Metapone leae Wheeler, 1919

Taylor, Robert W. & Alpert, Gary D., 2016, The myrmicine ant genus Metapone Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): a global taxonomic review with descriptions of twelve new species, Zootaxa 4105 (6), pp. 501-545 : 536-537

23. Metapone leae Wheeler, 1919

( Figs 126–130 )

M. leae Wheeler, 1919b: 183 , Figs 3, 4 , Gyne; Type locality: Tamborine Mountain [27S, 153E], Queensland.

Distribution, material examined. AUSTRALIA: S.E. Queensland: Tamborine Mountain [27S, 153E] (cited as “Mt Tambourine”) no further data (A.M. Lea) 11 syntype gynes. Lamington National Park, 28.207°S, 153.137°E, 471m (C. Lambkin, N. Starick, 15–15 Jan 2007, rainforest, malaise trap, IBISCA Qld Plot #IQ-500-D), two alate gynes mounted separately (QMBA). Known only from these two rain-forested habitats in extreme S.E. Queensland. Probably present also in N.E. NSW, depending on the distribution of termite host species.

Specimens from the type series (syntypes, labelled as “cotypes” by Wheeler) have been examined from the following collections: ANIC (7 specimens on 4 pins), MCZC (2; 1), USNMNH (1). Wheeler reported 22 specimens in the original series. All but one of the ANIC examples are damaged or fragmentary. One of the MCZC specimens is here designated lectotype, and the remaining specimens paralectotypes (all appropriately labelled). An intact type-compared Lamington National Park specimen is illustrated. It was originally alate. Its wings were removed to facilitate photography, and are card-mounted on the specimen pin.

Gyne diagnosis. General and diagnostic features as illustrated and keyed here, and in Wheeler’s detailed (1919b) description and figures. Readily identified in the key to Australian species above. M. leae is one of the most peculiarly recognizable of all known Metapone species by virtue of its uniquely flattened head and mesosomal profiles (see Figs), laterally directed clypeal denticles, unusually constituted petiolar node (with the dorsum raised well above the level of the posterolateral denticles, the latter posterolaterally directed, and the posterior border in dorsal view between the denticles narrowly, medially convex and bilaterally concave, and the very reduced subpetiolar configuration. These characters will, we expect, be present also in the worker caste. The frontal carinae are densely translucent, so that in full frontal view the antennal bases can be faintly seen beneath ( Fig 128 ).

Dimensions (Smallest Lamington N.P. specimen, lectotype): TL: 7.05, 6.93; HL: 1.48, 1.56; HW: 1.15, 1.18; CI: 78, 76; CpL: 0.58, 0.58; CpI: 39, 37; MSL: 2.15, 2.29; ScW: 0.99, 0.98; PetL: 0.49, 0.52; PetW: 0.50, -; PetH: -, 0.58; PpetL: 0.51, -; PpetW: 0.61, -; PpetH: -, 0.68; GW: 1.16, 1.14. The three head-intact ANIC paralectotypes have HW values 1.16–1.19 and CI values of 72–75, and the second Lamington N.P. specimen has HW 1.14, CI 76.

Congeneric sympatric associations. The Lamington National Park Record implies that M. leae is sympatric there with the M. tillyardi .

Figures

FIGURES 126 – 130. M. leae, syntype gyne, HW 1.15, ScW 0.99, MSL 2.15.

FIGURES 1 – 4. Metapone madagascarica, holotype worker, see text for dimensions.