Prionopelta majuscula Emery

Shattuck, S. O., 2008, Revision of the ant genus Prionopelta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Indo-Pacific region., Zootaxa 1846, pp. 21-34 : 27

Prionopelta majuscula Emery

(Figs 8-10, 21)

Ponera simillima F. Smith , 1860: 105 (junior primary homonym of Ponera simillima Smith , F. 1860: 104; combination in Rhopalopone by Emery, 1900: 311).

Prionopelta majuscula Emery , 1897: 595.

Prionopelta poultoni Donisthorpe , 1932: 462 (replacement name for Ponera simillima Smith , F. 1860: 105; junior synonym of P majuscula by Brown, 1953: 12).

Renea testacea Donisthorpe , 1947: 183 (queen described by Donisthorpe, 1948: 590; junior synonym of P. majuscula by Brown, 1953: 12).

Examblyopone churchilli Donisthorpe , 1949: 401 (junior synonym of P. majuscula by Brown, 1951: 102).

Types. Ponera simillima F. Smith : Holotype queen from New Guinea ( BMNH, not examined). Prionopelta majuscula Emery : Worker and queen syntypes from Beliao, Madang, Papua New Guinea (as Friedrich-Wilhelmshafen) ( MSNG, not examined). Renea testacea Donisthorpe : Worker and male syntypes from New Guinea ( BMNH, CASC, examined). Examblyopone churchilli Donisthorpe : Holotype and paratype queens from New Guinea ( BMNH (holotype), CASC, examined).

Diagnosis. Anterolateral corners of head, near mandibular insertions, generally rounded or at most with a very small, obscure tooth on each side. Dorsal mesosomal sculpturing reduced to minor irregularities. Size intermediate, head width between 0.49mm and 0.58mm.

Description. Anterolateral corners of head, near mandibular insertions, generally rounded and lacking a tooth but occasionally with a very small, obscure tooth on each side. Dorsal mesosomal sculpturing reduced to minor irregularities consisting of fine punctuations. Lateral mesosomal sculpturing weakly developed on pronotum and anterior and ventral region of mesopleuron, dorsal region of mesopleuron and majority of propodeum smooth. Fenestra present within subpetiolar process. Colour pale yellow, queens sometimes yellow-brown.

Measurements. (n=5) CI 78-81; HL 0.61-0.69; HW 0.50-0.56; ML 0.74-0.79; PetL 0.18-0.20; PetW 0.25-0.29; PI 138-155; SI 61-66; SL 0.32-0.34; T 1W 0.36-0.43.

Material examined (in ANIC unless otherwise noted). Indonesia: Irian Jaya: Biak I., Kampong Landbouw(Gressitt,J.L.) ( ANIC, MCZC); Cyclops Mts., Ifaar (Gressitt,J.L.) ( MCZC); Maffin Baai (as Maffin Bay) (Ross,E.S.) ( MCZC). Papua New Guinea: East Sepik: Wewak (Gressitt,J.L.) ( MCZC); Madang: Uho Village, 20km SW Madang (Anderson,R.S.) ( CASC); Milne Bay: Wakaiuna, Sewa Bay, Normanby I. (Brandt,W.W.) ( MCZC); Morobe: 13mi. W Lae (Emerson,A.); Lasanga Is. (Fanning,I.); lower Busu River, Huon Pen. (Wilson,E.O.) ( MCZC); N Solomons: Sohano (Kerruish,J.); Sohano, Bougainville (Kerruish,J.); New Britain: Keravat Ptn. (Gray,B. & Alikana); Western: Kiunga (Balogh,J.) ( MCZC). Solomon Islands: Kolombangara, Base camp (Roy.Soc.Exped.Brit.Mus.1966-1); Kolombangara, near Kuzi (Lawrence,P.N.); Guadalcanal: Umasani R. (Greenslade,P.J.M.).

Comments. This species has been found in rainforests and on coral limestone on New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Nests have been found in rotten wood. All Solomon Islands records are based on queens (no workers are yet known).