Iridomyrmex hesperus
Iridomyrmex hesperus | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Dolichoderinae |
Tribe: | Leptomyrmecini |
Genus: | Iridomyrmex |
Species: | I. hesperus |
Binomial name | |
Iridomyrmex hesperus Shattuck, 1993 |
Iridomyrmex hesperus is an uncommon member of the viridigaster complex. For other details of its distribution and biology see Shattuck (1993).
Identification
This ant is confined to Western Australia and can be distinguished from other members of the complex by its lack of iridescence, its hairy mesosoma, the presence of erect setae on the hind tibiae and its relatively elongate antennal scape.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -25.958045° to -34.98333333°.
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. |
Biology
Castes
Worker
Images from AntWeb
Holotype of Iridomyrmex hesperus. Worker. Specimen code casent0172052. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by ANIC, Canberra, Australia. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- hesperus. Iridomyrmex hesperus Shattuck, 1993b: 1316, figs. 24, 25, 38 (w.) AUSTRALIA. See also: Heterick & Shattuck, 2011: 90.
Type Material
- Holotype, worker, Coalmine Beach, Walpole-Nornalup National Park, Western Australia, Australia, 34°59′0″S 116°44′0″E / 34.983333°S 116.733333°E, Lawrence,J.F. & Lawrence,N., ANIC32-000058, Australian National Insect Collection.
- Paratype, 1 worker, Coalmine Beach, Walpole-Nornalup National Park, Western Australia, Australia, 34°59′0″S 116°44′0″E / 34.983333°S 116.733333°E, Lawrence,J.F. & Lawrence,N., ANIC32-000057, Australian National Insect Collection.
- Paratype, 1 worker, Junana Rock, 9km NW Mt. Ragged, Western Australia, Australia, Taylor,R.W., ANIC32-000010, Australian National Insect Collection.
Description
Worker Description. Head. Posterior margin of head planar to weakly concave; erect setae on posterior margin in full-face view set in a row; sides of head noticeably convex; erect genal setae present on sides of head in full- face view. Ocelli absent; in full-face view, eyes set at about midpoint of head capsule; in profile, eye set anteriad of head capsule; eye semi-circular. Frontal carinae concave; antennal scape surpassing posterior margin of head by 1– 2 x its diameter. Erect setae on scape absent, except at tip; prominence on anteromedial clypeal margin present as an indistinct swelling or undulation; mandible regularly triangular with oblique basal margin; long, curved setae on venter of head capsule present. Mesosoma. Pronotum moderately and evenly curved over its length. Erect pronotal setae numerous (12 or more), short and bristly. Mesonotum straight. Erect mesonotal setae numerous (12 or more), short and bristly. Mesothoracic spiracles always prominent as small, vertical protuberances; propodeal dorsum protuberant; placement of propodeal spiracle mesad, more than its diameter away from propodeal declivity; propodeal angle present as a bluntly defined right angle, the dorsal and declivitous propodeal faces never separated by a carina. Erect propodeal setae numerous (12 or more), short and bristly. Petiole. Dorsum of node convex; node thick, orientation more-or-less vertical. Gaster. Non-marginal erect setae of gaster present on first gastral tergite; marginal erect setae of gaster present on first tergite. General characters. Colour anterior of head capsule and mesosoma pale orange with some brown infuscation, head, gaster and legs brown. Colour of erect setae yellowish brown.
Measurements. Worker (n = 3)—CI 91–92; EI 27–28; EL 0.30–0.31; EW 0.17–0.17; HL 1.18–1.23; HW 1.08–1.13; ML 0.53–0.58; PpH 0.20–0.23; PpL 0.69–0.74; SI 89–91; SL 0.98–1.03.
References
- Heterick, B.E. & Shattuck, S.O. 2011. Revision of the ant genus Iridomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 2845: 1-175.
- Heterick, B.E. 2021. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part I: Systematics. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 86, 1-245 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2021.001-245).
- Heterick, B.E. 2022. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part II: Distribution and biology. Records of the Western Australian Museum, supplement 86: 247-510 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2022.247-510).
- Shattuck, S. O. 1993. Revision of the Iridomyrmex calvus species-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Invertebr. Taxon. 7 7: 1303-1325 (page 1316, figs. 24, 25 worker described)