Mayriella spinosior Wheeler

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 : 448

Mayriella spinosior Wheeler , 1935

Figures 20 - 22

Mayriella spinosior Wheeler , 1935: 159.

TYPE MATERIAL

Holotype worker from Australia, Cairns district, Queensland (MCZC) (examined).

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL

(In ANIC unless otherwise noted). Australia, Queensland: 14 km WbyS Eungella , 21 ° 10 ' S 148 ° 22 ' E (Gillison, A.) ; 1 km W Imbil (Hill, L.) ; 1 km W Kuranda (Doyen, J.) ( MCZC) ; 8.5 km WSW Seaforth , 20 ° 56 ' S 148 ° 53 ' E (Gillison, A.) ; Braemar State Forest , via Kogan , 27 ° 13 ' S 150 ° 50 ' E (Raven, P.) ; Burpengary , via Cabodture (Monteith, G. B.) ; Cape Tribulation , 16 ° 04 ' S 145 ° 28 ' E (Calder, A. & Weir, T.) ; Carnarvon Gorge (Woodward, T. E.) ; Lake Barrine , Atherton Tableland (Darlington) ( MCZC) ; Melita , Cooloola Natl Pk (Greenslade, P. J. M.); Mossman Bluff Track , 5 - 10 km W Mossman (Monteith & Thompson) ; Mt. Webb Natl. Pk., 15 ° 04 ' S 145 ° 07 ' E (Calder, A. & Feehan, J.) ; Plowman , Cooloola Natl Pk (Greenslade, P. J. M.) ; Reedy Creek , via Somerset Dam (Monteith, G. B.) ; Thornton Range , 16 ° 14 ' S 145 ° 26 ' E ( Taylor, R. W. & Feehan , J.) .

DIAGNOSIS

This species can be separated from others in this genus by the lateral margins of the postpetiole being expanded anteriorly and forming a trapezoid when viewed from above (similar to Fig. 9), combined with the lack of erect hairs on the gaster.

WORKER DESCRIPTION

Sculpturing in posterior section of antennal scrobe well developed and distinct; sculpturing on dorsal surface of mesosoma consisting of large, closely spaced pits; propodeal spines relatively long and thin; dorsal surface of petiole in lateral profile angular and with distinct dorsal and posterior faces; in dorsal view, anterior region of postpetiole expanded relative to posterior region; dorsum of postpetiole with at most four erect hairs; gaster generally lacking erect hairs dorsally, very rarely (only known in one specimen) erect hairs present.

Measurements. Worker (n = 10) - CI 0.91 - 0.97; HL 0.44 - 0.57; HTL 0.24 - 0.32; HW 0.41 - 0.55; ML 0.46 - 0.60; PW 0.29 - 0.40; SI 0.59 - 0.65; SL 0.26 - 0.33.

COMMENTS

This species has been found primarily in litter samples collected in rainforests with a few additional records from Eucalyptus woodlands. It occurs along essentially the entire Queensland coast with several inland records in the southern part of its range.

This species is sympatric with M. abstinens , to such an extent that they have been collected together in the same litter samples. This co-occurrence is at least partly the cause of earlier taxonomic confusion in the genus as several individual pins in the ANIC contained both species, complicating initial species characterizations. Once this sympatry was recognized and the species separated, diagnoses were easily developed.