Anochetus paripungens Brown

Shattuck, Steven O. & Slipinska, Ewa, 2012, Revision of the Australian species of the ant genus Anochetus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 3426, pp. 1-28 : 15-16

Anochetus paripungens Brown

( Figs 4 , 10 )

Anochetus paripungens Brown, 1978: 596 .

Types. Holotype worker and 13 worker paratypes from Howard Springs, Darwin area , Northern Territory (holotype and 11 paratypes in MCZC , examined; 2 paratypes in ANIC, ANIC32 -016009, examined).

Diagnosis. Propodeal angles produced as spines which are angled slightly posteriorly, the posterior face of the propodeum forming angle at the base of the spines; sculpture on front of head extending well beyond eyes and ending approximately half-way between eyes and posterior margin; pronotum shining with scattered shallow, ovalshaped punctures; hind tibiae with semi-erect hairs restricted to the inner surfaces. This species is most similar to A. wiesiae but differs in having a more lightly coloured body, shallow punctures on the dorsum of the pronotum, more posteriorly directed propodeal spines, a narrower petiolar node with less angular sides, and the lack of erect hairs on the outer surfaces of the hind tibiae. It is also only known from the Top End of the Northern Territory while A. wiesiae occurs on coastal Queensland.

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 limited number of erect hairs. Eyes relatively small (EL <0.22mm). Pronotum shining and with scattered, weak, oval shaped punctures. Mesonotum smooth and shining. Anterior section of pronotum with transverse wrinkles and ridges. Propodeum with angles produced as spines. Dorsum of propodeum rounded laterally, sculptured with coarse transverse striations and with inclined erect hairs. Metapleuron mostly smooth and shining. Dorsolateral corners of petiolar node with long spines. Hind tibiae with semierect hairs restricted to the inner surfaces. Colour brown, head, antennae and mandibles yellow-brown, legs yellow.

Measurements. Worker (n = 5): CI 90–93; EI 16–18; EL 0.19–0.21; HL 1.24–1.31; HW 1.12–1.21; HFL 1.11–1.14; ML 1.40–1.50; MandL 0.68–0.72; MTL 0.79–0.84; PronI 54–57; PronW 0.63–0.67; SL 1.04–1.11; SI 91–93.

Material examined. Australia: Northern Territory: Baroalba Spring (collector unknown; Taylor, R.W.; Taylor, R.W. & Feehan , J.) ( ANIC); Caiman Creek, Coburg Peninsula (Weir, T.A.) ( ANIC); Coconut Grove, Darwin (Angeles, T.) ( ANIC); Gorge NE of Mt. Gilruth (Monteith, G.B.) ( ANIC); Gove (Majer, J.D.) ( ANIC); Holmes Jungle (Taylor, R.W.) ( ANIC); Holmes Jungle, Berrimah (Monteith, G.B.) ( ANIC); Howard River (Brown, W.L.) ( ANIC); Howard Springs, nr. Darwin (Brown, W.L. & Bateman, W.) ( ANIC); Kemp Airstrip, Middle Point (Monteith, G.B.) ( ANIC); Litchfield Nat. Pk., nr. Florence Falls (Lowery, B.B.) ( ANIC); Radon Creek, Mt. Brockman (Monteith, G.B.) ( ANIC); Radon Creek, Kakadu Area (Kikkawa, J.) ( ANIC); South Alligator Inn (Monteith, G.B.) ( ANIC).

Comments. Anochetus paripungens is restricted to the Top End of the Northern Territory where it is found primarily in rainforest sites (with only a few records from savannah woodlands). Most specimens are encountered as foragers in leaf litter. Nests are in soil generally under objects, in rotten wood and in termite nests. The type series of this species was found nesting in a rotten log which it shared with an A. graeffei colony.

Figures

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

FIGURE 10. Anochetus paripungens (Baroalba Spring, Northern Territory, ANIC 32 - 015892): A. Front of head; B. Side of body; C. Top of body; D. Distribution of material examined.