Chelaner bihamatus

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Chelaner bihamatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Chelaner
Species group: rubriceps
Species: C. bihamatus
Binomial name
Chelaner bihamatus
(Heterick, 2001)

Monomorium bihamatum casent0902293 p 1 high.jpg

Monomorium bihamatum casent0902293 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Chelaner bihamatus is reasonably common throughout temperate Australia, where it is mostly associated with mallee and harvests mallee seeds (label data). However, the worker from Beonaddy Swamp, near Perth, was found in mixed Eucalyptus woodland. (Heterick 2001)

Identification

Heterick (2001) - A member of the rubriceps group. Although this species resembles Chelaner legulus in gross morphology, the nature of the cuticular sculpture places C. bihamatus near C. longiceps. Some workers, including the holotype, also have vestigial denticles at the propodeal angle.

Heterick (2009) - Chelaner bihamatus and Chelaner legulus are very similar red species. The latter is distinguished chiefly by a darker band on the mesosoma.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -31.36666667° to -35.53332901°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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.
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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.
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Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • bihamatus. Monomorium bihamatum Heterick, 2001: 419, figs. 43, 73, 77, 78 (w.) AUSTRALIA.
    • Combination in Chelaner: Sparks et al., 2019: 232.

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

Description

Worker

Holotypes. HML 2.89; HL 0.97; HW 0.87; Cel 90; SL 0.80, SI 92; PW 0.64. Others. HML 2.44-3.22; HL 0.86-1.05; HW 0.75-0.96; Cei 82-93; SL 0.69-0.82; SI 81-96; PW 0.48-0.69 (30 measured).

As for the worker of Chelaner longiceps, but with the following apomorphies.

Head. Vertex of head capsule slightly concave to planar. Eye large, eye width greater than 1.5x greatest width of antennal scape. Frontal lobes parallel straight. Venter of head capsule with elongate, basket-shaped setae in at least some individuals.

Alitrunk. Promesonotal sculpture present in form of uniform microreticulation with few mesopleural striolae. Mesonotal suture absent. Propodeal processes absent (propodeum smoothly rounded in profile or with slight hump at propodeal angle), or vestigial (propodeum angulate in profile); lobes present as blunt flanges. Propodeal angle absent, or present.

Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar spiracle lateral and in anterior sector of petiolar node. Petiolar node cuboidal; sculpture present in form of microreticulation, or present; petiolar node rugose. Height ratio of petiole to postpetiole near 1: 1; height-length ratio of postpetiole near 2: 1 to near 4:3. Sculpture present in form of microreticulation. Ventral process absent or vestigial, or present and distinct.

General characters. Colour of head, trunk, and appendages reddish-orange, gaster orange. Worker caste monomorphic

Type Material

Holotype. Worker (top point), Western Australia, Balladonia, 13.i.1970, B. B. Lowery, limestone mallee, 10" rainfall, 6 pm, Chelaner (Australian National Insect Collection). Paratypes. New South Wales: 5 workers, Condobolin, 11.i.1967, B. B. Lowery, 650 [?ft], common on mallee gums, returning with mallee seeds, nest in sand (Museum of Comparative Zoology). South Australia: 3 workers, Streaky Bay, 23.ix.1957, B. B. Lowery, limestone mallee, on mallee gums, Chelaner (The Natural History Museum). Western Australia: I worker with same data as the holotype (ANIC), 2 workers and 1 ergatoid, Esperance district, 4.i.1966, C. Mercovich (BMNH); 6 workers, 38 miles N of Balladonia Hsd. 31°55'S, 127°49'E, 11.xi.1969, R. W. Taylor, Key's field notes, trip 163, stop 19542.1, ANIC ant vial no. 9.207 (ANIC).

Etymology

Latin: “two-hooked”.

References