Odontomachus papuanus Emery, 1959

Wilson EO, 1959, Studies on the ant fauna of Melanesia V. The tribe Odontomachini., Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 120, pp. 483-510 : 496-497

Odontomachus papuanus Emery , n. status

(Fig. IB)

Odontomachus rixosus var. papuanus Emery , 1887, Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. Genova, (2)5:429, worker. Type locality: Aru. (Syntype examined- Emery Coll.).

Odontomachus papuanus var. concentricus Emery , 1897, op. cit., 38:557, worker. Type locality: Moroka, Papua, NEW SYNONYMY (provisional ).

Material examined. NETH. NEW GUINEA: Maffin Bay (E. S. Ross). N-E. NEW GUINEA: lower Busu River (Wilson, nos. 901, 923) ; Bulolo, 730 m. (E. J. Ford) ; Sattelberg-Maroruo, 800-900 m. (Wilson, no. 724) ; Maroruo, 900 m. (Wilson, no. 729) ; Nganduo, 1000 m. (Wilson, no. 733) ; Ebabaang, 1300- 1400 m. (Wilson, no. 828) ; Wamuki, 800 m. (Wilson, no. 850). ARU : syntype worker.

Taxonomic notes. O. papuanus is closely related to the Oriental species rixosus Fr. Smith , differing chiefly in its longer petiolar spine and more rounded apical mandibular teeth. Its recognition here as a distinct species is a provisional measure only. Significant geographic variation occurs within the range of papuanus on New Guinea. Workers from the lowlands (Maffin Bay, lower Busu River) are smaller and lighter in color than those from the mountains of the Huon Peninsula. The syntype from Aru is light in color but as large as the montane New Guinea workers.

Ecological notes. This species has been collected in both primary lowland rain forest and primary and secondary midmountain rain forest on New Guinea. Workers were found foraging singly on the ground during both the day and night. At the Busu River, a nest was found on a steep forested hillside. It consisted of a single shaft, five centimeters wide, extending horizontally into the soil beneath a tree root for a distance of approximately 45 centimeters. The colony was a small one, containing a single queen and about twenty workers, and may have been incipient.