Fallomyrma robusta

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Fallomyrma robusta
Temporal range: Priabonian, Late Eocene Rovno amber, Ukraine
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Genus: Fallomyrma
Species: F. robusta
Binomial name
Fallomyrma robusta
Radchenko & Dlussky, 2018

Fallomyrma robusta P6 F2.jpg

Identification

Radchenko & Dlussky (2018) - Fallomyrma robusta is similar to Fallomyrma transversa in the propodeum sculpture. It differs from all known species of Fallomyrma in the robuster, stout body and the much shorter, slightly transversal head (CI = 0.96 versus ≥ 1.15).

Distribution

This taxon was described from Rovno amber (Priabonian, Late Eocene).

Castes

Worker

Radchenko & Dlussky, 2018. Figure 1g-j. Holotype worker.

Fallomyrma robusta F1 i.jpg
Fallomyrma robusta F1 j.jpg
Fallomyrma robusta F1 g-h.jpg

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • robusta. †Fallomyrma robusta Radchenko & Dlussky, 2018: 160, plate 6, figs. 1, 2 (w.) UKRAINE (Rovno Amber).

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Body length is somewhat greater than 3 mm. The head is slightly wider than long, oval, with strongly convex lateral sides, slightly convex occipital margin, and widely rounded occipital corners. The masticatory margin of the mandibles has six teeth.

The mesosoma is short, stout; the promesonotum is slightly arched convex; the metanotal groove is relatively shallow and rather wide; the propodeum has short, but distinct rectangular teeth. The petiole has a rather short peduncle; its node is as high as the petiole length. The postpetiole is globular.

The body is smooth and shiny, only the propodeum has transversal rugosity (similar to that of F. transversa) and genae have short longitudinal rugae. The mesosoma, petiole, head, and gaster have long suberect setae, which are especially abundant on the gaster. The legs and antennal scape lack suberect setae (decumbent pubescence is also invisible).

Type Material

Holotype. Institute of Zoology of the Ukranian National Academy of Sciences, no. K–2204, worker; Rovno amber, Late Eocene.

Etymology

From the Latin robustus (strong, robust, powerful), as is characteristic of its habitus.

References