Myrmecorhynchus emeryi André

Shattuck, S. O., 2015, A review of the ant genus Myrmecorhynchus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 3955 (2), pp. 283-290 : 287-289

Myrmecorhynchus emeryi André

( Figs 2 , 4 , 5 )

Myrmecorhynchus emeryi André, 1896: 254 .

Myrmecorhynchus musgravei Clark, 1934: 43 . NEW SYNONYM Myrmecorhynchus rufithorax Clark, 1934: 46 . NEW SYNONYM

Types. M. emeryi : Holotype worker from the Victorian Alps, Victoria (Musee National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, examined). M. musgravei : Holotype male from Lamington Nat. Park (as National Park), Queensland (A. Musgrave, 19 December 1926) (Australian Museum, Sydney). M. rufithorax : Syntype workers from Warburton, Victoria (L. B. Thorn, in trees) (Museum Victoria, Melbourne).

Diagnosis. Mesosomal dorsum and legs with abundant erect hairs. Body colour variable, ranging from reddish to reddish-brown.

Comments. Myrmecorhynchus emeryi is the most widely distributed species in the genus, occurring from south-eastern Queensland (with a single record further north) south through New South Wales and Victoria to south-western Western Australia. It is found in a range of habitats including mallee, sandstone scrub and moist gully woodlands, dry to wet sclerophyll and rainforest. Nests are found in dead branches, twigs and vines, in soil most commonly at the base of tree but also under rocks or occasionally in moss. Nests have also been found in dead stumps (including a Xanthorrhoea stump). Three females were found in a cavity in a small dead twig 2.5m (8 ft) above the ground. This would suggest that this species is pleometrotic, however additional observations are needed to confirm this. Workers are most commonly seen foraging on trees and low vegetation and have been found feeding at extra-floral nectaries of Acacia pycnantha .

When describing the taxon M. rufithorax, Clark (1934) commented that this species was “near M. emeryi Andre ”, but gave no specific characters to separate these two taxa. With the presently available material, there seems little doubt that M. rufithorax represents the pale form of a single variable species, with M. emeryi representing the darker form. Intermediately coloured individuals are abundant and no additional characters could be found to suggest that more than a single species is involved. Because of this these two taxa are here considered synonyms. Myrmecorhynchus musgravei , also described by Clark (1934), was based on an unassociated male. Clark mentions several characters which separate M. musgravei from M. emeryi , including differences in colour (testaceous in M. musgravei , reddish yellow in M. emeryi ) and wing morphology (discoidal cell large in M. musgravei , small in M. emeryi ). However the limited available male material makes it difficult to assess the taxonomic significance of these and other characters used by Clark (1934). Numerous worker collections from the region of the type locality of M. musgravei in south-eastern Queensland suggest that a single species occurs there. There is no evidence for two distinct species in this region. Combined, the presently available information suggests that M. musgravei is the male of M. emeryi and not a separate species.

The major worker of this species was described by Emery (1898), the queen and male by Clark (1934) and the larva by Wheeler (1917) and Wheeler & Wheeler (1968).

Material examined. Australia: Australian Capital Territory: Black Mountain (Greaves,T.); Black Mountain Reserve (Liepa,Z.); Black Mt. (Greaves,T.; Lowery,B.B.); Black Mt., Canberra (Lowery,B.B.); Mount Ainslie (Lowery,B.B.). New South Wales: 10mi. S Kiama (Lowery,B.B.); 20km E Legume (Greenslade,P.J.M.); 4 mi. E of Berry (Lowery,B.B.); 9.5km S Bungendore (Shattuck,S.O.); Berry Mountain, Berry (Lowery,B.B.); Bilambil (Lowery,B.B.); Blue Knob Mt., Nightcap Range (Lowery,B.B.); Bogan River (Armstrong,J.); Bola Creek NP, Sydney (Lowery,B.B.); Cambewarra Mountain (Lowery,B.B.); Cool and Candle Crk., Kuring-gai Chase (Lowery,B.B.); Cowan, Sydney (Lowery,B.B.); Dalrymple Forest, Pymble, Sydney (Lowery,B.B.); Foxground (Lowery,B.B.); Frenchs Forest, Sydney (Lowery,B.B.); Gerroa (Lowery,B.B.); Gerroa, 10mi. S Kiama (Lowery,B.B.); Gibraltar Ra. Nat. Pk. via Glen Innes (Monteith,G.); Hills to W of Mudgee (Lowery,B.B.); Jerusalem Bay, Cowan (Lowery,B.B.); Kyogle (Froggatt,W.W.); Mt. Saddleback, Kiama (Lowery,B.B.); Mt. Warning (Lowery,B.B.); Riverview College, Lane Cove, Sydney (Lowery,B.B.); Riverview College, Sydney (Lowery,B.B.); Runnyford Ck., Nelligen (Liepa,Z.); St. Ives, Frenchs Forest, Sydney (Lowery,B.B.); Tooloom Plateau, 14km W Urbenville (Naumann,I.D.); W of Mt. Warning (Lowery,B.B.); Wallerawang (Lowery,B.B.); Wentworth Falls (Wheeler,W.M.); Wentworth Falls, Blue Mts. (Lowery,B.B.). Queensland: 13km NE Eungella (Ward,P.S.); 1km SSE Eungella (Ward,P.S.); 50mi. W Mackay, Eungella NP (Lowery,B.B.); 7km NNW North Tamborine (Ward,P.S.); Diggings Road, Eungella (Monteith,G.B. & Thompson,G.); Lamington N.P. (Andersen,A.N.); Mt. Tamborine (Greaves,T.); Palm Grove N.P., 8km ESE North Tamborine (Shattuck,S.O.); Tomewin (Lowery,B.B.); Tomewin, Murwillumbah (Lowery,B.B.). South Australia: Belair Rec. Park, Adelaide (O'Dowd,D.J.); Bridgewater (Greenslade,P.J.M. & Hutson); Kangaroo Is., Breakneck R. (Greenslade,P.J.M.); Mt. Bold Reservoir, SE of Adelaide (Ward,P.S.); Mt. Lofty (Lowery,B.B.); Mt. Lofty summit (Gross,G.F.); Mt. Remarkable, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade,P.J.M.); Sevenhill (Lowery,B.B.); Spring Gully (Lowery,B.B.); Streaky Bay (Lowery,B.B.); Upper Sturt (Herridge,J.A.); Worlds End, 23km S Burra (Lowery,B.B.). Victoria: 15km WNW Yaapeet, Wyperfeld Natl. Pk (Andersen,A.N.); 20km S Ouyen (Shattuck,S.O.); Harrietville (Lowery,B.B.); Heathcote (Lowery,B.B.); Hurstbridge (Lowery,B.B.); Leongatha (Lowery,B.B.); Warrandyte (Greaves,T.); Woori Yallock (as Wooriyalock) (Thorn,L.B.). Western Australia: 11 mi. E Pingrup (Greaves,T.); 15km N of Norseman (Lowery,B.B.); Corrigin (Lowery,B.B.); Grass Patch (Lowery,B.B.); Junana Rock, 9km NW Mt. Ragged (Taylor,R.W.); Pingrup (Greaves,T.); Tingledale (Taylor,R.W.).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Myrmecorhynchus emeryi worker, 9.5 km S Bungendore, New South Wales, S. O. Shattuck (ANIC 32 - 042179).

FIGURE 4. Myrmecorhynchus emeryi, major worker, Gerroa, New South Wales, B. B. Lowery (ANIC 32 - 010956).

FIGURE 5. Myrmecorhynchus emeryi, minor worker, Mt. Remarkable, Flinders Ranges, South Australia, P. J. M. Greenslade (ANIC 32 - 010964).