Chelaner punctulatus

Chelaner punctulatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Solenopsidini
Genus:	Chelaner
Species group:	rubriceps
Species:	C. punctulatus
Binomial name
	Chelaner punctulatus; (Heterick, 2003)

The four known specimens of C. punctulatus were collected in a pitfall trap in a sand-dune 102 km SE of Newman in the Mid West Region of Western Australia, as part of a CALM survey. Interestingly, the ant fauna collected in this general area during the survey appears to have a greater affinity with that of far northern and north-eastern Australia than with the ant fauna of the adjacent Pilbara Region. (Heterick 2003)

Identification

Heterick (2003) - Distinguished from other Chelaner in the rubriceps species-group by a combination of its shagreenate and finely microreticulate sculpture, and its large eyes.

Chelaner punctulatus belongs to the Chelaner rubriceps species-group, as evidenced by certain of its features, namely the shape of the node, the number of mandibular teeth (five), and the compact postpetiole. Within the C. rubriceps group, C. punctulatus closely resembles Chelaner leae (especially specimens originally placed under Chelaner flavipes and Chelaner insulare, and also Chelaner centralis, but may be separated from these close relatives through its larger eye and shagreenate sculpture. The exotic Monomorium pharaonis has a similar body sculpture, but the shape of the node is quite different and the metanotal groove is a distinct furrow in this species. Moreover, M. pharaonis is a tramp species, rarely found far from built-up areas.

Keys including this Species

Key to Australian Monomorium Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -16.8608° to -24.10444444°.


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

Images from AntWeb


Worker. Specimen code antweb1008681. Photographer Lucinda Gibson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by MVMA, Melbourne, Australia.

Nomenclature

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

punctulatus. Monomorium punctulatum Heterick, 2003: 251, figs. 1, 4, 5 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Western Australia).
- Type-material: holotype worker, 1 paratype worker.
- Type-locality: holotype Australia: Western Australia, 102.5 km. SSE Newman, 24°06’16’’S, 120°19’36’’E, viii.1997, perm. invert. pitfall trap, C4, sand dune (S. van Leeuwin & R.N. Bromilow), paratype with same data.
- [Note: Heterick, 2003: 251, records two further specimens with same data, but excluded from the type-series, in CUTP.]
- Type-depository: ANIC.
- Combination in Chelaner: Sparks, et al. 2019: 233.
- Status as species: Sparks, et al. 2019: 233.
- Distribution: Australia.

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 1.69; HL 0.58; HW 0.48; CeI 82; SL 0.39; SI 81; PW 0.34. Other workers. HML 175–1.90; HL 0.59–0.61; HW 0.47–0.50; CeI 78–81; SL 0.41–0.43; SI 88–90; PW 0.32–0.37 (3 measured).

Head. Head rectangular, vertex planar; frons densely microreticulate with minute, inwardly curved, decumbent setae directed towards the midline of the head capsule, and almost invisible in some lights. Compound eyes elliptical; (viewed from front) eyes set slightly below midpoint of head capsule; (viewed from side) eyes set slightly posterior of midline of head capsule; eye size large, about 2 times width antennal scape. Antennal segments 12; antenna with 3-segmented club. Anteromedian portion of clypeus bicarinate, protruding narrowly, median clypeal carinae not produced apically as teeth or denticles; median seta present on anterior margin of clypeus; longest lateral anterior setae long, extending beyond dorsal margin of closed mandible; posterior clypeal margin extending slightly posteriad of posterior surface of antennal fossae; anterior tentorial pits straight; venter of head capsule without long, strongly curved setae. Palp formula unknown (palps not visible in specimens seen). Mandibles subtriangular, smooth and shining with scattered piliferous punctures; mandibles each with five teeth and denticles; basal tooth a tiny denticle; basal angle of mandible distinct, apical and basal mandibular margins ending in a denticle. Alitrunk (Fig. 5). Promesonotal sculpture in form of dense microreticulation, heavier sculpture lacking, matt in appearance; in profile, dorsal promesonotal face very gently concave anteriad, otherwise flattened; short, erect setae sometimes present on humeral angles, otherwise promesonotal setae very short and decumbent or appressed. Mesonotal suture absent. Metanotal groove virtually absent. Propodeal sculpture in form of dense microreticulation, with a few faint striae on lower lateral surface; dorsal propodeal face flattened anteriad, sloping gradually toward propodeal declivity posteriad, propodeal processes absent (propodeum bluntly angulate in profile); metapleural lobes present as blunt flanges; length ratio of dorsal propodeal face to its declivous face near 2:1; declivous face of propodeum flat; propodeal setae minute, appressed, almost invisible; propodeal spiracle lateral and about midway between metanotal grove and declivous face of propodeum; propodeal spiracular vestibule indistinct. Petiole and postpetiole (Fig. 5). Petiolar spiracle minute, lateral and positioned slightly ahead of petiolar node; in profile, peduncle of moderate length, its length slightly less than width of node (in profile). In profile, shape of petiolar node cuboidal to subcuboidal; sculpture of node densely microreticulate; ratio of greatest node breadth (i.e., viewed from front) to greatest node width (i.e., viewed in profile) between 1:1 and 1:2; subpetiolar process absent or vestigial, an anteroventral process present in some individuals as a small spur. Height-length ratio of postpetiole between 1:1 and 1:2; sculpture of postpetiole present in form of dense microreticulation; ventral process on postpetiole present and distinct. Gaster. Pilosity of first gastral tergite consisting of combination of erect and decumbent yellowish setae of approximately the same length; surface of sclerites smooth and shining. General characters. Colour of head, alitrunk and nodes orange-yellow, gaster and legs yellow. Worker caste apparently monomorphic.

Type Material

Holotype. Western Australia. Worker (bottom point), 102.5 km SSE Newman 24°06′16′S, 120°19′36′E, viii. 1997, S. van Leeuwin & R. N. Bromilow, Perm. invert. pitfall trap, C4, Sand dune (Australian National Insect Collection). Paratype: 1 worker (top point) with same data as holotype (ANIC).

The four specimens of Chelaner punctulatus were donated by Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). The holotype and one paratype of C. punctulatus were deposited with the Australian National Insect Collection (Australian National Insect Collection). Two specimens of the latter were retained by the JDM Collection, Curtin University of Technology, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia (Jonathan D. Majer Collection).

Holotype, worker, 102.5km SSE Newman, 24°06'16"S 120°19'36"E, Western Australia, Australia, 24°06′16″S 120°19′36″E / 24.10444°S 120.32667°E / -24.10444; 120.32667, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 1 worker, 102.5km SSE Newman, 24°06'16"S 120°19'36"E, Western Australia, Australia, 24°06′16″S 120°19′36″E / 24.10444°S 120.32667°E / -24.10444; 120.32667, Australian National Insect Collection.

Etymology

Latin adjective ‘minutely dotted’.

References