Chelaner elegantulus

Chelaner elegantulus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Solenopsidini
Genus:	Chelaner
Species group:	falcatus
Species:	C. elegantulus
Binomial name
	Chelaner elegantulus; (Heterick, 2001) Specimen Labels

Chelaner elegantulus has the widest distribution of any member of the falcatus-group, and can be found throughout the drier woodland areas of temperate Australia. (Heterick 2001)

Identification

Heterick (2001) - A member of the falcatus group. This species resembles Chelaner falcatus in many morphological aspects, but is distinguished from that species by its much smaller size. Chelaner elegantulus may also be distinguished from the similar-sized Chelaner decuria by the possession of 12-segmented antennae.

Keys including this Species

Key to Australian Monomorium Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -28.46666908° to -33.85°.


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

Nomenclature

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

elegantulus. Monomorium elegantulum Heterick, 2001: 380, figs. 24, 57 (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

Holotype. HML 1.49; HL 0.62; HW 0.57; Cel 93; SL 0.32; SI 56; PW 0.34. Other. HML 1.51-1.81; HL 0.61-0.72; HW 0.59-0.74; Cei 95-104; SL 0.38-0.44; SI 59-72; PW 0.32-0.42 (18 measured).

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

Head. Vertex of head capsule planar; frons densely foveate and microreticulate with combination of appressed setulae and erect and suberect setae. (Viewed from front) compound eyes set at midpoint of each side of head capsule. Longest lateral anterior clypeal setae long, extending beyond dorsal margin of closed mandibles. Posteromedial clypeal margin level with posterior surface of antennal fossae. Anterior tentorial pits equidistant between mandibular insertions and antennal fossae. Maximum number of mandibular teeth and denticles: four; apical and basal mandibular margins meeting in tooth or denticle.

Alitrunk. Promesonotum with uniform microreticulation and dorsal foveae; dorsal promesonotal face convex anteriad, otherwise flattened; erect and suberect promesonotal setae >5; setulae appressed. Mesonotal suture absent. Metanotal groove absent. Propodeal angle absent; length ratio of dorsal face to declivitous face near 2: 1. Propodeal setulae appressed.

Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar node tumular and inclined posteriad; Ratio of greatest node breadth (viewed from front) to greatest node width (viewed in profile) near 4:3 to near 1:1. Anteroventral process always present as pronounced spur. Ventral lobe present in some individuals.

General characters. Colour light orange. Worker caste monomorphic.

Type Material

Holotype. Worker, Western Australia, Mukinbudin, 25.i.1988, M. Jacobs, soil, native veg., cara. park near town, 374/6MonBH48 (Australian National Insect Collection). Paratypes. New South Wales: 13 workers, Nyngan, 10.x.1946, J. Armstrong, Chelaner 12 seg. antennae det. R. W. Taylor 1975 (ANIC); 6 + 10 (1 head missing) workers, Bogan R., J. Armstrong, Chelaner 12 seg. antennae det. RWT. [R. W. Taylor] 1975. (The Natural History Museum and Museum of Comparative Zoology).

Holotype, worker, Mukinbudin, Western Australia, Australia, ANIC32-015731, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 13 workers, Nyngan, New South Wales, Australia, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 6 workers, Bogan River, New South Wales, Australia, The Natural History Museum.
Paratype, 10 workers (1 missing head), Bogan River, New South Wales, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Etymology

Latin: “having a very fine appearance”.

References