Metapone philwardi

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Metapone philwardi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Metapone
Species: M. philwardi
Binomial name
Metapone philwardi
Taylor & Alpert, 2016

Taylor, Alpert 2016 Metapone-31 102.jpg

Taylor, Alpert 2016 Metapone-31 104.jpg

Known only from the holotype worker, collected “ex rotten log”, montane rainforest, 1400m” (5.viii.1976, P. S. Ward acc.no. 1826).

Identification

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea.

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

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.
pChart

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.
pChart

Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • philwardi. Metapone philwardi Taylor & Alpert, 2016: 530, figs. 101-105 (w.) NEW GUINEA (Papua New Guinea).
    • Type-material: holotype worker.
    • Type-locality: Papua New Guinea: Iora Creek, 17 km. S Kokoda, 1400 m., 5.viii.1976, no. 1826, rotten log, montane rainforest (P.S. Ward).
    • Type-depository: ANIC.
    • Distribution: Papua New Guinea.

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

Description

Worker

Dimensions: TL: ca 7.5; HL: 1.64; HW: 1.28; CI: 78; CpL: 0.61; CpI: 37; MSL: 1.86; PML: 1.21; PMW: 0.86; PMI: 65; PDW: 0.73; PetL: 0.53; PetW: 0.57; PetH: 0.95; PpetL: 0.44; PpetW: 0.86; PpetH: 0.61; GW: 1.38.

General and diagnostic features, sculpturation and colour as illustrated and in the key to Pacific species. Clypeus extended, shortly rostrate, anterior border straight, anterolateral corners rightangled. Clypeus, frons and cheeks finely longitudinally striate, most strongly on cheeks; dwindling somewhat posteriorly on frons; dorsum and sides of mesosoma similarly striate. Eyes minute, maximum diameter ca 0.05mm, with about 8 very indistinct, somewhat irregular unpigmented facets Petiole in dorsal view overall a little less wide than long, posterodorsolateral spines relatively acute and well-developed. Ventral subpetiolar edge concave in profile; subpetiolar angle broadly rounded; subpetiolar extension a small, barely translucent hook-like process placed anteriorly. Frons, petiolar dorsum and entire postpetiole and gaster with relatively long pilosity as illustrated; a distinctive transverse linear crest of long hairs anteriorly on pronotal dorsum; hairs elsewhere on mesosoma shorter and more dispersed.

Type Material

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Iora Creek, 17km S of Kokoda [8°52′S, 147°44′E]. Australian National Insect Collection (Type No. 32-069964).

Etymology

Named for our friend, the celebrated myrmecologist Philip S. Ward of the University of California, Davis.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Taylor R. W., and G. D. Alpert. 2016. The myrmicine ant genus Metapone Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): a global taxonomic review with descriptions of twelve new species. Zootaxa 4105(6): 501-545.