Mt Sampson and Windsor Tableland and with M. hoelldobleri near Kuranda .

Remarks. M. mjobergi and M. tillyardi are similar, possibly related species.

Nomenclature. Wheeler (1919b) erroneously emended the species epithet mjöbergi to “ mjoebergi ”, which would be correct under the International Code of Animal Nomenclature if Mjöberg’s surname was German. That name is in fact Swedish, so the correct emendation is “ mjobergi ”.

Figures

FIGURES 116 – 120. M. mjobergi, worker, Lake Eacham National Park, HW 0.96, PMW 0.72, MSL 1.31; FIGURES 121 – 125. Gyne, Lake Barrine National Park, HW 1.14, ScW 1.06, MSL 2.48.