Heteroponera darlingtonorum, Taylor, Robert W., 2015

Taylor, Robert W., 2015, Australasian ants of the subfamily Heteroponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): (2) the species-group of Heteroponera relicta (Wheeler), with descriptions of nine new species and observations on morphology, biogeography and phylogeny of the genus, Zootaxa 3947 (2), pp. 151-180 : 163-165

3. Heteroponera darlingtonorum sp. n.

( Figs 14–17)

Type locality. AUSTRALIA: QUEENSLAND: 5 km W of Paluma (19°00'S, 146°12'E)

Type deposition. Holotype, ANIC. Paratype, QMBA.

Distribution, material examined. EA14 (Seaview Range) Paratype: Broadwater Park (-18 22, 145 57) worker, sieved litter, Rainforest, 300 m (S. Hamlet, 3.i.1987). EA15 (Hinchinbrook Island): Hinchinbrook Island, Gayndah Creek, -18 22, 146.13, 2 workers (ANIC VIAL No 40.155), QMBA berlesates 664 & 668, 10 m (Davies, Thompson & Gallon, 10, 11.xi.1984). EA16 (Paluma/ Bluewater Range): Holotype: ca 5 km W of Paluma (-19 0 0, 146 12), worker, 950 m (RWT & JDF, 12.viii.1971). Paratype: 12 km W of Paluma (-19 0 0, 146 12), worker in soil beside log, tall savanna woodland, edge of rainforest, 3000 ft (ca 900m) (BBL, 3.xi.1980). Paratype: Bluewater Range (-19 10, 146 33), worker, sieved litter. Rainforest, 600 m (GBM & GIT, 7.xii.1986)

Worker diagnosis. General features, conformation, coloration and major sculpturation as illustrated and in the key above. Similar to H. relicta but with distinctively different sculpturation (compare Figs, notably the sculpture of the gastral dorsa). First and second gastral tergites moderately shining, but densely, finely point-punctate, with overlain, scattered, small, very weakly expressed foveate punctae on the first tergite. Bodily proportions and general structure, sculpturing of scrobes, propodeal declivity and node posteriorly as in H. relicta ; Humeral epaulets similarly developed; propodeal dorsum in profile less strongly sloped posterodorsally; the declivity less strongly laterally margined and more narrowly triangular (apex dorsal). Dimensions: (holotype, Paluma paratype, Bluewater Range paratype): TL (ca): 4.5, 4.2, 4.3; HW: 1.14, 1.07, 1.09; HL: 1.09, 1.02, 1.04; CI:108, 106, 104; EL: 0.21, 0.20, 0.18; SL: 0.68, 0.63, 0.67; SI: 59, 58, 61; PW: 0.85, 0.77, 0.84; WL: 1.36, 1.28, 1.27; petH: 0.75, 0.69, 0.73; petW: 0.45, 0.44, 0.44; GW 0.92, 0.89, 0.89.

Related taxa. see above under H. relicta .

In-group sympatric associations. No direct collection-site records, but an EA16 record listed above under H. relicta evidences sympatry with H. relicta in the Paluma area.

Etymology. Named for Philip J. Darlington Jr, his wife Elizabeth Koch Darlington and their son Philip Jr. In 1956–57 they pioneered modern concentrated large-scale insect taxonomic survey in Australia by spending eighteen months living in a field-truck collecting carabid beetles and other insects, including ants, for the Harvard University Museum of Comparative Zoology (Darlington, 1960).