Melophorus turneri Forel

Heterick, Brian E., Castalanelli, Mark & Shattuck, Steve O., 2017, Revision of the ant genus Melophorus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), ZooKeys 700, pp. 1-420 : 270-277

Melophorus turneri Forel

Melophorus turneri Forel 1910: 63 (combination in M. (Erimelophorus) by Wheeler 1935: 71). See also Viehmeyer 1914: 43 (q.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1968: 206 (l.).

Types. Syntype minor and major workers, Cape York, Queensland [ANIC, MHNG] (examined: ANIC specimen ANIC32-0534444, here designated lectotype, Ant Web images of MHNG specimens CASENT0909822, CASENT0909823 here designated paralectotypes

Melophorus turneri aesopus Forel

Melophorus turneri subsp. aesopus Forel 1910: 64. See also Clark, J. (1938). The Sir Joseph Banks Islands. Reports of the McCoy Society for Field Investigation and Research. Part 10. Formicidae ( Hymenoptera ). Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. (n.s.) 50: 356-382.

Types. Syntype major and minor workers: Tennants [sic] Creek, Northern Territory [ANIC, MHNG] (examined: ANIC specimen CASENT0172012, AntWeb images of MHNG specimens CASENT0909824, CASENT0909825). Syn. n.

Melophorus turneri candidus Santschi

Melophorus turneri st. candida Santschi 1919: 328, fig. 2.

Types. Syntype major and minor workers: Victoria [BMNH - Arnold Coll. B. M. 1934-354, NHMB] (examined: BMNH specimens, AntWeb images of NHMB specimen CASENT0172012). Syn. n.

Melophorus pillipes Santschi

Melophorus pillipes Santschi 1919: 329, fig. 2 (combination in M. (Erimelophorus) by Wheeler 1935: 71).

Types. Syntypes of major and minor workers: Townsville, Queensland [NHMB] (examined: AntWeb images of NHMB specimens CASENT0912333, CASENT0912334). Syn. n.

Other material examined.

Australian Capital Territory: Black Mountain (Greaves, T.), Black Mountain (Greaves, T.), Black Mountain (general) (Billen, J. [ANIC32-013528]), Black Mountain, near CSIRO (Berg, R.Y.), Black Mountain, near Haydon Drive (Berg, R.Y.), Mt Ainslie (Berg, R.Y.), Mt Ainslie (Brooks, C.G.), Mt. Ainslie (Shattuck, S.O. [ANIC32-023694]), Mt. Pleasant (Lowery, B.B.). New South Wales: 10 km W Temora (Shattuck, S.O. [ANIC32-039535]), 3 mi WNW Volo Homestead, Lake Poopalloo (Greaves, T.), 9.5 km S Bungendore (Shattuck, S.O. [ANIC32-047378]), Fowlers Gap (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Mudgee (Lowery, B.B.), Mudgee, aerodrome (Lowery, B.B.), Mudgee, near aerodrome (Lowery, B.B.), Mungindi (Lowery, B.B.), near Queanbeyan, 1 mi W junction Captains Flat & Bungendore Roads (Berg, R.Y.), Newholme Road, near Armidale (Sakurai, Y.), Olive Downs Station, 55 km NW Tibooburra (Morton, S.R.), Rockley (Hamilton, J.T.), Sturt National Park (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Sturt National Park (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Sturt National Park (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Sturt National Park (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Tomago (Jackson, G.P. [ANIC32-015276]), Whiporie, 55 km S Casino (York, A.), Willandra National Park (Shattuck, S.O.). Northern Territory: 102 km N Yuendumu (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 105 km N Yuendumu (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 11 km N Tennant Creek (Davidson, D. & Morton, S.), 12 km SW Katherine (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 15 km SW Katherine (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 20 km SE Katherine (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 23 km SW Katherine (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 23 km SW Katherine (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 25 km W Tennant Creek (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 27 km SW Katherine (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 27 km SW Katherine (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 2 km W Katherine (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 30 km SW Katherine (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 40 km W Wave Hill (Davidson, D. & Morton, S.), 5 km S Jabiru, Alligator Rivers area (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), about 56 km N Kulgera (Feehan, J.E.), about 5 km N Henbury Homestead (Feehan, J.E.), Jabiru (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Jabiru, Alligator Rivers area (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Kunoth Paddock, near Alice Springs (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Kunoth Paddock, near Alice Springs (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Kunoth Paddock, near Alice Springs (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Kunoth Paddock, near Alice Springs (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Kunoth Paddock, near Alice Springs (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Kunoth Paddock, near Alice Springs (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Kunoth Paddock, near Alice Springs (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Manbulloo, SW Katherine (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Manbulloo, SW Katherine (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Manbulloo, SW Katherine (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Tanami (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Tanami (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Tanami Desert (Greenslade, P.J. M. ). Queensland: ‘Gumbardo’ (Beutel, T.), ‘Merigol’ (Beutel, T.), ‘Paingo’ turnoff (Monteath & Cook), 13 km E by S Weipa (Zborowski, P. & Shattuck, S.O. [ANIC32-043343]), 13 km from S-bend on Plum Pudding Track (Lemann, C. [ANIC32-035480]), 13 mi WNW Capella (Dowse, J.E.), 16 mi ESE Gilbert River crossing, E Croydon (Dowse, J.), 16 mi NNW Miles (Dowse, J.E.), 2 mi N Greenvale Homestead, W Ingham (Dowse, J.E.), 3.2 km NW homestead on Plum Pudding Track, Cravens Peak Station (Lemann, C. [ANIC32-036868]), 30 km SSE Heathlands (Shattuck, S.O. [ANIC32-039870]), 35 mi SSW Nebo (Dowse, J.E.), 38 mi N Goondiwindi (Dowse, J.E.), 40 km E Cameron Corner (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 40 km E Cameron Corner (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 45 km E Cunnamulla (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 4 km NE Batavia Downs (Zborowski, P. & Calder, A. [ANIC32-042927]), 50 km E Cunnamulla (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 65 km E Birdsville (Forrest, J.), 6 mi W Blackwater (Dowse, J.E.), 75 km E Cunnamulla (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 9.5 km E Mareeba (Shattuck, S.O. [ANIC32-030606]), Archer River, Cape York (Wild, A.L. [ANIC32-030284]), Blackwood NP (Monteath & Cook), Cunnamulla (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Doolandella, Cloverdale St. (Burwell C. J., Wright, S. G.), Eneby, 1.6 km ESE (Monteith, Cook), Gregory Dev. Rd, Sardine Ck (Monteath & Cook), Hann River (Zborowski, P. & Horak, M. [ANIC32-031063]), Horn Island, Torres Strait (Heatwole, H. & Cameron, E.), Illaweena St. Drewvale (QM Party), Koondooloo, Hannaford Rd North, via Tara (House & Brown), Lolworth NP (Wright, S.), Lords Table, W base (Burwell, C. J.), Mt Isa (Weatherill, J.), Musselbrook Camp (Naumann, I.D. [ANIC32-006731]), Mutyi, Cooloola (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Mutyi, Cooloola (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), N. Stradbroke Is. Enterprise (QM Party), Red Falls, 7 km WSW (Monteath, G. B.), Redlands Hilliards Ck, nr South St (RHC1) (Stanisic, J.), Sandringham (Morton, S.), Sandringham (Morton, S.), Sandringham (Morton, S.), Sandringham (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Sandringham (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Sandringham (Morton, S.), Sandringham (Morton, S.), St. George (Lowery, B.B.), St. George (Lowery, B.B.), Sunnybank (Wheeler, W. M. ), Tindaree, Hannaford Rd South via Tara (House, A./Brown, S.). South Australia: 13 km S Quorn, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 15 km NE Mt Bryan (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 15 km WSW Blinman, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 16 mi SE Woolcalla (Greaves, T.), 1 km E Curdimurka (Feehan, J.E.), 1 km NW Elatina Hut, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 1 km W Emu Camp, Victoria Desert (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 50 km S Coober Pedy (Davidson, D. & Morton, S.), 53 km E Vokes Hill, Victoria Desert (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 5 km W Auburn (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), 9 mi NW Port Kenny (Greaves, T.), about 18 km SbyE Poochera (Taylor, R.W. & Bartell, R.J.), Adelaide (Womersley, H.W.), Alligator Gorge, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Belair (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Belair (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Belair (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Belair (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Belair (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Belair (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Belair (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Belair (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Bindyi, Koonamore (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Blyth, 4 mi W Clare (Lowery, B.B.), Blyth, 4 mi W Clare (Lowery, B.B.), Blyth, N Adelaide (Lowery, B.B.), Blyth, N Adelaide (Lowery, B.B.), Calca (Lowery, B.B.), Cambrai (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Cambrai (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Cambrai (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Cambrai (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Cambrai (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Carrickalinga, Normanville (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Carrieton (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Elatina Hut, Oriparinna, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Elatina Hut, Oriparinna, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Eyre Hwy, 9.7 km NE Cootra (Heterick, B.E. [M325/M326]), Gawler Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Glen Osmond (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Moockra Tower (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Napperby, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Napperby, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Napperby, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Napperby, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Oraparinna, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Oraparinna, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. [ANIC32-900123]), Oraparinna, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Oraparinna, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Oraparinna, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Oraparinna, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Oraparinna, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Oraparinna, Flinders Ranges (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Poochera (Taylor, R.W. & Bartell, R.J.), Port Adelaide (Lowery, B.B.), Port Adelaide (Lowery, B.B.), Port Augusta (Lowery, B.B.), Sandy Creek, Kangaroo Island (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Scrubby Gully, Sevenhill (Lowery, B.B.), Sevenhill (Lowery, B.B.), Sevenhill (Lowery, B.B.), Sevenhill (Lowery, B.B.), Sevenhill (Lowery, B.B.), Sevenhill (Lowery, B.B.), Sevenhill (Lowery, B.B. [ANIC32-900124]), Spalding Cove, Port Lincoln (Greenslade, P.J. M. ), Streaky Bay (Lowery, B.B.), Streaky Bay (McAreavey, J.), Streaky Bay (Lowery, B.B.), Wudinna townsite (Heterick, B.E. [M330]). Victoria: 15 km WNW Yaapeet (Andersen, A.N.), 15 km WNW Yaapeet (Andersen, A.N.), 15 km WNW Yaapeet (Andersen, A.N.), Bendigo (McAreavey, J.), Eltham (Lowery, B.B.), Hopetoun (Andersen, A.N.), Lerderderg Gorge (Lowery, B.B.), Mount Feathertop Alps (Lowery, B.B.), Mt Ben Cairn (Greaves, T.), Rotamah Island, Gippsland Lakes (Andersen, A.N.), Wangarratta (Bruce, W.A.), Wyperfeld National Park (Taylor, R.W.). Western Australia: 'The Granites’ Mt Magnet (Heterick, B.E. [M172]), 1 km S Capricorn RH (Heterick, B.E. [M278/M279/M280]), 1.5 km S Koolyanobbing (Heterick, B.E. [M24/M50]), 47 km E Fitzroy Crossing (Heterick, B.E. [M237]), 8 km N Bullfinch (Heterick, B.E. [M125/M126/M127/M128/M129]), Coomallo Downs (Heterick, B.E. [M06/M29/M30]), Edagee Rd (Heterick, B.E. [M75/M118]), Eyre Hwy, 20 km N Norseman (Heterick, B.E. [M336]), G. J. Rd, 108 km E Carnarvon (Heterick, B.E. [M306]), Mardathuna Rd turnoff (Heterick, B.E. [M55]), Mettler Lake Rd (Heterick, B.E. [M164]), Pardoo Stn turnoff (Heterick, B.E. [M268]), Rabbit Proof Fence Rd (Heterick, B.E. [M58/M59]), Sandstone Rd turnoff (Heterick, B.E. [M293]).

Diagnosis.

Melophorus turneri can be placed in the M. biroi species-group on the basis of characters of the clypeus, propodeum, mandible and palps. The species is also placed in the M. fieldi species-complex because of the appearance of the anteriorly placed clypeal psammophore, the compact propodeum, the presence of more than one preapical spine on the metatibia, at least in the major worker, long, even spindly legs and an unmodified mandible in the major worker. Melophorus turneri has a very variable morphology, the populations overall resemble those of up to a dozen other species, and this taxon is almost impossible to define in a simple species diagnosis. However, in all populations the appressed setae on the gaster of all subcastes are very small and inconspicuous when the gaster is moderately distended, such setae being separated from one another by at least their own length (unlike M. inconspicuus , M. hirsutipes , etc.). For differences between M. turneri and M. eumorphus and M. vitreus , which share this type of pilosity, see the Diagnosis under those species. These appressed setae are also inconspicuous on the mesosoma and never long and silvery (as in M. lanuginosus ). The node of the minor worker is often squamiform, and most commonly the cuticle is shining or even glossy with vestigial or weak shagreenation. Melophorus longipes is very similar to ‘typical’ M. turneri but the metafemur of the minor worker of M. turneri is shorter and stouter (0.75 × length of mesosoma ≤). In profile, the minor worker propodeum generally has a weak to strong angle between the dorsal and declivitous surfaces, also differentiating this ant from M. longipes . The major worker is more difficult to distinguish from that of M. longipes , but the turneri mesonotum is generally moderately convex in profile and the metafemur uniformly pale brown ochre to yellowish, the tibia being of the same colour as the femur. Melophorus perthensis can also be confused with M. turneri : see the Diagnosis under that species for the distinguishing characters between the two ants.

The " pillipes " condition occurs within this species ( Melophorus pillipes Santschi being reduced to a junior synonym of M. turneri in this work). Melophorus turneri with the " pillipes " condition can be distinguished from M. ankylochaetes , M. incisus and M. hirsutipes by having true appressed setae on the gaster, and from two other ants with the " pillipes " condition ( M. vitreus and M. lanuginosus ) by the characters mentioned under the Diagnosis for those two species. Finally, M. turneri (" pillipes ") has a smooth mesopleuron, whereas those individuals of M. hirsutipes (" pillipes ") which have appressed setae on the gaster have a sculptured mesopleuron.

Minor worker description.

Head. Head square; posterior margin of head planar or weakly convex; frons shining with superficial shagreenation or microreticulation only; pilosity of frons a mixture of a few well-spaced, erect setae interspersed with appressed setae only. Eye moderate (eye length 0.20-0.49 length of side of head capsule); in full-face view, eyes set at about midpoint of head capsule; in profile, eye set around midline of head capsule; roughly ovoid, eye narrowed posteriad. In full-face view, frontal carinae straight or weakly convex; frontal lobes straight in front of antennal insertion. Anteromedial clypeal margin broadly and evenly convex, or broadly convex with anteromedial dimple; clypeal psammophore set at or above midpoint of clypeus; palp formula 6,4. Five mandibular teeth in minor worker; mandibles triangular, weakly incurved; third mandibular tooth distinctly shorter than apical tooth and teeth numbers two and four; masticatory margin of mandibles approximately vertical or weakly oblique. Mesosoma. Integument of pronotum, mesonotum and mesopleuron shining and microreticulate, microreticulation reduced on humeri; anterior mesosoma in profile broadly convex; appearance of erect pronotal setae long (i.e., longest erect setae longer than length of eye) and unmodified, or short, (i.e., longest erect setae shorter than length of eye) and unmodified, or erect pronotal setae absent; in profile, metanotal groove shallow, broadly V or U-shaped; propodeum shining and smooth or with superficial and almost invisible microsculpture; propodeum smoothly rounded or with indistinct angle, or angulate, propodeal angle blunt; length ratio of propodeal dorsum to its declivity about 1:1; erect propodeal setae variable in number, may be absent; appressed propodeal setulae short, separated by more than own length and inconspicuous; propodeal spiracle situated on or beside declivitous face of propodeum, and shorter (length <0.50 × height of propodeum). Petiole. In profile, petiolar node squamiform; in full-face view, shape of petiolar node uniformly rounded; node shining and smooth throughout. Gaster. Gaster shining with superficial microreticulation; pilosity of first gastral tergite consisting of well-spaced, erect and semi-erect setae interspersed with regularly placed appressed setae. General characters. Colour of foreparts usually shades of red or orange with brown gaster, occasionally uniformly brown or dark brown.

Major worker description.

Head. Head horizontally rectangular, broader than wide; posterior margin of head planar or weakly concave; cuticle of frons shining and smooth except for piliferous pits, or shining with superficial shagreenation or microreticulation only; pilosity of frons a mixture of a few well-spaced, erect setae interspersed with appressed setae only. Eye moderate (eye length 0.20-0.49 length of head capsule); in full-face view, eyes set above midpoint of head capsule; in profile, eye set anteriad of midline of head capsule; roughly ovoid, eye narrowed posteriad. In full-face view, frontal carinae concave; frontal lobes straight in front of antennal insertion. Anterior clypeal margin broadly convex with anteromedial dimple; clypeal psammophore set at or above midpoint of clypeus; palp formula 6,4. Five mandibular teeth in major worker; mandibles triangular, weakly incurved; third mandibular tooth distinctly shorter than apical tooth and teeth numbers two and 4; masticatory margin of mandibles approximately aligned vertically or weakly oblique. Mesosoma. Integument of pronotum, mesonotum and mesopleuron shining with indistinct microsculpture that is most pronounced on lower surfaces; anterior mesosoma in profile broadly convex; erect pronotal setae short, (i.e., shorter than length of eye) and unmodified; in profile, metanotal groove shallow, broadly V- or U-shaped; propodeum shining and shagreenate; propodeum smoothly rounded or with indistinct angle, or angulate, propodeal angle blunt; length ratio of propodeal dorsum to its declivity between 1:1 and 1:2; erect propodeal setae present and abundant (at least a dozen), or present and sparse to moderate (1-12); propodeal spiracle situated on or beside declivitous face of propodeum, and shorter (length less than 0.50 × height of propodeum). Petiole. In profile, petiolar node squamiform; in full-face view, shape of petiolar node generally rounded with median indentation, or tapered with blunt vertex; node shining and faintly shagreenate-microreticulate. Gaster. Gaster shining with superficial microreticulation; pilosity of first gastral tergite consisting of well-spaced, erect and semi-erect setae interspersed with regularly spaced appressed setae. General characters. Colour of foreparts variably orange, tan or brown, gaster brown to blackish.

Measurements.

Worker (n = 8): CI 91-118; EI 22-39; EL 0.23-0.34; HL 0.63-1.31; HW 0.58-1.54; ML 0.90-1.57; MTL 0.61-0.98; PpH 0.11-0.19; PpL 0.37-0.65; SI 73-141; SL 0.81-1.13.

Comments.

In many ways, this is the archetypal Melophorus and the one most likely to be seen by members of the public in temperate Australia, especially in rural areas. The ant has a more widespread distribution throughout mainland Australia than any other member of the genus, and can be found from the tip of Cape York, in QLD, to the southernmost parts of Victoria. There are, however, no Tasmanian records. The unexceptional appearance of the ant can lead it be confused with several other members of the fieldi complex, from which it can be distinguished by the combination of the appearance of the appressed setae on the first gastral tergite (separated by more than their length), the moderate eye size in most populations, its relatively short, thick metatibia and the usually glabrous or relatively glabrous mesosoma. Populations that display the ' pillipes ' condition - the taxon pillipes is in fact here relegated to junior synonym status under turneri -are among the most spectacular manifestations of the variation seen in turneri ; workers being hairy and shiny, with a brush of fine, straight, erect setae that branch from their tibiae in whorls at a right angle or near, and with a strongly truncate propodeum.

We acknowledge, however, that what we are here calling ' turneri ' may prove to be a complex of several species. Apart from wide morphological variability, this possibility is given greater weight by the polyphyletic nature of the genetic evidence. Discontinuous clusters of turneri taxa appear within the clades that comprise the fieldi complex. Nonetheless, no morphological feature distinguishes any one separated cluster from another. Of the named taxa that are subsumed under ' turneri ' here, the taxon that is perhaps the best candidate for separate species-level status is M. turneri candidus. However, M346 ( M. turneri candidus) groups strongly with M353 ( turneri ) based on the COI gene. This form is most often encountered in cooler, temperate areas of Australia such as the Adelaide hills and parts of Victoria. The workers of this morphotype are small, compact turneri with a large eye and often but not always a convex mesonotum (reminiscent of M. perthensis , but the propodeum is not protuberant and is the typical one found in M. turneri ). These ants also have a shining appearance and are generally convergent upon Melophorus bruneus in their morphology. Some minor workers of this form are also strongly morphologically convergent on M. major but the psammophore is placed well above the anterior clypeal margin. Others are more gracile. Some workers are glabrous, while others have a couple to several long, erect setae on the mesosoma and sometimes the antennal scape. Overall, among the more conspicuous morphs there are many others which seem to intergrade with other morphotypes of M. turneri . Several samples of large-eyed M. turneri workers have been sequenced, these coming from populations in the Pilbara which lack the bulbous mesonotum. The results do not point to uniqueness. Since no common diagnostic character or characters can be derived for M. turneri candidus, this species becomes a junior synonym in this monograph.

In contrast to M. turneri candidus, Melophorus turneri aesopus Forel and Melophorus turneri Forel itself appear to belong to the same lineage of large-bodied, dark turneri , and do not differ in any particulars. The former name therefore becomes a junior synonym in this work. Melophorus pillipes includes some of the most spectacularly beautiful of the small Melophorus . Apart from the strange condition that leads to conspicuous hairiness, Melophorus pillipes includes populations that exhibit a very glassy cuticle that is aesthetically pleasing for the researcher. These ants tend to have a high node and a straight mesonotum and long, fine, flexuous setae on the head and body and whorls of long, fine, straight setae on the legs and antennal scape. However, they cannot be discretely categorized since length and abundance of pilosity, height of node and degree of sculpture vary from the extreme to workers that have a few straight, fine, pillipes -type setae on the legs and antennae and perhaps the head and mesosoma. These latter ants also have some degree of fine cuticular sculpture. The very spectacular M. pillipes that are mostly found in eastern Australia with a few pockets of occurrence in the top end have not been sequenced. However, the apparent spectrum of worker phenotypes from very smooth, shining and hairy to the normal appearance of M. turneri with a few pillipes -type setae on the legs (but short, as in M. microtriches rather than long as in the spectacular morphotype) makes phenotypic plasticity a more parsimonious explanation of the phenomenon than genetic uniqueness to our mind. We therefore provisionally synonymize M. pillipes under M. turneri as an interesting variation on a theme. However, we acknowledge an investigation of the relationship between ' pillipes ' type ants and conventional Melophorus turneri workers would be a worthwhile specialized project to explore in greater depth.

We here designate the ANIC syntype major worker of M. turneri as the lectotype to fix the name for this variable taxon, the remaining workers held in MHNG becoming paralectotypes.

This very common ant has been taken from a great variety of habitats but mallee scrub and sandy soils predominate in the label data. However, M. turneri has even been taken amid mangroves (Port Adelaide, South Australia)! In Western Australia the species is one of a small number of native ants regularly collected in paddocks. The ant is therefore likely to be an adaptable generalist.