Anochetus alae, 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 : 6

Anochetus alae n. sp.

( Figs 3 , 4 )

Types. Holotype worker from Cairns North , Queensland , 16°53'S 145°46'E, 100m, 14 August 1983, P.S. Ward, PSWC#6111, gully rainforest , under stone ( ANIC32-013813 ); 21 paratype workers, same data as holotype (15 in ANIC, 3 in BMNH, 3 in MCZC; ANIC32 -059559).

Diagnosis. Propodeal angles produced as spines; sculpture on front of head extending only slightly beyond eyes; body large (HL> 1.78mm, HW> 1.53mm); scapes relatively long (SL> 1.60mm); mesonotum with a few transverse, irregular ridges. This species is larger than the similar A. veronicae , and differs in having well developed sculpturing on the mesosoma, a more convex anterior petiolar node face and more abundant pubescence on the scapes.

Worker description. Body large (HL> 1.78mm, HW> 1.53mm). Sculpturing on front of head extending slightly beyond eyes. Scapes surpassing posterolateral corners ('lobes') of head; with abundant, appressed pubescence and numerous erect hairs. Pronotum with smooth and shining dorsal surface, distinctly striate laterally. Anterior part of pronotum with transverse wrinkles and ridges. Mesonotum sculptured with a few transverse, irregular striations. Propodeum with angles produced as long spines. Propodeum rounded dorsally, with coarse transverse striations and erect hairs. Metapleuron mostly smooth and shining. Petiolar node with apical margin concave medially and lateral corners produced as spines. Erect hairs on hind tibiae present on all surfaces. Colour light brown, head, antennae, mandibles yellow-brown and legs yellow.

Measurements. Worker (n = 5): CI 86–87; EI 20–22; EL 0.30–0.35; HL 1.79–1.81; HW 1.54–1.58; HFL 1.89–1.92; ML 2.18–2.32; MandL 1.05–1.12; MTL 1.26–1.35; PronI 55–58; PronW 0.85–0.89; SL 1.61–1.66; SI 104–106.

Comments. This rare species has been collected only a single time, a nest found by Phil Ward under a stone in a gully rainforest.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Anochetus alae (Cairns North, Queensland, holotype, ANIC 32 - 013813): A. Front of head; B. Side of body; C. Top of body; D. Distribution of material examined.

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