Metapone greeni Forel, 1911

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 : 513-515

5. Metapone greeni Forel, 1911

( Figs 16 –23, 24–27)

Metapone greeni Forel, 1911:449 , Pl.14 Figs 1–10 — Worker, Gyne, Male; Type locality: Peradeniya [07°15'N, 80°36'E], Sri Lanka (as Ceylon ).

= Metapone johni Karavaiev, 1933:115 , Fig.10 a–n—Worker, Gyne, Male; Type locality: Hantana [07°19’N, 80°34’E], Sri Lanka (as Ceylon) (NEW SYNONYMY).

Material examined. Known only from the syntype series of M. greeni , dispersed in collections as detailed below, and the M. johni syntypes ( IZUK). Synonymy is based on type-comparison. Worker types of both nominal taxa are illustrated here, along with a syntype gyne of M. greeni . Original collection localities of these taxa are a few kilometres apart in the Central Highlands of Sri Lanka, near Kandy [7°19´N, 80°37´E].

We have seen 4 pins of M. greeni types from MHNG, a pin of two workers from MCZC and a single worker from USNMNH. All carry Forel’s distinctive handwritten multifolded thin paper labels and his characteristic red printed “ Typus ” tags. The first MHNG pin has 3 workers. The topmost is the largest specimen examined. It is here designated lectotype (so labelled). The second pin has 3 small workers; the topmost being the smallest examined. A male lacking wings, and the dealate gyne depicted in Figs 21–23 are separately pinned. All appropriate specimens are here designated paralectotypes and so labelled. The worker specimen illustrated ( Figs 16–20 ) is one of the MCZC paralectotypes. Any “ typus ” labelled specimens at large in other collections and not examined for this revision are formally not paralectotypes.

The M. johni syntypes ( Figs 24–27 ) are 2 workers and 2 alate gynes, variously damaged and individually pinned on card points. A worker is here designated lectotype; the others paralectotypes (all so labelled). All carry identical white handwritten labels reading “4238 Col. Karavaiev” and red labels with “ Syntypus Metapone johni Karaw. ” The lectotype also has a white handwritten label reading “Hatana, Ceylon, O. John. 2. xii. 12 ” and another with “ Metapone greeni For. DT Wheeler”. The white labels are in Karavaiev’s handwriting, and the red labels were added by J.A. Kostjuk when preparing his catalogue of Karavaiev types (Kostjuk, 1976) (A. Radchenko, pers com). The M. greeni determination label presumably indicates that Karavaiev consulted W.M. Wheeler regarding the identity of his specimens, and that at least one of them was seen by Wheeler, either before or after Karavaiev described them as M. johni (assuming that “DT Wheeler” stands for “Determined (by) Wheeler”). If before, Karavaiev presumably did not accept Wheeler’s M. greeni identification—if after, he appears never to have indicated the synonymy suggested by Wheeler and formalized here.

Worker diagnosis. General and diagnostic features as in original description ( Forel, 1911), the key to Asian Metapone species above and the accompanying figures. Clypeus anteriorly rostrate, the free lateral margins convergent apically, anterolateral corners rounded, anterior border broadly convex, no accessory denticles. Eyes relatively large; maximum diameter approximating the width of the apical antennomere, with many minute irregularly sized and arrayed unpigmented facets. Posterior face of subpetiolar process in side view almost vertical, its outline approximately aligned with posterior outline of node; framing lamella distinct, as illustrated. Subpetiolar extension rectangular, about twice as long as high, barely translucent, the antero- and posteroventral corners narrowly rounded; ventral outline shallowly convex.

Dimensions: The M. greeni lectotype and the smallest MNHG paralectotype have the following dimensions: HL 1.41, 1.88; HW 1.01, 1.41; CI 72, 75; PMW 0.82, 1.17; MSL 1.56, 2.35. The two MCZC paralectotypes, the USNMNH paralectotype, and the M. johni lectotype have the following dimensions (note that the M. johni paralectotype has HW 1.30mm like the lectotype): TL: ca.6.4, 8.2; 6.9; 7.6; HL: 1.61, 1.91; 1.76; 1.74; HW: 1.22, 1.43; 1.37; 1.30; CI: 76, 75; 78; 75; PMW: 0.91, 1.13; 1.01; 1.04; MSL: 1.76, 2.27; 1.90; 2.16; PetL: 0.53, 0.62; 0.58; 0.60; PetW: 0.56, 0.70; 0.64; 0.66; PetH: 0.92, 1.13; 0.98; 1.04; PpetW: 0.71, 0.87; 0.75; 0.84; PpetH: 0.73, 0.89; 0.78; 0.82; GW -, -; 1.35; 1.42.

Gyne diagnosis. General features as in original description ( Forel, 1911) and Figs 21–23 of an M. johni syntype. That specimen has: TL: 9.8; HL: 1.74; HW (across eyes): 1.24; Maximum eye length: 0.52 CI: 71 MSL: 2.90; PMW: 1.02; PDW: 0.84; PetL: 0.72; PetW: 0.68; PetH: 1.08; PpetL: 0.66; PpetW: 0.86; PpetH: 0.84. Dimensions are not available for the M. greeni syntype gyne.

Male: General features as in original descriptions of M. greeni and M. johni ( Forel, 1911; Karavaiev, 1933).

Figures

FIGURES 16 – 20. Metapone greeni, syntype worker, HW 1.01, PMW 0.82, MSL 1.56; FIGURES 21 – 23 gyne (M. johni syntype), HW 1.74, PMW 1.02, MSL 2.90.

FIGURES 1 – 4. Metapone madagascarica, holotype worker, see text for dimensions.

FIGURES 5 – 7. Metapone emersoni, worker, Perinet, Madagascar, HW 0.75, PMW 0.56, MSL 1.20.

FIGURES 8 – 11. Metapone vincimus, paratype worker, HW 0.75, PMW 0.56, MSL 1.20.

FIGURES 24 – 27. Metapone johni (a junior synonym of M. greeni) syntype worker, HW 1.30, PMW 1.04, MSL 2.16.