Monomorium hertogi Sparks

Sparks, Kathryn S., Andersen, Alan N. & Austin, Andrew D., 2014, Systematics of the Monomorium rothsteini Forel species complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), a problematic ant group in Australia, Zootaxa 3893 (4), pp. 489-529 : 506

Monomorium hertogi Sparks , NEW SPECIES

( Fig. 5 d–f, 11a)

Holotype worker. Queensland. Lakefield NP , North Kennedy River , -14.7583, 144.0753, 8 Aug 2007, A.L. Hertog, TERC 2 (deposited in QM).

Paratypes. Queensland. 13 workers, same data as holotype; 5 workers, 60km N Coen, -13.4736, 142.9711, 30 Jul 2007, A.L. Hertog, TERC 3 (deposited in MHNG, NMBA, QM, SAM).

Diagnosis. A large, amber orange species with a sinuous to almost straight clypeus, strigate frons and broad petiole node. This species is most similar to M. geminum / M. topend sp. nov., but can be distinguished from these by the shape of the propodeum, which has an obtuse angle between the dorsal and posterior surfaces.

Worker measurements (n=9). HW 0.90–0.98, HL 0.88–0.98, EL 0.16–0.18, PMH 0.33–0.39, PH 0.31–0.39, PNH 0.25–0.35, LHW 0.53–0.6, EW 0.11, PML 0.59–0.68, ML 0.98–1.11, PL 0.43–0.51, PNWdv 0.26–0.35.

Worker Description. Large species with a large, square head; posterior cephalic margin very shallowly depressed medially. Anterodorsal margin of the clypeus sinuous to almost straight, frontolateral carinae forming smooth ridges; anteroventral margin without a small median projection, margin appears straight. Sculpture on frons strigate, extending well above antennal lobes or less commonly restricted to antennal lobes and area in between; coarse lateral cephalic strigae reaching or not reaching anterior eye margin, a few very fine strigae may reach eye margin. Eyes small, EW <0.2 x LHW, 11 ommatidia in longest vertical axis, 9 in longest horizontal axis.

Mesonotum almost entirely without sculpture, shallow alveolae present on lateral curvature only. Mesopleuron alveolate, lacking strigae. Propodeum in lateral view with dorsolateral angles clearly forming an obtuse angle, laterally alveolate with strigae on metapleural gland bulla, not extending to metanotal groove; dorsal surface with anterior transverse carina prominent, transverse strigae absent, longitudinal strigae present on posterior half only, posterolateral corners rounded above metapleural lobe. Petiole node broad, more than 2.5x eye width when viewed from above; shape in posterior view tapering from broad midline to rounded apex, in lateral view anterior and posterior faces sub parallel, apex broadly rounded from higher anterior face to lower posterior face. Posterior surface of petiole node finely reticulate along basal margin only, postpetiole finely reticulate over most of surface. T1 reticulate over entire surface.

Head, mesosoma and legs light to dark amber orange, petiole and postpetiole infuscated on dorsal half, metasomal tergites mostly dark brown, T1 infused with orange at the juncture with the postpetiole, sternites amber.

Distribution. This species is known from the Gulf and Cape York regions of northern Queensland.

Etymology. This species is name in honour of Tony Hertog, who collected many of the specimens used in this study.

COI sequences. Genbank accession numbers for this species are KC573007 and KC573008

Additional material examined ( TERC). Queensland. Kingfisher Park, Nicholson Rvr area, -17.8752 138.2811, 24 Jul 2007, A.L. Hertog.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Workers of the M. rothsteini (Forel) species complex in lateral, head and dorsal view of the mesosoma. Fig. 5 a – c: M. geminum, paratype (Litchfield NP, NT, ANA 10 – 22), d – f: M. hertogi, holotype (Lakefield NP, QLD, TERC 2), g – i: M. hoffmani, holotype (Mt Stanford Station, NT, TERC 70), j – l: M. humilior, (Alice Springs, NT, ANA 11 – 13), m – o: M. kidman, holotype (Top Springs, NT, TERC 71). Scale bars are 0.5 mm for all views.