Iridomyrmex continentis Forel

Heterick, Brian E. & Shattuck, Steve, 2011, Revision of the ant genus Iridomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) 2845, Zootaxa 2845 (1), pp. 1-174 : 66

Iridomyrmex continentis Forel , stat. n.

( Fig. 26 )

Iridomyrmex mattiroloi continentis Forel, 1907a: 290 .

Types. Syntypes from Denham and Kalgoorlie , Western Australia ( MHNG, 2 workers, examined, 1 queen; WAMP, 1 worker) .

Worker Description. Head. Posterior margin of head weakly convex to planar; erect setae on posterior margin in full-face view, present in small aggregations on one or both sides of posterior margin of head, or absent; sides of head noticeably convex; erect genal setae absent from sides of head in full-face view (one to a few small setae may be present near mandibular insertion). Ocelli absent; in full-face view, eyes set at about midpoint of head capsule; in profile, eye set anteriad of head capsule; eye asymmetrical, curvature of inner eye margin more pronounced than that of its outer margin. Frontal carinae straight; antennal scape surpassing posterior margin of head by approximately 2 x its diameter. Erect setae on scape absent, except at tip; prominence on anteromedial clypeal margin present as an indistinct swelling or undulation; mandible regularly triangular with oblique basal margin; long, curved setae on venter of head capsule absent. Mesosoma. Pronotum moderately and evenly curved over its length. Erect pronotal setae sparse to absent. Mesonotum evenly curved. Erect mesonotal setae sparse to absent. Mesothoracic spiracles always inconspicuous; propodeal dorsum tapered posteriad; placement of propodeal spiracle posteriad and near confluence of propodeal dorsum and propodeal declivity; propodeal angle weakly present or absent, the confluence of the dorsal and declivitous propodeal faces indicated, if at all, by an undulation. Erect propodeal setae sparse (6 or fewer) and bristly. Petiole. Dorsum of node convex; node thin, scale-like, orientated anteriad. Gaster. Non-marginal erect setae of gaster present or absent on first gastral tergite; marginal erect setae of gaster present on first tergite, or absent on first tergite. General characters. Allometric differences between workers of same nest absent. Colour medium to dark metallic brown, head and body with coppery reflections. Colour of erect setae brownish-yellow.

Measurements. Worker (n = 6)—CI 86–91; EI 29–32; EL 0.16–0.21; EW 0.13–0.17; HFL 0.77–1.13; HL 0.60–0.83; HW 0.52–0.71; ML 0.70–1.15; MTL 0.54–0.78; PpH 0.07–0.12; PpL 0.32–0.49; SI 101–118; SL 0.59– 0.84.

Comments. Iridomyrmex continentis is a small-medium, rather nondescript brown ant that is frequently encountered in drier areas of Australia. The worker can easily be mistaken for that of I. mjobergi , a species with which it is often sympatric, but the slightly longer antenna and the posteriorly flattened propodeum, with the propodeal spiracle placed near the dorsum of the sclerite, will help identify this taxon. Collections have been made in pitfall traps and by hand.

Figures

FIGURE 26. Iridomyrmex continentis (Alice Springs, NT, ANIC32-013632): A. Front of head; B. Side of body; C. Top of body; D. Distribution of material examined.