Anochetus wiesiae, Shattuck, Steven O. & Slipinska, Ewa, 2012

Shattuck, Steven O. & Slipinska, Ewa, 2012, Revision of the Australian species of the ant genus Anochetus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 3426, pp. 1-28 : 26-27

Anochetus wiesiae n. sp.

( Figs 4 , 18 )

Types. Holotype worker from Hinchinbrook Island, Gayundah Creek, Queensland, 18°22'S, 146°13'E, 10m, 10 November 1984, Davies, Thompson & Gallon, rainforest , sieved litter ( ANIC, ANIC32-015931 ) ; four paratype workers, same data as holotype except ANIC32 -059595 ( ANIC); one paratype worker, same data as holotype except 11 November 1984 ( ANIC, ANIC32 -015938); three paratype workers, same data as holotype except 9 November 1984 ( ANIC, ANIC32 -015832); one paratype worker, same data as holotype except 8 November 1984, Monteith , Davies, Thompson & Gallon ( ANIC, ANIC32 -015933).

Diagnosis. Propodeal angles produced as spines which are angled slightly anteriorly; sculpture on front of head extending well beyond eyes, extending approximately half-way between the level of the eyes and posterior margin; pronotum smooth and shining; erect hairs on hind tibiae present on all surfaces. This species differs from the otherwise similar A. paripungens in the darker body colour, lack of shallow punctures on the pronotum, more anteriorly directed propodeal spines, slightly broader and flatter dorsal propodeal face, broader petiolar node with more strongly angled sides, and the presence of erect hairs on the hind tibiae. It is also only known from Hinchinbrook Island, Queensland while A. paripungens occurs in the Top End of the Northern Territory.

Worker description. Sculpturing on front of head extending approximately half way between the level of the eyes and posterior margin. Scapes not reaching posterolateral corners ('lobes') of head; with abundant, appressed pubescence and a few scattered erect hairs. Eyes relatively small (EL <0.22mm). Pronotum and mesonotum smooth and shining. Anterior section of pronotum with transverse wrinkles and ridges. Dorsum of propodeum rounded laterally, sculptured with coarse transverse ridges; erect hairs present. Propodeal spines strongly produced and pointed anteriorly. Metapleuron mostly smooth and shining. Dorsolateral corners of petiolar node with very long spines. Erect hairs on hind tibiae present on all surfaces. Colour dark brown-black, head brown, antennae, mandibles and legs brown-yellow.

Measurements. Worker (n = 5): CI 90–92; EI 16–17; EL 0.19–0.21; HL 1.30–1.33; HW 1.17–1.22; HFL 1.15–1.21; ML 1.51–1.53; MandL 0.72–0.77; MTL 0.84–0.85; PronI 56–59; PronW 0.66–0.71; SI 91–97; SL 1.09–1.13.

Material examined. Australia: Queensland: Hinchinbrook Island, Gayundah Creek (Monteith, Thompson & Cook) ( ANIC); Scraggy Pt., Hinchinbrook Island (Shattuck, S. O.) ( ANIC).

Comments. Anochetus wiesiae appears to be endemic to Hinchinbrook Island where it occurs in rainforest habitats. Most collections have been from sieved leaf litter but one is reported from pyrethrum knockdown. Whether this last collection represents arboreal foraging (unlikely) or by-catch (more likely) remains to be confirmed.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Scape length versus head width for A. alae, A. renatae, A. paripungens, A. veronicae and A. wiesiae.

FIGURE 18. Anochetus wiesiae (Hinchinbrook Is., Gayundah Ck., Queensland, holotype, ANIC 32 - 015931): A. Front of head; B. Side of body; C. Top of body; D. Distribution of material examined.