Metapone gracilis Wheeler, 1935

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 : 520-521

10. Metapone gracilis Wheeler, 1935

( Figs 47–51 )

Metapone gracilis Wheeler, 1935b:38 —Alate Gyne; Type Locality: Dapitan [8°35’N, 123°23’E]; Luzon I, Philippines.

Material examined. (1) the holotype gyne labelled as above ( MCZC). The nodes and gaster are intact but detached and card-mounted below the incomplete point-mounted specimen; (2) a single alate gyne from Negros Island labelled “Camp 5-17-31, Dumagete P.I., J.W. Chapman” ( MCZC) with the handwritten words “Heflin’s house in room” on the underside of the label. Detailed matching affirms conspecificity of these specimens.

Gyne diagnosis. General features as in original description ( Wheeler, 1935b), as illustrated here, and in the key to Asian species above. Lateral clypeal borders straight, slightly convergent anteriorly; clypeus anteriorly only slightly projected, anterior border with a pair of broad blunt teeth. Petiole and subpetiole as illustrated.

Dimensions (holotype, Dumagete specimen): TL: 6.75, -; HL: 1.27, 1.30; HW: 0.95, 0.98; CI: 75, 75; CpL: 0.42, 0.43; CpI: 33, 33; MSL: 2.07, 2.17; PnW: 0.71, 0.72; PetL: 0.54, 0.56; PetW: 0.42, 0.44; PetH: 0.72, 0.69; PpetL: 0.45, 0.46; PpetW: 0.55, 0.55; PpetH: 0.59, 0.57; GW: 0.95, 0.98.

Illustrations. The Dumagete specimen, confidently identified by holotype comparison, is illustrated.

Figures

FIGURES 47 – 51. Metapone gracilis, holotype gyne, HW 0.95, PNW 0.71, MSL 2.07.