Tanipone maculata, Bolton & Fisher, 2012

Bolton, Barry & Fisher, Brian L., 2012, Taxonomy of the cerapachyine ant genera Simopone Forel, Vicinopone gen. n. and Tanipone gen. n. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) 3283, Zootaxa 3283 (1), pp. 1-101 : 79-80

Characters of maculata species group (workers)

1 Each glandular patch on the tergite of AIII consists of a slightly depressed area that, with light microscopy, appears extremely finely shagreenate to microreticulate, or even almost smooth; without coarse, deep, denselypacked punctures. With scanning electron microscope resolution the area of the patch, at least in zona , is seen to contain abundant, very closely packed, papillae (Figs 84–85).

2 Cephalic pilosity relatively sparse and arranged in a fixed pattern. In full-face view side of head in front of eye without projecting setae or at most with a single projecting seta close to the posterior clypeal margin; side of head below outline of eye with a single seta that projects laterally; side of head behind level of eye with a single projecting seta; 2–4 setae along posterior margin of head. In profile, a single pair of erect setae immediately behind the frontal carinae and a single erect seta above the dorsal margin of each eye. In one specimen an additional short seta is present close to the ocelli. Any pubescence that is present is appressed, minute, inconspicuous and very sparse.

3 With mesofemur in dorsal view standing setae are either entirely absent, or are restricted to a single short, stout seta on the anterior surface close to the apex. Metafemur in the same view either lacks setae or has a single short seta close to the apex on its anterior surface. Minute appressed or slightly elevated pubescence is present on both femora.

This group falls neatly into two complexes of related species. The varia complex ( aversa , scelesta , varia ) is characterised by the presence of a short preapical seta on the anterior surface of the mesotobia (best seen in dorsal view), the presence of at least one pair of setae on the propodeum, and the anterior setae on the tergite of AIII are at or very close to the anterior margins of the glandular patches. The maculata complex ( cognata , maculata , zona ) lacks setae in both these places, and the anterior setae on the tergite of AIII are considerably in front of the anterior margins of the glandular patches.