Pseudonotoncus hirsutus

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Pseudonotoncus hirsutus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Melophorini
Genus: Pseudonotoncus
Species: P. hirsutus
Binomial name
Pseudonotoncus hirsutus
Clark, 1934

Pseudonotoncus hirsutus casent0178517 profile 1.jpg

Pseudonotoncus hirsutus casent0178517 dorsal 1.jpg

Synonyms

Pseudonotoncus hirsutus appears to be a more generalist species than Pseudonotoncus eurysikos. Pseudonotoncus hirsutus can be found along most of the east coast of Australia, with most samples coming from rainforest and wet sclerophyll forests, generally close to the coast. It is likely that this species prefers higher rainfall and more stable temperatures than P. eurysikos. It has been found primarily within dense forests. (Shattuck and O'Reilly 2013)

Identification

Shattuck and O'Reilly (2013) - Petiole broader than long in dorsal view; in lateral view much higher than long and with the anterior face separated from the flat dorsal face by a rounded angle. Dorsal surface of petiole smooth or with small foveate depressions. Pseudonotoncus hirsutus is similar to Pseudonotoncus eurysikos in all respects except the size and structure of the petiole.

  • Petiole approximately square in dorsal view; in lateral view almost as long as high, the anterior face rounding gradually into the domed dorsal face. Dorsal surface of petiole with course longitudinal rugae . . . . . Pseudonotoncus eurysikos
  • Petiole broader than long in dorsal view; in lateral view much higher than long, the anterior face separated from the flat dorsal face by a rounded angle. Dorsal surface of petiole smooth or with small foveate depressions . . . . . Pseudonotoncus hirsutus

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -17.36667° to -38.53332901°.

     
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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Elevation Range

Occurrence at collecting sites during elevational surveys of rainforest in the Eungella region, Queensland, Australia (Burwell et al., 2020).
Species Elevation (m asl)
200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Pseudonotoncus hirsutus 0-10
Shading indicates the bands of elevation where species was recorded.
Numbers are the percentage of total samples containing this species.

Biology

Clark (1934) - A small colony under a log. On being disturbed they instantly rolled themselves up and lay motionless.

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • hirsutus. Pseudonotoncus hirsutus Clark, 1934c: 65, pl. 4, figs. 23, 24 (w.q.) AUSTRALIA. Senior synonym of turneri: Shattuck & O'Reilly, 2013: 291.
  • turneri. Pseudonotoncus turneri Donisthorpe, 1937a: 619, figs. 1, 2 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Junior synonym of hirsutus: Shattuck & O'Reilly, 2013: 291.

Type Material

  • Pseudonotoncus hirsutus: Holotype, worker, Gellibrand, Victoria, Australia, 19–23 January 1932, J. Clark, Museum Victoria, Melbourne.
  • Pseudonotoncus hirsutus: Paratype, 1 worker, Gellibrand, Victoria, Australia, 19–23 January 1932, J. Clark, Australian National Insect Collection.
  • Pseudonotoncus hirsutus: Paratype, worker(s), queen(s), Gellibrand, Victoria, Australia, 19–23 January 1932, J. Clark.
  • Pseudonotoncus turneri: Holotype, worker, Tambourine Mountain, Queensland, Australia, 19–26 April 1935, R. E. Turner, The Natural History Museum.

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

Description

Worker

Shattuck and O'Reilly (2013) - Body uniform chocolate brown. Paler specimens generally with a darker gaster. Head in frontal view with sides tapering slightly anteriorly, as wide as long. Mandibles with six teeth, the first, second and fourth larger than the remaining. Clypeus with a central carina, tapering anteriorly into a central tooth. Frontal carinae short and sharply margined. Eyes large, convex, positioned one third from the posterior margin of head, one and a half times longer than wide. Ocelli small but distinct. Scapes extending one third their length beyond the posterior margin of head. Mesosoma strongly rugose-punctate, the rugae distinctly longitudinal laterally and on the mesonotum, less distinctly on the pronotum and propodeum. In dorsal view pronotum transversely convex, twice as wide as long and wider than mesonotum and propodeum. Promesonotal suture convex and deeply impressed. Mesonotum and propodeum in dorsal view similar in width and very slightly convex. Mesonotum slightly longer than broad. Propodeum roughly square in dorsal view, with well developed, slightly curved spines at the angle and with two small spines just above the metapleural gland bulbs. Petiolar node higher than long, with anterior face separated from dorsal face by a sharply rounded angle, and two posterior facing spines which are angled slightly up and half as long as the width between their bases. In dorsal view petiolar node broader than long, its upper surface smooth or sometimes with small foveate depressions. Gaster simple, first segment (abdominal segment III) extending to half its length. Legs slender; tibiae and femora somewhat spindle shaped and with numerous erect hairs.

Queen

Length, 4.3 mm. Colour and pilosity as in the worker. Sculpture much coarser. Head as broad as long, occipital border almost straight. Mandibles and clypeus as in worker. Scapes extending beyond occipital border by one-third their length. Eyes and ocelli slightly larger. Pronotum broader than long, angles broadly rounded. Mesonotum one-third broader than long, posterior border straight, parapsidal furrows distinct. Scutellum one-fifth broader than long, oval. Epinotum almost four times broader than long, posterior border with two short, broad, sharp-pointed teeth-like spines. In profile pronotum truncate in front, suture deeply impressed. Mesonotum and scutellum feebly convex above. Epinotum low, dorsum and declivity united, convex, spines of dorsum slender and sharp, as long as dorsum, directed slightly backward, spines of declivity short, sharp, placed just below middle of lateral border~ Node one-fourth broader than long, oval, spines long, broad at base, sharp at apex, inner borders straight, outer borders convex; in profile twice as high as long, thickest at base, anterior and posterior faces convex, spines slender, directed backward and upward; a sharp blunt tooth in front below directed forward. Gaster slightly longer than broad. Legs robust.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Borgelt A., and T. R. New. 2006. Pitfall trapping for ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in mesic Australia: what is the best trapping period? Journal of Insect Conservation 10: 75-77.
  • Shattuck S. O., and A. J. O'Reilly. 2013. Revision of the Australian endemic ant genera Pseudonotoncus and Teratomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae). Zootaxa 3669 (3): 287–301.