Monomorium maryannae Sparks

Sparks, Kathryn S., Andersen, Alan N. & Austin, Andrew D., 2014, Systematics of the Monomorium rothsteini Forel species complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a problematic ant group in Australia, Zootaxa 3893 (4), pp. 489-529 : 512-513

Monomorium maryannae Sparks , NEW SPECIES

( Fig. 6 d–f, 11d)

Holotype worker. Northern Territory, Territory Wildlife Park, Berry Springs , -12.6974, 130.9904, 24 Sep 2009, A. Andersen, ANA09–15 (deposited in NTM)

Paratypes. Northern Territory, 13 workers, same data as holotype, 7 workers, Flora River Nature Reserve , - 14.8033, 131.5371, 5 Jul 2009, A. Andersen, ANA09–32; 9 workers, Douglas Daly Tourist Park , -13.5427, 131.3880, 24 Apr 2011, A. Andersen, ANA11-18; 6 workers, 3km S Round Hole, Limmen Bight Rd , Limmen NP, -15.4900, 135.3900, 10 Jul 2011, A. Andersen, ANA11–32; Queensland. 20 workers, 18km E 'Riversleigh', - 19.0861, 138.9071, 5 Jun 2009, K.S. Sparks, KSS65; Western Australia. 8 workers, Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary, Kimberley , -17.5167, 126.1000, 8 Jul 2009, L. Marshall, ANA09–41 (deposited in NTM, QM, SAM, WAM)

Diagnosis. A large amber orange with a deeply concave clypeal margin and strigate frons (in a majority of specimens). The dorsolateral angles of the propodeum almost form a right angle in most specimens.

Worker measurements (n=9). HW 0.78–0.98, HL 0.86–1.03, EL 0.16–0.18, PMH 0.29–0.49, PH 0.25–0.37, PNH 0.2–0.25, LHW 0.43–0.6, EW 0.10–0.12, PML 0.51–0.68, ML 0.88–1.17, PL 0.41–0.55, PNWdv 0.21–0.31.

Worker Description. Large species with a medium sized, rectangular head; posterior cephalic margin broadly v shaped. Anterodorsal margin of the clypeus deeply concave with frontolateral carinae produced anteriorly, extending well beyond anteroventral margin, with acute anterolateral angles and with small, rounded, preapical teeth or nodules. Anteroventral margin of the clypeus without a small median projection, margin appears straight. Frons strigate, extending well above antennal lobes or rarely restricted to and between antennal lobes; coarse lateral cephalic strigae reach anterior eye margin. Eyes medium, EW 0.20–0.23 x LHW, 11 ommatidia in longest vertical axis, 10 in longest horizontal axis.

Mesonotum strigulate with shallow alveolae on lateral curvature, in metanotal groove and extending onto the posterior region of the mesonotum, smooth medially; posterior mesonotum appears raised with a faint horseshoe shaped margin in some specimens. Mesopleuron alveolate with a few strigae extending anteriorly from metanotal groove and in anterodorsal corner. Propodeum in lateral view with dorsolateral angles almost forming a right angle in most specimens, tending to a more obtuse angle in a minority of specimens; sculpture alveolate with strigae extending over metapleural gland bulla and between spiracle and posterodorsal corners. Dorsal surface of propodeum with raised transverse anterior carina, transverse strigae present in a majority of specimens, longitudinal carinae weak, forming broken lines or absent. Petiole node width when viewed from above between 2 and 2.5 x eye width; shape in posterior view tapering from broad midline to rounded apex, in lateral view anterior and posterior faces sub parallel, apex broadly rounded from higher anterior face to lower posterior face. Petiole and postpetiole finely reticulate but not extending onto dorsal surface. T1 with fine reticulate sculpture restricted to anterior third or absent.

Head, mesosoma and legs light to dark amber orange, some specimens with mesosoma and legs infuscated, petiole and postpetiole infuscated on dorsal half, metasomal tergites dark brown, sternites amber, hairs dull yellow.

Distribution. This species in known from the Kimberly region of Western Australia, the far north of the Northern Territory and north west Queensland. Its range overlaps with M. geminum sp. nov. / M. topend sp. nov. and M. subapterum .

Etymology. This species is named in honour of Maryanne McKaige.

Remarks. This is one of the more variable species with differences in size and sculpture observed across its range. In particular, specimens from the northern part of the Northern Territory and Western Australia are larger and more robust than those from Queenland. ( Sparks et al. 2014) also found this species to be one of the most genetically diverse. With more extensive sampling across the range this species may eventually be split into multiple taxa.

COI sequences. Genbank accession numbers for this species are KC572867 , KC572871 , KC572879 , KC572894 , KC572900 and KC572938 .

Additional material examined ( TERC). Northern Territory. Territory Wildlife Park, Berry Springs, - 12.6974, 130.9904, A. Andersen, TERC 64, Surprise Creek, Litchfield NP, 1 Aug 2010, A. Andersen, ANA- 26,5km S Turtle Gorge, Limmen Nat. Park, -15.93, 135.58, ANA09–30.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Workers of the M. rothsteini (Forel) species complex in lateral, head and dorsal view of the mesosoma. Fig. 6 a – c: M. leda, lectotype (Kimberley District, WA), d – f: M. maryannae holotype (Berry Springs, NT, ANA 09 – 15), g – i: M. merepah, paratype (Lakefield NP, QLD, TERC 1), j – l: M. mitchell, holotype (Mitchell Falls, WA, TERC 17), m – o: M. oodnadatta, holotype (160 km E Mala, SA, KSS 114). Scale bars are 0.5 mm for all views.