Polyrhachis (Aulacomyrma) pallipes Donisthorpe, 1948

Kohout, R. J., 2007, Revision of the subgenus Aulacomyrma Emery of the genus Polyrhachis F. Smith, with descriptions of new species., Advances in ant systematics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Homage to E. O. Wilson - 50 years of contributions. (Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80), pp. 186-253 : 203-204

Polyrhachis (Aulacomyrma) pallipes Donisthorpe, 1948 Figures 19, 22, 25

Polyrhachis (Aulacomyrma) pallipes Donisthorpe, 1948: 603 . Holotype worker. Type locality: NEW GUINEA, Finschhafen (E. S. Ross), CASC (examined) .

WORKER

Dimensions: TL c. 4.48 - 4.98 (4.98); HL 1.15 - 1.28 (1.25); HW 1.03 - 1.12 (1.12); CI 87 - 91 (90); SL 1.22 - 1.31 (1.31); SI 114 - 118 (117); PW 0.94 - 1.06 (1.03); MTL 1.12 - 1.22 (1.18) (6 measured).

Anterior clypeal margin arcuate, with shallow notch medially; in lateral view basal margin only weakly impressed, indicated by hairline break in cephalic sculpture. Frontal triangle indistinct. Frontal carinae with strongly sinuate, laminate lobes. Sides of head weakly converging anteriorly; convex and more strongly converging posteriorly into preoccipital margin. Eyes weakly convex, in full face view not or only just reaching lateral cephalic outline. Mesosoma marginate along entire length. Pronotal dorsum armed with broad-based, anteriorly pointed teeth, their lateral margins shallowly emarginate at bases. Promesonotal suture distinct; metanotal groove lacking, position indicated by shallow emarginations in lateral margins. Propodeal dorsum descending into declivity in medially uninterrupted curve; lateral margins terminating posteriorly in short, blunt, processes resembling teeth in lateral view. Petiole with dorsal margin entire, acute; lateral spines relatively long, curved backwards and upwards. First gastral segment concave anteriorly, dorsal margin of concavity sharp and produced dorso-medially above dorsal surface of segment.

Sculpture of head consisting of somewhat irregularly spaced, mostly longitudinal striae, rather flat on clypeus and preoccipital margin, becoming stronger laterally. Mesosomal dorsum with mostly longitudinal striae, anteriorly converging on pronotal dorsum, V-shaped on propodeal dorsum. Anterior and posterior face of petiole shagreened. Gaster finely longitudinally striate; concavity of first gastral segment smooth and shiny.

Medium length, mostly erect, yellow to golden hairs scattered over entire body surfaces, longest on head and apically and ventrally on gaster, hairs shorter on mesosomal dorsum; only a few, short hairs on dorsum of first gastral segment. Appressed, mostly silvery pubescence on head, mesosoma and petiole; rich golden and dense pubescence on dorsum of first gastral segment, largely obscuring underlying sculpture.

Black; mandibular masticatory margin, distal ends of scapes and basal segments of funiculi light reddish brown; funicular segments becoming gradually lighter towards apex of antennae, apical segments light yellow. Trochanters, femora, tibiae and tarsi light yellow, except distal ends of femora and basal ends of tibiae and tarsi narrowly reddish-brown.

Sexuals and immature stages unknown.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Bubia, Markham V. , 50 m, 20. ix. 1955 (J. L. Gressitt) (w) ; Huon Pen. , lower Busu R. , 27. iv. 1955, lowl. rf. (E. O. Wilson # 705 ) (w) ; Lae , Busu R. area, 8. i. 1968, rf. (B. B. Lowery) (w) ; 40 km W of Madang , 05 º 13 ’ S, 145 º 25 ’ E, 140 m, 30. i. 1989, rf. (P. S. Ward # 10088 - 14 ) (w) . Northern Prov., Kokoda , 25. v. 1972 (P. M. Room # 364) (w) ; ditto, 400 m, 22. iii. 1956 (J. L. Gressitt) (w) .

REMARKS

The head and mesosoma of the holotype have almost completely lost the silvery or pale golden pubescence, that is still evident on the propodeal declivity and gastral dorsum. The anterodorsal process of the first gastral segment is well developed, almost as prominent as in porcata . Specimens from Kokoda differ in several aspects, notably in the color of the antennal scapes, joints of the femora, tibiae and basal tarsal segments which are very dark brown.