15. Metapone krombeini M.R. Smith, 1947

(Figs 71 –80)

Metapone krombeini M.R. Smith, 1947:76, gyne; Type locality: New Guinea, Milne Bay [10°S, 150°E].

Material examined. INDONESIA: West Papua (as “New Guinea: Neth”): River Tor (mouth), 4km E of Hol Maffen [1°58’S x 138°55’E] (T.C. Maa, VII-4-1959) alate gyne (LACMNH). PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Northern Province: Milne Bay, KB Mission (K.V. Krombein, 26–28 Mar 1944) holotype alate gyne (USNMNH, Type No 58003): Madang Province: Ohu village, 5°26’S 145°68’E (M. Janda, hand collection ex rotten log, 100–200m, 22 viii 200'''2) ANIC: West New Britain Province: Umboi Island [5°32′S, 147°52′E]: 1km N of Awelkom, 600m (G.A. Samuelson, 21–28.II.1967) alate gyne (LACMNH). The River Tor gyne is badly damaged by pinning, with the detached right forewing, postpetiole and gaster glued to the data label. It closely matches the krombeini holotype, and has a label by K. Yasumatsu identifying it as that species. An MCZC alate gyne from INDONESIA: West Papua (as “New Guinea: Neth”) Vogelkop: Manokwari (“Menoekwari” [5°20', 134°05'], 75m (D. Elmo Hardy, vii- 18-1957) is provisionally identified as M. krombeini . It generally agrees with the type but the proboscis is slightly different.

Worker diagnosis. General and diagnostic features as in original description (Smith, 1947) and Figs 76–80. Similar to gynes from New Guinea and Micronesia assigned below to the smaller M. truki, with differences itemised in the key to species above.

Gyne diagnosis. General features as in original description (Smith, 1947) and Figs 71–75. Similar to gynes from New Guinea and Micronesia assigned below to the smaller M. truki . The two species differ as specified in couplet 5 of the key to Melanesian species above. Colour dark brown, the gaster reddish-brown, TL: 3.36, HL: 1.72, HW (across eyes): 1.22, CI: 71, CpL: 0.65, CpI: 38, WL: 2.84, PetL: 0.78, PetW: 0.62, PetH: 0.98, PpetL: 0.64, PpetW: 0.79, PpetH: 0.74, GW: 1.34.

Five New Guinean workers and a male (LACMNH) are provisionally identified as M. krombeini .