Platythyrea

Brown, W. L., 1975, Contributions toward a reclassification of the Formicidae. V. Ponerinae, tribes Platythyreini, Cerapachyini, Cylindromyrmecini, Acanthostichini, and Aenictogitini., Search: Agriculture; Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station 15, pp. 1-115 : 6-7

Platythyrea

> Platythyrea Roger, 1863, Berlin. Entomol. Zeitschr., 7: 172, [[ worker ]]. Type: Platythyrea punctata (F. Smith) , by designation of Bingham, 1903.

> Platythyrea : Emery, 1911: 28 - 30, pl. 2, fig. 1, lb, [[ worker ]] [[ queen ]] [[ male ]] diagnoses, species list. ----- Wheeler, 1922 a: 57 - 60, diagnosis; 1922 c: 758 - 76 l, list of African spp.; 1922 d: 1007, list of Malagasy spp. ----- Wilson, 1958 b: 150 - 153, revision of Melanesian spp. ----- Kempf, 1972: 206, neotropical species list.

[[ ... ]] Ponera : F. Smith, 1858: 95. ----- Gerstaecker, 1859: 262. ----- Roger, 1860: 295.

[[ ... ]] Pachycondyla F. Smith, 1858: 95.

[[ ... ]] Pachycondyla subgenus Bothroponera : Forel, 1913 b: 176.

> Eubothroponera Clark, 1930: 8 - 9, [[ worker ]]. Type: Eubothroponera dentinodis Clark , by original designation. ----- Clark, 1934 a: 32 - 34; designation of E. tasmaniensis as type invalid. ----- Clark, 1938: 361. ----- Brown, 1952: 2 - 5, transfer to Platythyreini , discussion. New synonym.

A diagnosis is given here in side-by-side comparison with that of Probolomyrmex .

PLATYTHYREA

Worker: Size modest to large; TL 4 to about 20 mm.

Antennal insertions remote and roofed by broad horizontal frontal lobes, situated behind clypeus and away from (behind) anterior border of head. Clypeus broad, with lateral wings, nearly flat to strongly convex, with or without a depressed narrow anterior apron. Posterior margin of clypeus varying from fine but distinct, to indistinct, or even absent, so that the surfaces of the posterior clypeus, frontal triangle, and frontal lobes tend to be confluent. Frontal triangle at most weakly impressed, with or without a shallow trailing median sulcus separating the frontal lobes.

Mandibles prominent, exposed, triangular, with distinct masticatory and basal borders, the blades extended but more or less downcurved; masticatory border serially dentate or denticulate, or edentate and cultrate; basidorsal surface with or without an oblique groove running laterapicad to the outer margin. Palpal formula 6, 4 to 3, 2.

Compound eyes always present and multifacetted, modest to large in size, situated near or in front of middle of sides of the head.

Antennal scapes reaching very nearly to or (usually) beyond posterior border of head in full-face view.

Trunk with a complete and apparently flexible promesonotal suture.

Middle and hind tibiae each with 2 (large mesal, smaller lateral) pectinate spurs; tarsal claws usually each with a distinct or indistinct median tooth.

Full adult color ranging from deep yellowish brown to black, the appendages often a contrasting lighter hue.

Queen: Much like corresponding worker in size and form, but winged as virgin and with moderately welldeveloped pterothoracic sclerites. Notauli absent or weak and incomplete. Ocelli present, weak, or even entirely absent; the last a condition otherwise unknown among winged queen ants. Venation complete for ants in both fore and hind wings; anal lobe present in hind wing.

Male: Size nearly that of corresponding workers and queens.

Head broader than long, including large compound eyes (fig. 32). Mandibles triangular, exposed, opposable. Antennal insertions remote and positioned behind a broad, convex clypeus.

Notauli present, usually strong and complete; parapsidal furrows present, fine. Metanotum variable, sometimes with a blunt point. Wings as in queen. Middle and hind legs with bicalcarate tibial apices, tarsal claws each with a median tooth so far as known.

Petiolar node more or less like that of corresponding worker and queen, though posterodorsal margination, teeth, etc. generally less distinct in the males so far known.

Genital capsule retractile, with all primitive parts present and well developed (figs. 131 - 136). Pygidium distinctive, usually tapered toward apex and sometimes produced as a downcurved aculeus. Cerci present and normally exposed (fig. 135).