Rostromyrmex, a new genus of myrmicine ants from peninsular Malaysia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

10 Pages·1994·0.39 MB·English

by  Rosciszewski, K.

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a
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Rostromynnex^ a new genus of myrmicine ants
from Peninsular Malaysia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
KRZYSZTOF ROSCISZEWSKI
tnt. S«C-a-»nnUrl. (RoHsycmiesnzoepwtskeir,a:K.F:orRmoisctirdaoem)y.rmEnetx.,scaannde.w2g5:en1u5s9-o1f68m.yCrompiecnihnaegeannt,sDfernommarPke.niJnusunlear199M4a.laIySsSiNa
0013-8711.
Rostromyrmex,anewgenusofmyrmicineantsfromPeninsularMalaysiaisdescribedontheba-
sisofworkers,dealatefemales,andasinglemale.Analysisofcharacterssuggestsaclosestrela-
tionshipwitheitherLordomyrmaortheSolenopsisgenusgroup.
K.Rosciszewski,StaatlichesMuseumfiirNaturkunde,Erbprinzenstr. 13,76133Karlsruhe,Ger-
many.
Introduction
During a biodiversity study in a primary lowland
rainforest,thePasohForestReserve,NegeriSembi-
jan,PeninsularMalaysia,anumberofundescribed ^
species of ants were found. Among these were I— SL
specimens ofanewmyrmicinegenus, collectedby
hand inrottenwood. Fig. 1. Measurementofthescapelength(SL).
Methods
Totallength(TL).Sumofthefollowinglengths:(1) Pronotal width (PW). Maximal width in dorsal
head in full-face view from apex ofmandibles to view.
occipital margin (more precisely: to midpointofa Alitrunklength(AL). Diagonallengthinlateral
lineconnectingposterolateralprojectionsofhead), viewfromanteriormarginofpronotum(excluding
(2) alitrunk in dorsal view from anterior pronotal neck) to posterior margin ofpropodeal lobe. [Ac-
margin (excludingneck) tonarrow constriction of cording to P. Ward, pers. comm., the term
petiolarpeduncleatitsinsertiononpropodeum,(3) 'propodeal lobe' is more appropiate than
petiolar peduncleindorsalview fromconstriction 'metapleural lobe' as it is derived from the
tonode,(4)nodesofpetioleandpostpetioleindor- propodeum,notfromthemetapleuron.Othersyn-
salview, and(5)gasterindorsalview. onyms are 'infrapropodeal lobes' and 'inferior
Headlength(HL). Infull-faceviewfromthean- propodealplates'.]
teriormost point of clypeus (in this case clypeal Measurements,inmillimetres,weretakenwithan
projection: 'rostrum') to midpoint of a line con- ocular micrometer on a Zeiss microscope. Indices
nectingposterolateralprojectionsofhead. werecalculatedbeforeconvertingmicrometerunits
Headwidth(HW). Maximumwidthin full-face to millimetres. The terminology for sculpture fol-
view (excluding the eyes in worker and queea, in- lows Harris (1979), for wing venation in males
cludingtheeyesinmale)H.W Brown&Nutting(1950).
Cephalicindex(CI). x 100/HL.
Scape length (SL). Maximum length excluding DKeaprolssirtuohrei,es.Ger-mSatnaaytli(cShMesNKM)u;seTuhme fNiairtuNraatlurHkiusntdoer,y
basalconstriction,infrontalviewasseeninFig. 1. Museum[= BritishMuseum(NaturalHistory)],London,
Scapeindex(SI). SLx 100/HW. U.K.(BMNH).
CEniomoiogicascandinavica(Grp4)
160 Roiciszewski, K. ENT.SCAND.VOL.25:2(1994)
Rostromyrmexgen. n. 13. Frontal carinae very short, not extending
posteriorlyoffrontallobes.
TVpe-spedes:Rostromyrmexpasohensissp.n. 14. A carina on ventrolateral margins of head
present, extending from occipital margin approxi-
Diagnosis matelytoeyelevel.
Monomorphic ants belonging to the subfamily 15. Alitrunk compact, slightly convex throughout
Myrmicinae, with the following combination of in lateral view, propodeum separated from
promesonotum by small but distinct metanotal
characters.
groovewhichisborderedbyaraisedridgeposteri-
Worker. - 1. Mandibles broad triangular, 6- to orly.
7-denUte (6-dentate in paratypes, 7-dentate in 16. Pronotalangles(anteriorventrolateralmargins
holotype, basal tooth very small; in all cases only ofpronotum)sharp, butwithoutdistincttooth.
onemandibleclearlyvisible).Dentitiondecreasing 17. Thorax strongly constricted laterally between
insizefromapextobase.Apicalandsubapicalteeth mesonotum and propodeum (best seen in dorsal
separated fromotherteethbyshortdiastema.
view).
2.Palpformula2,2.Palpiveryshort,basalsegment 18. Propodeal spines present, moderately large,
ofmaxillarypalpdistadstronglydilated(Fig. 7). directed postero dorsally and somewhat dorsally
3. Antennae 9-segmented, with distinct, 3-seg- curveddistad.
mentedapicalclub.
19. Propodeal spiracles conspicuous, situated
4. Eyesstronglyreduced. above midheight and behind midlength of the
5.Anteriorclypealmarginentire,convex,withme- propodeimi, close to the margin of the declivity,
dianprojectionbeneath 'rostrum'.
somedistanceinfrombasesofpropodealspines.
6.Lateralportionsofclypeusnotraisedposteriorly
intoashieldwallin frontofantennalinsertions. 20.Metapleuralglandbullaelarge,ashortdistance
frompropodealspiracles.
7.Medianportionofclypeusraised, formingstrik-
ingprominence('rostrum')projectingforwardbe- 21. Propodeal lobes moderately large, broadly
tween levels of frontal lobes and anterior clypeal rounded,coimectedtopropodealspinesbycarinae.
margin. In lateralviewtheyseemto formonecarina.
8. Median clypeal carina present, running from 22. Metastemalprocessabsent.
projection of anterior clypeal margin, over 23. Petiole with long peduncleand strongly devel-
'rostrum' toposteriorclypealmargin. oped node, spiracles located behind midlength of
9. Medianclypealsetapresent.Anteromedianpor- peduncle.
tionofclypeuswith5longsetae:apairlaterallyon 24. Tibialspursabsent frommiddleandhindlegs.
'rostrum' (anterodorsad directed), a pair beside 25.Firsttergiteformsmorethanhalflengthofgas-
median clypeal carina at midlength between traldors\mi.
'rostrum' and median projection of anterior 26. Sting (Figs 10, 11) not heavily sclerotized, but
clypealmargin(anterodorsaddirected), andsingle probablyableto sting, without any lobular flange
mediansetadirectlyabovemedianprojectionofan- nearapex.
terior clypeal margin (anteroventrad directed). 27.Entirebodyexceptgaster,legs,antennalfunicu-
LateraUy of median seta 3 pairs of shorter setae. andmandiblesstronglysculptured.
Dorsally of this row some other short setae and li
hairs. Queen. -Generalcharactersasinworkers,withfol-
10. Frontallobes verycloselyapproximated, sepa- lowingdifferences.
rated by narrow median strip of cuticle which is 1. Slightlylargerthanworkers.
somewhatdepressedandshining. 2. Mandibles7-dentate.
11.Typicalfrontaltriangleabsent.Instead,thestrip 3. Segmentsofmaxillarypalppartly fused.
ofcuticlebetweenthefrontallobeswidensposteri- 4. Eyeswelldeveloped.
orlyintoanelongate, narrow, somewhatrhomboi- 5. Alitrunk slightly convex as in workers, but
dalareawhichisdepressed, smoothandshining. propodeumonlowerlevel,separated fromremain-
12. Antennal scrobes present, large but shallow, ingalitrunk byadeepstep.
deepestinthelowerpartnearantennalsockets,and 6.Thoraxnotstronglyconstrictedlaterallybetween
notsharplydefined. mesonotumandpropodeum.
£MT.SCAND. VOL.25:2(1994) Newgenusofmynnicineants 161
Figs2-5.Rostmmyrmexpasohensis,worker:(2)generalhabitus,lateralview(scale = 0.5mm);(3)middleandposterior
partsofalitrunk,lateralview(scale = 0.1mm);(4)headandanteriorpartofalitnink,dorsolateralview(scale = 25
mm);(5)head,dorsolateralview(scale = 0.25mm).
7. Propodeal spines moreposteriorlydirected and Male. - 1. Total length slightly larger than in wor-
almoststraight. kers.
8. Propodeal spiracles situated on the declivity it- 2. Palpformula2,1 (insitucount;smalllabialpalp
self, veryclosetometapleuralglandbullae. difficuh tosee).
9. Cannae connecting metapleural lobes and 3. Mandibles small, triangular, without any teeth,
propodealspinesweakerthan inworkers. narrowedtoablunttip.
10. Several gland-like structures on katepisternum 4. Antennae 10-segmented.
present (visible in SEM) (Fig. 9). According to 5. 'Rostrum' absent. Median portion of clypeus
Billen(pers.comm.),theymightrepresentglandsof raised, dome-shaped, withoutcarina.
an unknown type. However, for a morphological 6. Anterior clypeal margin broadly rounded, with
studylivingmaterialisnecessary. row of7setaewhich areshorterthanin females.
162 Ros'ciszewski, K. ENT. SCAND. VOL. 25:2(1994)
Figs6-9.Rostromyrmexpasohensis,worker(6-7),queen(8-9):(6)petiolusandpostpetiolus,lateralview(scale = 0.25
mm);(7)maxillarypalp(scale = 0.01 mm);(8)head,frontalview(scale = 0.25mm);(9)middleandposteriorpartsof
alitrunk,lateralview(scale = 0.1 mm).
7.Antennalscrobespresent, butshorterthanin fe- largeranteriorpartbyasulcusandraised, forming
males. cone-shaped elevation which surpasses dorsal line
8. Frontalcarinaepresent, though weak. of alitrunk in lateral view. This affiliates it more
9. Frontallobesasnarrow, widelyseparatedstrips, closely with auxillae and scutellum than with an-
onlypartlyconcealingantennal articulations. terior part ofmesoscutum.
10. Frontal triangle present, broad, not sharply 13. Propodeal spinesabsent.
demarcated. 14. Propodeal spiracles situated high up, close to
11. Parapsidal lines on dorsum of mesoscutum junctionofmetapleuron.
present, notauliabsent. 15. Petiolar peduncle long, gradually swollen
12. Posterior part of mesoscutum separated from posteriorly to a low node, spiracle located behind
ENT. SCAND. VOL.25:2(1994) Newgenus ofmyrmicineants 163
Q1
mm
12
13
0.1
mm I
Figs 10-14.Rostromyrmexpasohensis,stingapparatus:(10)stingandfurcula,ventralview;(11)sting,lateralview(12)
spiracularplate;(13)quadrateplate; (14)oblongplate.
midlengthofpeduncle. Postpetiolarnodelow. mmindiameter.Lengthof'rostrum' indorsalview
16. Metapleural lobes small, broadly rounded, re- is0.06mm.Antennalsegments3-6about2timesas
stricted tosides ofpropodeal foramen. broadaslong,segment7slightybroaderthanlong.
18. Head except mandibles and antennal funiculi Apical club more than 2 times longer than re-
stronglysculptured. mainder funiculus. Sides of head in face view
19. Wings with venation as in Figs 18 and 19, cov- slightynarrowingtowards mandibles and rounded
ered with abundantdecumbentpilosity. towards feebly and shallowly concave occipital
20.Eyeslarge,withconspicious,short,suberectpi- margin. Propodeal spines as in Fig. 3, length 0.10
losity mm. Propodeal declivity almost vertical, slightly
slopeddorsad,meetingpropodealdorsumatanan-
gleofabout45° atanteriorlevel ofspinebases. A
Rostromyrmexpasohensiss^. n. thin, transverserugaUes betweenpropodeal faces.
(Figs 1-19) It may be followed by one or two rugae on
With characters ofgenericdiagnosis. propodeal declivity. Metanotal groove in dorsal
8H3o,lSoLty0p.e33w,oSrIke7r3.,-PTWL02..3147,,AHLL00..5594.,HHabWit0u.s45a,sCiIn mvlaiitedewdralaletlyananasdrraohwsiuentsdutrcepoxotaioen.tveTonfthreaolhsatutrteuurnraekliiasnncidinstcieoornnstpaiebnrousveeeds
Fig. 2(brightercolorationofsomebodypartsisan with transverse cross-ribs (Fig. 3). Petiolar pedun-
artifact ofthescanningelectronmicroscopy). cle relatively long and slender, subpetiolar process
Stronglyreducedeyes situatedatabout '/3 head (anterior to and below petiolar spiracles) very
lengthonsidesofhead(measuredfrommandibular small. Petiolar node distinct, high, ascending
insertions to occipital margin) and measure 0.037 almostvertically, roundeddorsally, slightly broad-
164 Rosciszev/ski, K. ENT. SCAND. VOL. 25:2(1994)
Fig. 15.Postromyrmexpasohensis,male,lateralview.
erthanlong(Fig. 6),withoutavisiblestepposteri- sions. Distal parts of femora smooth and shining
orly. Postpetiolein lateralviewslightlylower than ventrally,thisareaflattenedandwithouthairs. Re-
petiole, shallowly rounded dorsally, broader than mainderoflegs,aswellasantennalfuniculus,with-
long. Postpetiolarprocesssmallandrounded,with out or with only traces of sculpture, moderately
twopairsofhairs laterally. shining. Pilositymoderatelydenseonwholebody,
Sculpture of head, alitrunk, petiolus and post- sparse only on meso- and metapleuron and on
petiolusasinFigs. 2-6. Aspartofsculpture, small petiolar peduncle. Gaster with pilosity less dense
knobsoccurondorsumofhead,alitrunkandnodes thanonheadandalitrunk. Hairsmostlyshort, ap-
ofpetioleandpostpetiole. Theyarereadilyseenby prox. 0.025 mm long, hooked, decumbent to
SEM, less easily under a light microscope. Sculp- suberect,appressedonlegsandantennae.Scattered
ture on sides of head (including antennal scrobes long hairs present. Maximal hair length on head
andbaseofmandibles)foveate-reticulatewithhairs dorsum 0.036 mm, on alitrunk dorsum 0.086 mm
inthepits,sculpturemoredilutedonventralsideof and on gaster 0.049 mm. Length of setae on an-
head capsule. Surface of 'rostrum' with traces of teromedianportionofclypeusas follows: setaeon
sculpture laterally, moderately shining. An- 'rostrum' 0.074mm, setaebetween 'rostrum' and
terolateralportionofclypeussmoothandshining. projection of anterior clypeal margin 0.098 mm,
Scape sculptured dorsally (Fig. 5). Maxillarypalp single median seta 0.074 mm. Body colour uni-
as in Fig. 7. Mandibles, except laterobasally, formlydull red, legs, antennal funiculi, mandibles
smoothandshining.Dorsumofheadwithirregular and 'rostrum' somewhat lighter.
sculpture,partlydilutedbetweenpitsand,particu- Paratypeworker. -TL2.10, HL0.52, HW0.43, CI
larlytowards occiput, equipped with small knobs. 82, SL 0.31, SI 73, PW0.32, AL0.57. One pair of
Alitrunk sculpture similar, except pits around hairs laterally on postpetiolar process. Petiolar
propodealspiracle(exceptventrad)andonpronotal
nodewithasmallstepposteriorly.Othercharacters
dorsumsmallandwithouthairs(Fig.J). Propodeal asin holotypeworker. Twomoreparatypeworkers
declivity, beneath posterior level of spine bases, are present in BMNH, London.
smoothandshining. Sculptureofnodesalmosten-
tirelyconsistingofknobs,petiolarpedunclefoveate Paratypequeen(Figs8,9).-TL2.34,HL0.55,HW
(Fig. 6). Gastersmoothandshining. Hindparts of 0.47, CI 84, SL 0.34, SI 72, PW 0.36, AL 0.66.
coxaeandbasalpartsoffemorawithweakimpres- Differs from workers as follows. Slightly larger.
'
ENT. SCAND. VOL. 25:2(1994) Newgenusofmyrmicineants 165
LO.5
Figs 16-17.Rostromyrmexpasohensis,male: (16)alitrunk,dorsalview;(17)head, frontal
Eyes well developed, maximal diameter 0.12 mm. flattened dorsoventrally. Head (Fig. 17) shghtly
HeadinfrontalviewasinFig. 8. Smallblackspots wideracrosseyesthanlong. Headin full-faceview
presentaroundocelli.Metapleurallobessomewhat broadest before midlength. Sides of head sUghtly
weaker developed. Sculpture on meso- and narrowing towards occiput and rounded towards
metasternum as in Fig. 9. Petiolar node provided feebly and shallowly concave occipital margin.
with smallstep posteriorly. Mesonotum almost vertically raised anteriorly,
concealing most of pronotum in dorsal view.
Paratypemale(Figs 15-19).-TL 1.74[petiolarnode Metanotumsmall,strap-Uke,slightlyelevated,just
andpedunclemeasuredincombination], HL0.38, visible in dorsal view beneath scutellum. Dorsal
HW
[including eyes] 0.40, CI 104.84, SL 0.13, SI faceofpropodeumrelativelyshort,decUvitousface
PW AL
33.85, 0.34, 0.63. almost vertical. Two small elevations present on
Median3setaeonanteriorclypealmarginabout transition between dorsal and decUvitous faces of
samelength(ca.0.06mm),4lateralsetaearesome- propodeum,thusthefacesmeetinasharpanglein
what shorter. Anteimal scrobes relatively short lateralview. Sidesofpropodeumrounded. Petiolar
(reaching about Vi of HL), shallow and poorly node broadly rounded dorsally, posteriorly
delimited, deepened beneath antennal sockets. descendingwithoutastep. Subpetiolarprocessab-
Frontal carinae not bordering antennal scrobes sent. Postpetiolesomewhat flattened dorsally, dis-
dorsally, butfollowingtheirdeclivity. Aweakcari- tinctly wider than long and wider than petiolar
naonventrolateralmarginofheadextendsfromoc- nodeindorsalview. Postpetiolarprocesssmalland
cipital margin to about level of eyes. Eyes large rounded, withonepairofhairs.
(max. diameter 0.19 mm), occupying most of an- Wings with venationas in Figs 18-19. Forewing
terolateralhead,extendingposteriorlytoaboutJev- with one cubital cell, radial cell open. Mfl arises
elofantennalscrobes. Antennaewithallsegments distal of cu-a, Ir and r-m absent. Stigma absent,
longer than wide (pedicellus only sUghtly so be- replacedbythickeningofthevein.2rverylong,pos-
cause distally somewhat thickened). Terminal seg- siblyahgned with Rsf4. Hind wing with noclosed
ment shghtly longer than the two preceding seg- cells, venationstronglyreduced.
ments together. Scape relatively short, somewhat Sculptureonheadasinfemalecastes,i.e.foveate-
.
166 Rosciszewski, K. ENT. SCAND. VOL.25:2(1994)
18
1.0
mm
m
^^^^^^^^^^^^.^^.^.s^^ ^, ,j ;VOj..^.^^
W^.
19
Figs 18, 19. Rostromyrmexpasohensis, male: (18)forewing; (19)hindwing.
reticulatewithhairsinthepits.Knobsnotrecogniz- about0.025 mm long, on vertex and genae longer,
able under the light microscope (80x). Dorsum of upto0.06mm. Mandibleswithsomedecumbentto
mesoscutum dull, punctate. Punctures shallow, appressed hairs, antennae with dense, decumbent
scattered, much more sparse than foveae ofhead. tosuberectpilosity.Eyeswithshort,suberectpilosi-
Scutellum with several large pits. Propodeum fov- ty. Alitrunkdorsum, sides ofpetioleand postpeti-
eolateposterolaterally. Pronotumpunctatelateral- ole, and gaster covered with relatively sparse, ap-
ly, remainder of pronotum and lateral sides of pressed to suberect pilosity, occasionally longer
alitrunk dull with scattered, very shallow pits, ab- hairspresent. Scutellumwithseverallonghairs(up
sent on smooth and shining anterior and ven- to0.06mm)whicharisefromlargepits. Remaining
trolateralpartsofkatepisternum.Petiolg/peduncle alitrunkbare,exceptforsomehairsonanteriorand
foveolate, laterally with pits extending to ventral dorsal parts of pronotum and on propodeum.
andposteriorpartsofnode.Petiolarandpostpetio- Some short appressed hairs ventrally on petiolar
lar nodes from dorsal viewdull, sculpture diluted. peduncle.
Pilosity on head including clypeus moderately Genitalia not examined.
dense. Hairs decumbent to suberect, mostlyshort. Typematerial. -Holotvpeworker.WestMalaysia; Negeri
ENT, SCAND. VOL. 25:2(h994) Newgenus ofmyrmicineants 167
tSfyleopmoebrs,i:l12a0n.w,ioiirP.kales9r9o0sh,wFFioNtrhe2ss7ta(RmKe.eseRdroavsteca,isianzserhwoostlktoiet)ny(wpSeoMo(NdBKMo)nN.HfP)oar,reas2-t twhiantgivlelnuasttiraotnedinbtyheWmhaeleeldeirffe(r1s91c9o:nsi1d05e)rabfloryfLroorm-
workers, 1queenfromsamelocality,beneathrottenwood domyrma (still, its variability has never been as-
on forest floor, 6.iii.l990, FN 15 (K. Rosciszewski) sessed - Bolton, pers. comm.). Other important
;(13lS..MviiiN.iK.ll9)99,922,i1FnmNroat2lt4ee3n0fwr(ooKom.dRsooasnmcefiosrzleeoscwtaslfkilitoy)o,r(,cSboMrlNeodKn)yin.fcoaputnidviotyn dfiufrftehreerntcersa,nswfhoircmhathioonweovfetrhemLaoyrdbeomiyntremraprcehtaerdaca-s
ters (Ward, pers. comm.), are (in the females) the
Discussion reductionoffrontalcarinae,6-or7-dentatemandi-
oTnhecoasmspeasrsimseonntsowficthhartahcetMeyrrsmtaitceap-olaanridtiTeestirsabmaosreid- pbbleoedrsud,necr9le-eds.ewTgihmteehnatfnertdoenntananaltlecnsancrraioenb,aeesaainnndLdaoarrldeoondmgiyfpfreemtreainoatlrlayer
um genus groups which are considered in most sculptured fromtheremainderofthehead-which
trieosnpe(cBtsolttoonex1h9i8b7i)t.tTheheanfcoelsltorwailnmgycrhmaircacitneerscofnrdoim- tisrnoomtyrthmeexca(sFeiignsR1o0s,tUr)omdyirfmfeerxs.fTrhoemstthiantgoifnRLoosr--
thegeneric diagnosis ofworkers areconsidered as domyrma(Kugler1978):notcuneiform,shaftlong,
7mp-lo1er1spaihsoimacoprbopymhroiecrd:puhc1it,ic1o3bn,:y12d8,e,3v,2e64l,,o2pt4mh,eenaftno.dllTtohhweeicnfhgoalarlsaocawtpieonr-gs arstiridmng,geaabsansdfeowunenloldtdivenevrRteiolcsoaptleridonmfpyurrrocmfuiellxea,.wTiatrheheaasbltsroeonnngtgdiobnrastsahaell
(cBhaorlatcotner1s98a8r):e mpeldesiiaonmoproprhtiiocnionftchleypMeyursmbircoiandaley LcoorrddiongmytromKaug(le=r.PrTohmeersatinnogplaunsd)fguerncuulsagrreosuepmbalce-
inserted between widely separated frontal lobes, thoseofsomespeciesoftheSolenopsisgenusgroup
and frontaltrianglesharplydemarcated. Thestrik- (Kugler 1978), butothercharactersofthestingap-
ing clypeal prominence ('rostrum') is developed paratus are different: spiracular plate with dorsal
tfrreommetnhaerrboivcrairnignatoefLtohredommeydrimaan-ppaotrttieoTnn obfy tehxe- onroticnhc,isainond.oTbhloenfgorpelawtienwgitvheonuattinoont:icceraobsls-evpeoisnterr-im-
clypeus, fusionofitscarinae,andprojectionofthe absent, andradialcellopen, except forthereduced
resulting lamella (Bolton, pers. comm.). Thus the stigma,issimilarintheSolenopsisgenusgroupand
Tsmtheaetdei,paoinsstrceelrgyoapdreodarelsdaclaasrpiaonspaio,tmioworhnipochfhitchiseinpaRroposlpetosdrieooammlyorsrmppiehrxia.c- cMshteargroaanclgtoemmriyesrdtimiaecnxo(fsEentthtaeTosSnholaae.nnntokeprsi1io9s6r6g,celnByouplesatlgornmoa1ur9p8g7i()an.lsAios
cle(character 19)isconsideredasapomorphic. The presentinsomeRogeria- Bolton, pers. comm.). A
plesiomorphic location of this spiracle is consi- similarbutweakersetaisalsopresentin femalesof
deredtobeanterodorsal(Lattke 1990). Inthemale Rostromyrmex but, considering the peculiar de-
the absence ofcross-vein r-m and the open radial velopment ofclypeus, it is probably not homolo-
cmeilslsiinngthsetifgomrae wainndg vaerreyaploonmgor2prhi(calsitganteeds.wTihteh gnouussg.roFuurpt(hseereBdoiflfteornen1c9e8s7)firnocmlutdheemSaonldeinbolpessiswigteh-
RsTf4h?e)aasrseirgengmaerndtedofasRoausttarpoommyorrmpehxictostaantyes.ofthe pmroorpeodtehaanl5sptieneetsh,,satnrtoenngnaslcuslcprtoubrees,ownelplrdoemveesloonpoe-d
established tribes orgenusgroups is difficult. The tum, and 10-segmentedantennaein the males.
characters oftheclypeus, sting and wing venation
ruleoutaplacementintheMyrmica-or Tetramori-
umgenusgroups.Thestronglycarinateclypeusand Biology
Pthheeoidpoelnorgaedtioanlcgeelnlupslegardoaugpai(nEstttearpslhaanckem1e9n6t6,inBotlh-e Tfohreestanftlosorw.eIrneocnoellceacsteetdhrienetshpeecliitmteernslawyeerreoffoutnhde
wttiortnohm1w9y8hr7im)c.ehxAicticssohvraedrreiysngacltnoousBemobtleotroLnoof(rpcedhraosr.maycctroemmrmsa.:)Ef,mroeRarotysa,-! ww(1iotoqhdu.seoeFmnuertabhnredor,o2d5iwwnoorarkkpeiererscs)eaobnfedslto1rwoqnuageleypnireocwteetreoenfwfodoouedna.dd
ofbl1f9oor1bdo9etym)si,.,bitcAahaollennstsLsoepponutirnrhcasdeuloosomushnscyarpmrfoeiimbrdeasosdtf,lpgteaashtstettarerncoradlnnlyg.tpheesiHrucngousidwtleecpl,vateenuagrsrnb,ide(ngWtadhhbeoeesrfeeiflnvoteecrhdreee cmfI1ooinqrcltturouheonneehyaanttb,hediilitaryeadn,dtddc.auassrTnoeihdmneagetsmahibaemrlliooelsnoapgdwre)aacsbswimseamberlernlenecsdcefoooiwlunfeonrtncdheaypeit(npai6avutriwthttoheylro.yksreUadrtnmesh-e-e,
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The ants can easily be overlooked because of and revision of Afrotropical Monomorium Mayr
theirsmallsize,slowmovementsanddarkcoloura- (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist
tion. They are apparently inhabitants of rotten (Ent). 54: 263-452.
wood on the ground, forming small, probably - 1988.Secostruma,anewsubterraneantetramoriineant
genus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Syst. Ent. 13-
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micinae related to Solenopsis and Pheidologeton
Acknowledgments Har(rHiysm,eRn.opAt.er1a9:79F.orAmicgildoases)a.ryAuosft.suJr.fZaocoel.sc1u4l:pt7u3r-i1n7g1..
I would like to thank the Forest Research Institute of Occ. Pap. Ent.Dep. FoodAgric. Calif. 28, 31 pp.
Malaysia for the permission to collect ants in the area. Kugler, C. 1978. A comparative studyofthe myrmicine
Prof.SchmidtoftheUniversityofKarlsruheandhisstaff sting apparatus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Studia
for the SEM photographs, F. Weick for graphical help, ent. 20:413-548.
and M. Verhaagh and B. Bolton for the check of the Lattke, J. 1990. A new genus of myrmicine ants
manuscript. B. Boltonencouragedtheworkandpointed (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Venezuela. Ent.
out some of the affinities between Rostromyrmex and scand. 21: 173-178.
Lordomyrma.P.Wardcontributedvaluablecommentson Wheeler,W.M. 1919.TheantgenusLordomyrmaEmery.
thefinalversionofthemanuscript. > Psyche, Camb. 26:97-106.
RevisedmanuscriptacceptedJuly 1993.
Journalandsubscriptiontoreprintsofparticulargroupstobeorderedfrom;
APOLLOBOOKS,KirkebySand19,DK-5771Stenstrup.Denmarii.