Mayriella overbecki Viehmeyer, 2007

Shattuck, S. O. & Barnett, N. J., 2007, Revision of the ant genus Mayriella., Advances in ant systematics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Homage to E. O. Wilson - 50 years of contributions. (Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80), pp. 437-458 : 446-447

Mayriella overbecki Viehmeyer , 1925, n. stat.

Figures 13 - 16

Mayriella overbecki Viehmeyer , 1925: 26 (removed from synonymy with M. abstinens ).

TYPE MATERIAL

Worker ( NHMB) (examined) and 1 queen (MCZC) (examined) syntypes from Australia, Trial Bay , New South Wales .

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

Australia, New South Wales: Brindle Creek , Wiangaree State Forest (collector unknown) ( ANIC, MCZC) ; Bruxner Park , via Coffs Harbour (Monteith, G.) ( ANIC) ; Dorrigo Natl Pk, E end Blackbutt Track (Newton, A. & Thayer, M.) ( ANIC, MCZC) ; Mt. Warning (Lowery, B. B.) ( ANIC) .

DIAGNOSIS

This species can be separated from others in the genus by the combination of small, scattered pits on the mesosomal dorsum, weak sculpturing in the posterior sections of the antennal scrobes and the petiole with a relatively long posterior face and acute angle.

WORKER DESCRIPTION

Sculpturing in posterior section of antennal scrobe at most weakly developed and always indistinct; sculpturing on dorsal mesosoma consisting of small, widely spaced pits; propodeal spines relatively short and thick; dorsal surface of petiole in lateral profile uniformly convex, without distinct dorsal and posterior faces and forming a blunt angle with the anterior face; in dorsal view, postpetiole with the anterior and posterior regions approximately the same width (the region connecting them either flat or weakly convex); postpetiole and gaster lacking erect hairs dorsally.

Measurements. Worker (n = 7) - CI 0.91 - 0.94; HL 0.51 - 0.57; HTL 0.30 - 0.35; HW 0.48 - 0.53; ML 0.54 - 0.62; PW 0.33 - 0.37; SI 0.62 - 0.68; SL 0.30 - 0.35.

COMMENTS

This is one of the rarer species of Mayriella , being known from only five collections. These collections were from rainforest in north-eastern New South Wales, with nests being found in rotten logs.

Mayriella overbecki was established for a number of workers and a queen collected at Trial Bay, New South Wales. It was considered a junior synonym of M. abstinens by Wheeler (1935), a treatment followed by subsequent authors. Wheeler, however, based his synonymy on Viehmeyer's original description and did not examine type material. This synonymy was curious given that Wheeler established two new species based on subtle characters and slight differences. This taxon is here removed from synonymy and recognized as a distinct species.