Heteroponera crozieri

Heteroponera crozieri
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ectatomminae
Tribe:	Heteroponerini
Genus:	Heteroponera
Species:	H. crozieri
Binomial name
	Heteroponera crozieri; Taylor, 2011

Most specimens have been collected from rainforest litter samples, with the few exceptions being those obtained from "stick brushings" and under a stone.

Identification

Worker: Similar to the generally more southerly distributed Heteroponera leae. Salient differences are: (1) propodeal and petiolar denticles larger and more sharply acute; (2) reflexure of second gastral segment more pronounced – in side view the profile is less evenly arched than in H. leae, with a tightly curved median section; (3) first gastral tergite more-or-less evenly sculptured with coarse semi-foveate punctate-rugosity, the raised elements forming a somewhat longitudinally biased reticulum; (4) second gastral tergite similarly, but more finely punctate-rugose, the longitudinal component clearly evident, but much less well-developed than in H. leae; the whole more reticulate than in H. leae.

Queen: Appropriate characters consistent with those of the workers. Propodeal and petiolar spines a little less prominent. Gastral reflexure and sculpturation as in worker.

Identification Keys including this Taxon

Key to Australian Heteroponera Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -20.85° to -28.6°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Elevation Range

Occurrence at collecting sites during elevational surveys of rainforest in the Eungella region, Queensland, Australia (Burwell et al., 2020).
Species	Elevation (m asl)
Species	200	400	600	800	1000	1200
Heteroponera crozieri				0-10
Shading indicates the bands of elevation where species was recorded. Numbers are the percentage of total samples containing this species.

Biology

The gyne was formerly alate, as evidenced by the presence of torn wing stubs. She thus resembles those described for the Neotropical species Heteroponera dentinodis and Heteroponera inermis. Some other species, like Heteroponera relicta and Heteroponera brounii, have wingless ergatoid queens with reduced mesosomal structure. Gamergate reproductives (mated workers) have not been reported for any Heteroponera species.

Castes

Queen


.

Nomenclature

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

crozieri. Heteroponera crozieri Taylor, 2011: 121, figs. 5-12 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA (Queensland, New South Wales).
- Type-material: holotype worker, 19 paratype workers, 1 paratype queen.
- Type-locality: holotype Australia: Queensland, 3 km. S Eungella (= Dalrymple Heights) (21°08’S, 148°30’E), 780 m., 23-24.x.1982, under stone (R.W. Taylor & P. Pamilo); paratypes: 1 worker with same data but 21.x.1975, 1 worker Queensland, Mt Macartney, Cathu State Forest, 20°51’s, 148°33’E, 750 m., 22.iv.1979, QM berlesate 54 (G.B. Monteith), 2 workers Queensland, Kroombit Tops, SSW Caliope-Beauty Spot, 98, 24°22’S, 150°59’E, 860 m., 29-30.ix.1985, QM berlesate 679 (G.B. Monteith), 9 workers Qld, Three Moon Scrub, 24°25’S, 151°03’E, 940 m., 29-30.ix.1985, QM berlesate 681 (G.B. Monteith), 2 workers Qld, Mt Cloonie foothills (28/152), 5.iv.1953 (T.E. Woodward), 1 worker Qld, Beechmont (28/153), 1.viii.1954 (T.E. Woodward), 2 workersQld, Binna Burra (Guest House area, 28/153), 10.vii.1952 (T.E. Woodward), 1 worker Qld, Canungra-Glen Witherin (“Curtis Farm”) (28/153), 9.ix.1979, QM berlesate 207 (G.B. Monteith), 1 queen New South Wales, Richmond Range SF 47A, Goanna Creek Road, 28°36’S, 152°41’E, 545 m., 4.ii.-9.iv.1993 (M. Gray & G. Cassis).
- Type-depositories: ANIC (holotype); AMSC, ANIC, MVMA, QMBA (paratypes).
- Distribution: Australia.

Type Material

Holotype, worker, 3km S of Eungella (= Dalrymple Heights), Queensland, Australia, Australian National Insect Collection; gold coated for SEM study.
Paratype, workers, 3km S of Eungella (= Dalrymple Heights), Queensland, Australia, Australian National Insect Collection, Queensland Museum, Australian Museum, Museum Victoria, Melbourne.
Paratype, 1 queen, 3km S of Eungella (= Dalrymple Heights), Queensland, Australia, Australian Museum.

Description

Measurements and indices: (mm – holotype; smallest available worker specimen (Kroombit Tops), largest available worker specimen (Beechmont); gyne): TL (ca.): 5.5; 4.8, 5.6; 7.6. HW: 1.23; 1.08, 1.32; 1.55. HL: 1.24; 1.15, 1.30; 1.50. CI: 99; 94, 98; 103. EL: 0.17; 0.13, 0.20; 0.25. SL: 0.80; 0.68, 0.82; 0.87. SI: 65; 63, 62; 56. PW: 0.84; 0.71, 0.90; 1.24. WL: 1.64; 1.42, 1.72; 2.24. PetH: –; 0.62, 0.76; 0.93. PetW: 0.48; 0.42, 0.51; 0.71. GW: 1.14; 0.97, 1.26; 1.71.

Etymology

Named for my late friend, colleague and frequent co-author Prof. R.H. (Ross) Crozier, formerly of James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Taylor R. W. 2011. Australasian ants of the subfamily Heteroponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): (1) General introduction and review of the Heteroponera leae (Wheeler, 1923) species group, with descriptions of two new species. Myrmecological News 15: 117-123.