Anochetus veronicae, Shattuck, Steven O. & Slipinska, Ewa, 2012

Shattuck, Steven O. & Slipinska, Ewa, 2012, Revision of the Australian species of the ant genus Anochetus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 3426, pp. 1-28 : 23-24

Anochetus veronicae n. sp.

( Figs 4 , 7 , 16 )

Types. Holotype worker from 18km E The Granites, Tanami Desert , Northern Territory , 19 March 1987, S.R. Morton & P.J.M. Greenslade ( ANIC, ANIC32-015875 ) ; two paratype workers, same data as holotype ( ANIC, ANIC32 -059586) .

Diagnosis. Propodeal angles produced as spines; sculpture on front of head extending only slightly beyond eyes; body small (HL <1.62mm, HW <1.44mm); scape relatively short (SL <1.50mm); mesonotum smooth, lacking rugae or striations. This species is similar to A. alae but differs in being smaller and with a shorter scape, having the mesonotum smooth and the sides of the propodeum with coarse striations, and with reduced pubescence on the scapes. It can be separated from the otherwise similar A. renatae by the presence of teeth at the propodeal angle and in its larger size.

Worker description. Sculpturing on front of head extending slightly beyond eyes. Scapes surpassing posterolateral corners ('lobes') of head; with limited pubescence and numerous erect hairs. Pronotum smooth and shining with very weak, faded striations laterally. Anterior section of pronotum with transverse wrinkles and ridges. Mesonotum smooth and shining. Propodeum with angles produced as spines. Dorsum of propodeum rounded, sculptured with coarse transverse striations; erect hairs present. Metapleuron with coarse striations. Petiolar node with apical margin more or less concave and produced laterally as corners. Erect hairs on hind tibiae present on all surfaces. Colour from yellow-brown to brown, head from yellow to yellow-brown, antennae, mandibles and legs yellow.

Measurements. Worker (n = 8): CI 88–91; EI 26–30; EL 0.36–0.41; HL 1.52–1.61; HW 1.35–1.43; HFL 1.69– 1.78; ML 2.01–2.16; MandL 0.74–0.88; MTL 1.18–1.25; PronI 58–61; PronW 0.79–0.85; SL 1.40–1.48; SI 102–105.

Material examined. Australia: Northern Territory: 23mi. SE Newcastle Waters (Greaves, T.) ( ANIC); Darwin (Hill, G.F.) ( ANIC); Johnstons Lagoon [ Johnston Lagoon ] (Greaves, T.) ( ANIC); Western Australia: 12– 20mi. SSW Kalumburu Mission, King Edward River , N Kimberley (Leutert, W.) ( ANIC); 23 mi. SSE of Roy Hill H.S. ( McInnes & Dowse ) ( ANIC); Kimberley area nr. Kalumburu Mission (<5 mi.) (Leutert, W.) ( ANIC).

Comments. Anochetus veronicae is the only species within the genus to invade the drier desert regions of northern Australia. However, even here the limited biological information suggests that it occurs in open woodlands, similar to the forest preferences shown by most other species.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Scape length versus head width for A. alae, A. renatae, A. paripungens, A. veronicae and A. wiesiae.

FIGURE 16. Anochetus veronicae (18 km E The Granites, Tanami Desert, Northern Territory, holotype, ANIC 32 - 015875): A. Front of head; B. Side of body; C. Top of body; D. Distribution of material examined.

FIGURE 7. A. Eye length versus head width for A. armstrongi, A. avius, A. renatae and A. veronicae; B. Scape length versus head width for A. armstrongi, A. avius, A. renatae and A. veronicae.