THE AUSTRALIAN ‘NTOMOLOGIST

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Cover: Our cover illustration for 2013 shows a species of the pebble-mimicking

genus Raniliella (Orthoptera: Acrididae). There are two species in the genus, both

restricted to desert environments of the northern parts of South Australia. They are

commonly seen in stony areas around the Flinders Ranges. Raniliella is one of

several genera of Australian grasshoppers which closely resemble the stones of our

extensive gibber deserts. The illustration is reproduced by permission from CSIRO’s

Insects of Australia and is by the late Frank Nanninga, a Dutch-born artist who was

the leading insect illustrator of the 1960s in Australia. His work reached its peak in

the eight magnificent colour plates which grace the pages of Insects of Australia.

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3): 101-110 101

LIFE HISTORY NOTES AND NEW FOQ wae

ARN EI (BUTLER. 188

PO Box 188, Redlynch, Qld 4870 (Email: mark xg

Abstract _

All life history stages of the Green Triangle butterfly, Graphium macfarlanei macfarlanei

(Butler), are described and illustrated from observations made in Cairns, Queensland.

Development times for each stage are given. Use of the cultivated custard apple Annona

reticulata as a food plant is confirmed and four new food plants (three native and one

introduced) are recorded, all Annonaceae. Use of the introduced Indian Mast Tree, Polyalthia

longifolia pendula, as a larval host has increased abundance of the butterfly in the Cairns region.

Introduction

The Green Triangle, Graphium macfarlanei macfarlanei (Butler, 1877) (Figs

1-2), is part of the papilionid tribe Leptocircini (= Graphiini), which also

includes the genera Protographium Munroe and Graphium Scopoli (Orr and

Kitching 2010). Within Australian limits, G. macfarlanei ranges from the

Torres Strait Islands south to Weipa and the Mcllwraith Range and from

Cooktown to Ingham (Braby 2000, Dunn and Dunn 2006). There is an

unconfirmed southern vagrancy record from coastal woodlands near Bowen

(Dunn 2008). Braby (2004) listed its status as ‘common but local on Cape

York Peninsula; rare in the wet tropics’.

Figs 1-2. Adults of Graphium macfarlanei from Cairns Queensland; upperside left,

underside right: (1) male; (2) female.

Prior to this paper, the larval food plants [all Annonaceae] were listed by

D’Abrera (1971) as Annona muricata (Sour Sop) and A. squamosa (Sugar

102 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Apple). Common and Waterhouse (1972) added 4. reticulata (Custard

Apple), while Braby (2000) added Rollinia deliciosa (Brazilian Custard

Apple), the native Desmos sp. and possibly Xylopia (probably based on the

citation in Parsons 1998) to the list, but considered the record of A. reticulata

as ‘unconfirmed’. Orr and Kitching (2010) excluded the ‘unconfirmed’ A.

reticulata record from their list of food plants for G. macfarlanei.

Braby (2000) noted that little was known about the immature stages and gave

a brief description of larva and pupa based on photographs taken by R.W.

Guard. The egg has not been recorded previously.

The author began sighting adults of this species on a regular basis after

moving to Greenforest, 10 km west of Kuranda, northern Queensland, in

1999. Here, adult males would patrol high above canopy clearings during

most months of the year, with the females tending to fly along the edges of

the rainforest. However, it was not until moving to suburban Cairns some

years later that the author began breeding this species and was able to

substantially add to published details of its life history and food plants.

Observations

Immature stages and behaviour

Egg (Fig. 3): Pale yellow (almost white) when laid, later changing to a dark

yellow. Spherical and smooth; under 10 x magnification 1.4 mm in diameter.

Eggs are laid singly on the larval food plant, usually on the upperside or edge

of young foliage or on an adjacent more mature leaf. However, a returnin

female will lay more eggs adjacent to existing eggs.

Larva: Ist instar (Fig. 4) larvae are caramel coloured with a white patch on

the upperside of the lower abdomen. The head is also white, which fades to

brown after the first few days. The thorax has six thoracic horns and the

abdomen has a series of fine hairs, with a characteristic white forked tail just

above the anal plate. First instar larvae usually rest on the upperside of the

food plant’s juvenile growth and reach 3 mm in length.

2nd instar (Fig. 5): These are a darker brown, with more contrast between the

brown and the white patch on the abdomen. The fine hairs are gone, leaving

just the six thoracic horns and forked tail. They usually rest on the upperside

of the more mature leaves and reach 9 mm in length.

3rd instar (Fig. 6): These develop a green colouration to the thorax and the

patch on the abdomen. However, colour variation can range from dark brown

to orange or lime green, depending on which food plant they are feeding.

Larvae feeding on Polyalthia sp. are more likely to have a mottled greenish-

brown appearance, while larvae on Annona muricata are likely to be lime

green. Third instar larvae reach approximately 17 mm in length.

4th instar (Fig. 7): These develop the green colouration further, with the light

patch on the abdomen becoming less conspicuous. The thoracic horns

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Figs 3-8. Graphium macfarlanei: (3) eggs on leaf of Polyalthia longifolia; (4) 1st

instar larva; (5) 2nd instar larva; (6) 3rd instar larva on leaf of Annona muricata; (7)

4th instar larva; (8) final instar larva.

104 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

become less pronounced as the larva grows. Larval colours are still highly

variable in this instar, which reaches around 27 mm in length.

Final instar (Fig. 8): These tend to be more uniform in colour. However, they

can vary from lime green to a yellowish brown (Figs 13-14). The white patch

on the abdomen is usually absent. The short thoracic horns are usually black,

but can have a red or pink base around them (e.g. Fig. 14). They reach 46 mm

in length. Freshly moulted larvae consume the sloughed skin and discard the

head capsule.

Pupa (Figs 9-10): This is well described in Braby (2000) and is around 36

mm in total length.

Figs 9-10. Pupa of Graphium macfarlanei: (9) lateral view; (10) dorsal view.

Parasites: Many eggs are parasitised by wasps before they hatch. Larvae and

pupae can be susceptible to parasitism by tachinid flies at certain times of the

year, but parasitism appears to be more prevalent during the wet season.

Comments: Larvae and pupae of G. m. macfarlanei from Australia show a

superficial resemblance to those of G. m. seminigra Butler from New Britian

(see D’Abrera 1971). Larvae are variable in colour (Figs 11-14) and pupate

on the underside of mature leaves of the larval food plant, where they can be

difficult to detect. Pupal colouration can vary a little, depending on the food

plant tree. Pre-pupal larvae may leave the host tree to pupate if given the

opportunity. Pupae may be found on nearby trees or vines provided that they

are physically connected to the host (such as by vines). Larvae have not been

observed descending to the ground to leave the host tree.

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Figs 11-14. Graphium macfarlanei; larval colour variation: (11-12) 3rd-4th instars;

(13-14) final instars.

106 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Duration of early stages

The duration of the immature stages in Cairns between February and March

was as in Table 1, based on a single specimen followed right through from

egg to adult. Pupal duration ranged from 12 to 16 days (Average 14.4, n = 8),

based on a series of pupae reared during March and April.

Table 1. Duration of larval and pupal stages of a specimen of Graphium macfarlanei.

Larval growth rate

Daily length measurements were taken during the larval development for a

single specimen. These figures were plotted and produced the following

graph (Fig. 15), which shows the acceleration in growth in the fourth and

fifth instars. The larva releases some of its fluid in the final instar just before

pupation and contracts in size.

Growth Rate

50 5

E40 i

3 aii |

5 10 Ta ==

G ———

> Ee

UTET ES pera mgee meae a eg ee a eer es a + O

iagaA 5 & 7 A 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Days

Fig. 15. Larval growth rate.

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 107

The larva was reared on a series of small potted plants of Annona muricata,

changed over regularly to ensure that fresh, soft growth was always available

to the larva to allow it to fully develop.

New food plant records

1. Indian Mast Tree — Polyalthia longifolia pendula (Sonn.) (Annonaceae).

The Indian Mast Tree (Figs 16-17) is a fast growing, lofty evergreen tree

native to India. It exhibits symmetrical pyramidal growth with weeping

branches and long, narrow lanceolate leaves with undulate margins. Fresh

leaves are coppery brown and are soft and delicate to touch; as the leaves

grow older the colour becomes a light green and, finally, a dark green.

The Indian Mast Tree is gaining popularity as an ornamental tree in

landscaped gardens and can be found commonly around Cairns and other

tropical northern Queensland centres. The author has many of them in his

backyard, which are frequently visited by G. macfarlanei adults for

oviposition. The author has reared many adults on this species of plant

throughout the year. Adults prefer to oviposit on or adjacent to the juvenile

coppery-brown leaves. Larvae prefer the juvenile growth.

2. Raspberry Jelly Tree — Miliusa brahei (F. Muell.) Jessup (Annonaceae).

Miliusa brahei is endemic to Australia, being widespread in Western

Australia, Northern Territory, Cape York Peninsula, northeastern Queensland

and southwards to coastal central Queensland. Altitudinal range is from near

sea level to 250 m. It grows in monsoon forest and drier rainforest.

Two small trees of M. brahei were purchased from Yuruga Nursery,

Walkamin in northern Queensland in June 2009. Over the past two years,

adults of G. macfarlanei have occasionally oviposited on the new growth,

with larvae being sleeved and reared to adults on this plant species.

3. Miliusa Tree - Miliusa traceyi Jessup (Annonaceae).

Miliusa traceyi occurs from Cape York to Lakeland Downs, as well as in the

Northern Territory. It grows in gallery forest and the drier, more seasonal

rainforests as an understorey tree with layered, drooping branches. The leaves

are velvet-hairy underneath (Beasley 2009).

The use of M. traceyi as a host plant for G. macfarlanei has been known to

entomologists for many years (D. A. Lane pers. comm.) but has remained

unpublished. On a trip to Coen on Cape York Peninsula in January 2012,

adults of G. macfarlanei were observed on the wing on the slopes and

summit of Mt White. Larvae were found feeding on the juvenile growth of M.

traceyi. David Lane has reared adults on this plant species.

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Figs 16-18. Newly recorded larval food

(16-17) Polyalthia longifolia pendula; (18) Melodorum leichhardtii.

plants of Graphium macfarlanei macfarlanei:

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 109

4. Zig-zag vine - Melodorum leichhardtii (F.Muell.) Benth. (Annonaceae).

Melodorum leichhardtii (Fig. 18) is a scrambling climber that occurs in vine

forests from Cape York to northeastern New South Wales (Beasley 2009).

While this plant species is a known host for Graphium agamemnon (L.),

Graphium eurypylus (L.) and Protographium leosthenes (Doubleday), until

now it has not been recorded as a host for Graphium macfarlanei.

In 2009, a juvenile plant was purchased from Yuruga Nursery and has been

growing in the author’s backyard in Cairns since then. On the 19 February

2013, a third instar larva of G. macfarlanei was noticed feeding on the fresh

growth of this plant species. The larva was sleeved on the tree and pupated on

2 March 2013. The adult emerged on 14 March 2013.

This confirms Melodorum leichhardtii as a newly recorded host plant for G.

macfarlanei.

Confirmed food plant record

Custard Apple - Annona reticulata Linn. (Annonaceae).

A single tree of A. reticulata was purchased from Limberlost Nursery in

Cairns in January 2008. The plant contained eggs and early instar larvae of a

Graphium sp., which were raised to adults and proved to be G. macfarlanei.

Over the last few years, wild adults of G. macfarlanei have regularly

oviposited on the new growth of the A. reticulata tree, with many adults

being raised on this plant species. Many larvae have also been collected from

an A. reticulata tree at Kewarra Beach, north of Cairns. This confirms the

record by Common and Waterhouse (1972) of A. reticulata as a food plant

for G. macfarlanei.

Discussion

Of the several Annonaceae trees in the author’s backyard, the favoured trees

for oviposition of the Green Triangles are (in order of proliferation):

Annona muricata

Polyalthia longifolia

Annona reticulata

Miliusa brahei

Melodorum leichhardtii

However, the most significant factor influencing oviposition choice by adults

seems to be the presence of fresh growth on which to lay eggs.

While the adults of G. macfarlanei are rarely seen in the wet tropics, the

immature stages are considered to be seasonally abundant in Cairns (J. Olive

pers. comm.).

110 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

An effective natural form of population control for G. macfarlanei (and many

other species) appears to be the green tree ant, Oecophylla smaragdina

(Fabricius), which naturally occurs in the majority of food plant trees that the

author has examined. Winged females of O. smaragdina will land on the

leaves of the food plant trees and establish a nest by creating a silken pad

between two leaves. Here, the eggs are laid and a new nest established. This

annual occurrence usually takes place in January.

Despite the predators, the author believes that as the planting of the Indian

Mast Tree as an ornamental landscaping tree increases throughout the tropics,

so too will the abundance of G. macfarlanei, with further range extensions of

this species expected in the future.

Acknowledgements

I thank David Lane and John Olive for their generosity and company in the

field and for allowing me to cite their observations. I also thank the Shepherd

family of Coen for allowing us access to their private property around Mt

White. The draft of the manuscript benefited greatly from the reviews of Bob

Miller and Dr Geoff Monteith and I thank them for their valuable

suggestions. I also acknowledge my partner Jodie Coldwell for her patience

and support.

References

BEASLEY, J. 2009. Plants of Cape York, the compact guide. John Beasley.

BRABY, M.F. 2000. Butterflies of Australia: their identification, biology and distribution.

CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood; xxvii + 976 pp.

BRABY, M.F. 2004. The complete field guide to butterflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing,

Collingwood; x + 340 pp.

COMMON, I.F.B. and WATERHOUSE, D.F. 1972. Butterflies of Australia. Angus &

Robertson, Sydney.

D’ABRERA, B. 1971. Butterflies of the Australian Region. Lansdowne, Melbourne.

DUNN, K.L. 2008. New and interesting spatial and temporal butterfly records from eastern

Australia. Victorian Entomologist 38(3): 36-45.

DUNN, K.L. and DUNN, L.E. 2006. Review of Australian butterflies — 1991; Annotated version.

(CD-ROM). Melbourne, Australia; published by the authors,

ORR, A and KITCHING, R. 2010. The butterflies of Australia. Allen & Unwin, Sydney; viii +

328 pp.

PARSONS, M. 1998. The butterflies of Papua New Guinea: their systematics and biology.

Academic Press, London; xvi + 736 pp, xxvi + 136 pls.

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3): 111-112 111

A PROVISIONAL RANGE EXTENSION FOR THECLINESTHES

SULPITIUS (MISKIN) (LEPIDOPTERA: LYCAENIDAE) IN

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

DANIEL KING

420 Spencer Road, Thornlie, WA 6108 (Email: drd_king@hotmail.com)

Abstract

Theclinesthes sulpitius (Miskin) is provisionally recorded from the North West Cape area of

Western Australia.

Introduction

Theclinesthes sulpitius (Miskin, 1890), the Samphire Blue, has a varied

distribution around Australia, with its range in Western Australia considered

to extend as far south as Broome (M. Braby pers. comm.). There are no

previous records of this butterfly from the North West Cape area, further

south.

Discussion

A single specimen (Fig. 1) of a butterfly satisfying at least 3 of the 4 criteria

proposed by Braby (2012) for identifying T. sulpitius was collected by the

author on 10 February 2013. The site was along the track leading to the

Oyster Stacks snorkelling area of Ningaloo Reef, within the Cape Range

National Park (22.1328, 113.878E). The butterfly was locally common

around various unidentified succulents growing beside the track.

ao ee brs a

Fig. 1. Theclinesthes sulpitius: upper and undersides of female from Cape Range

National Park, WA.

To distinguish T. sulpitius from T. serpentata (Herrich-Schiaffer, 1869),

Braby (2012) offered the following comments:

‘Both species closely resemble each other and are difficult to separate, but the

main points of difference concern three colour pattern characters and one

ecological character: (1) upperside ground colour; (2) extent of tornal spots on

hindwing; (3) extent of white patch on underside of hindwing; and (4) habitat and

larval food plant specialisation. In T. sulpitius, the upperside ground colour is

112 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

brown with the blue area absent or restricted to the basal areas, whereas in T.

serpentatus the blue area is extensive. The tornal spots on the hindwing in T.

sulpitius are conspicuous, especially on the underside, whereas they are generally

obscure in T. serpentatus. The white patch on the underside of the hindwing is

usually present, but generally less extensive, in T. sulpitius, whereas it is always

present and generally extensive in T. serpentatus.’

Braby (2000) provided a further criterion: in T. sulpitius there is an ‘absence

of a chequered scale-fringe’. Braby (2000) conceded, however, that ‘some

specimens of T sulpitius ... have the scale fringe present’ and, in Braby

(2004), this criterion is not mentioned as a defining characteristic.

The specimen collected satisfies the first three criteria and also lacks a

chequered scale-fringe. (Note that it has hair-like extensions adjacent to the

tornal spots on the hind wings). Whether the specimen satisfies Braby’s

fourth criterion is unknown, as the identity of the plants that were the focus of

the butterflies is likewise unknown. A photographic image of the area

obtained from the internet, however, shows plants similar to or the same as

those around which the butterflies were flying; comparison of these plants

with images of samphires is supportive of the idea that the plants where I

caught my specimen are samphires. Nevertheless, M. Braby (pers. comm.)

suggested that the collection of further specimens would be desirable and I

present my finding so that other interested collectors may visit the site and

obtain such specimens.

Acknowledgements

I thank the Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation

for granting Licence Number SF009032, enabling me to collect from Cape

Range National Park. I also thank Michael Braby, Kelvyn Dunn, Andy

Williams and Matt Williams for their comments with regard to the specimen

discussed. Special thanks are due to Andy Williams for photographing the

specimen.

References

BRABY, M.F. 2000. Butterflies of Australia: their identification, biology and distribution.

CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood; xxvii + 976 pp.

BRABY, M.F. 2004. The complete field guide to the butterflies of Australia. CSIRO Publishing,

Collingwood; x + 340 pp.

BRABY, M.F. 2012. The butterflies of El Questro Wilderness Park, with remarks on the

taxonomy of the Kimberley fauna, Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 27(2):

161-175.

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3): 113-117 l 113

NEW AUSTRALIAN RECORDS OF ASIAN OR NEW ZEALAND

PHLAEOTHRIPIDAE (THYSANOPTERA)

LAURENCE A. MOUND! and LI-HONG DANG”?

'CSIRO Ecosystems Sciences, PO Box 1700 Canberra, ACT 2601

(Email: laurence.mound@csiro.au)

?Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese

Academy of Sciences, No. 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, P.R.China

University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 19, Yuquan Road, Shijingshan District, Beijing

100049, P.R.China

Abstract

Three species of Phlaeothripidae described from Southeast Asia and two species described from

New Zealand are here recorded from Australia. Three genera, Anaglyptothrips Mound & Palmer,

Azaleothrips Ananthakrishnan and Yarnkothrips Mound & Walker, should be added to the

Australian faunal list.

Introduction

The Thysanoptera fauna of Australia, in addition to several large endemic

radiations on plants such as Acacia and Casuarina (Mound 2004), includes in

the north of this continent a considerable number of taxa that are essentially

Asian, whereas in the south several taxa are shared with New Zealand. The

increasing recognition of the Asian tropical element in this fauna has been

referred to in recent papers (Mound 2004, Mound and Tree 2007, 2009,

2011), as has the New Zealand connection (Mound 2006, Mound and Walker

2012).

The purpose of this paper is to record from Australia five further species of

Phlaeothripidae, two known from New Zealand and three from tropical Asia,

and thus to add to the Australian faunal list the following three genera:

Anaglyptothrips Mound & Palmer, Azaleothrips Ananthakrishnan and

Yarnkothrips Mound & Walker. Full nomenclatural details of these taxa are

web-available (ThripsWiki 2013). Slide-mounted specimens of the species

listed here are in the Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra, with

others in the Queensland Primary Industries Insect Collection, Brisbane.

Anaglyptothrips dugdalei Mound & Palmer

Anaglyptothrips dugdalei Mound & Palmer, 1983: 35.

A member of the subfamily Idolothripinae, in which all species are presumed

to feed on fungal spores, the genus Anaglyptothrips includes only this

species. It was described from near Auckland, New Zealand, collected from

introduced grasses, but one female has recently been collected near Nelligen

in southeastern New South Wales and two females have been studied from

southeastern Queensland (Tree and Walter 2012). Among the Idolothripinae

recorded from Australia (Mound 1974), this genus shares only with

Gastrothrips Hood the condition of having three sensoria on the fourth

antennal segment. In contrast to members of that genus, it is a yellow,

114 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

wingless species with the body surface sculptured with strong reticulation

and no long setae. The head, illustrated by Mound and Walker (1986: 92),

has the compound eyes small but bulbous with each having fewer than 12

ommatidia.

Specimens studied. QUEENSLAND: 1 @, Brisbane, Gap Creek Reserve, in Acacia

leaf-litter, 8.12009 (DJ Tree); 1 9, Gap Creek Reserve, in Acacia leaf-litter,

24.xii.2008 (DJ Tree). NEW SOUTH WALES: 1 9, Nelligen, from grass by stream,

24.i.2013 (L-H Dang).

Pygothrips vicinus Okajima

Pygothrips vicinus Okajima, 1990: 97.

The Idolothripinae genus Pygothrips Hood includes 17 species and is found

throughout tropical countries, feeding on fungal spores on dead branches. In

the type species of the genus, P. rugicauda Hood from northern Queensland, |

abdominal segment ten, i.e. the tube, is greatly swollen with strongly convex |

margins (Mound 1974). Several species from other countries, plus some

undescribed species from Australia, have the tube similarly swollen, but this

is an extreme condition amongst a series of species that are included in this

genus. Several species have the tube less swollen, although with the margins

more strongly convex than the straight-sided tube that is typical of most

Phlaeothripidae. The species here newly recorded from Australia, P. vicinus,

has the tube with convex margins. Okajima (1990) described and illustrated

this species from the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan and also recorded it

from Thailand and Java. The Australian specimens listed below have been

compared with paratypes of P. vicinus from Okinawa and, despite having

slightly shorter postocular setae, are considered to represent that species.

New record. QUEENSLAND (Torres Strait): 4 99, Horn Island, from base of dead

Dianella, 20.xi.2009 (AC Postle).

Azaleothrips lepidus Okajima

Azaleothrips lepidus Okajima, 1978: 386.

Ten species have been placed in the genus Azaleothrips, all from tropical |

Asia. These thrips are members of the Phlaeothripinae and all live on dead

branches, feeding on fungi. The surface of the head and thorax is covered

with complex sculpture that involves irregular markings within each

sculptured reticle. Azaleothrips lepidus is known previously only from

Thailand and the specimen listed below is identified from the original

description and illustrations (Okajima 1978). However, this is a member of a

group of four described species that have been distinguished from each other

only by slight differences in the colour of the pronotum and legs, and the

lengths of the postocular setae on the head. One of these, A. amii

Ananthakrishnan, is recorded widely across India (Ananthakrishnan and Sen

1980) but remains poorly defined, while 4. bhattii Vijay Veer & Chauhan is

based on a single sample from northern India. In contrast, although the

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 115

descriptions and illustrations of 4. lepidus and A. siamensis Okajima are well

prepared and based on good samples, these two species were collected

together in Thailand from the same sample of dead leaves and there is some

overlap in the character states used to distinguish them. In structure these four

species are very similar to each other and the possibility exists that they may

represent a single, widespread species on dead leaves and branches.

New record. NORTHERN TERRITORY: 1 9, Cobourg Peninsula, Smith Point, from

dead twigs, 14.v.1999 (LAM 3698).

Strepterothrips orientalis Ananthakrishnan

Strepterothrips orientalis Ananthakrishnan, 1964: 118.

The genus Strepterothrips Hood currently includes nine species from various

parts of the tropics and Mound and Ward (1971) provided a key to the six

species then known. One of these species, S. tuberculatus (Girault), is one of

the most common and widespread Phlaeothripinae in Australia, having been

taken widely across the continent, fungus-feeding on dead branches.

Strepterothrips orientalis was described from India, subsequently recorded

from Thailand and included in the key to species by Mound and Ward

(1971). It differs from the other members of the genus in having antennal

segments two and three bright yellow, in contrast to the dark brown colour of

the rest of the heavily sculptured body. Moreover, the third antennal segment

is unusually short, being as wide as long, and bears only one sensorium, with

three sensoria on the fourth segment. Members of this genus are highly

polymorphic, generally wingless but with rare winged females. Males vary

greatly in body size with large males having a greatly produced ventral

hamus on the fore tarsus that looks like a tarsal claw, as illustrated by

Okajima (1995). For several years S. orientalis has been known to be

widespread across northern Australia, but previously the species had not been

formally recorded.

New records. QUEENSLAND: 1 &, Townsville, 16.vii.1995; 1 9, Townsville,

23.viii.2004; 3 29, 1 3, Torres Strait, Boigu Island, from dead wood, 16.xi.2009; 1

Q, Darnley Island, 17.xi.2009; 1 ĝ, Warraber Island, 19.xi.2009. NORTHERN

TERRITORY: 1 9, Coburg Peninsula, Smith Point, from dead twigs, 14.v.1999.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 6 99, 1 3, 20 km south of Broome, from dead mango

branch, 1.iii.2005; 1 2, Broome, 28.vii.1997; 2 29, 1 6, larvae, Kununurra

23.ii.2005, 4 99, 1 3, Kununurra, 27.ix.2009.

Yarnkothrips kolourus Mound & Walker

Yarnkothrips kolourus Mound & Walker, 1986: 83.

Described from various coastal regions of New Zealand, this is the only

species placed in this genus. The fore tarsus has a small hook-shaped tooth

distally on the inner margin. However, this arises from the ventral apical

margin of the tarsus and is thus a hamus, and is not homologous with a

typical fore tarsal tooth that arises laterally. Illustrated by Mound and Walker

116 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

(1986), the maxillary bridge within the head is curiously arched, antennal

segment three bears three sensoria and the terminal setae on the abdominal

tube are exceptionally short. The relationships of this genus within the

Phlaeothripinae remain in doubt. The species is likely to be predatory on

other small arthropods, with adults varying considerably in body size.

Specimens have been collected recently from several localities other than

New Zealand, as indicated below.

New records. AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY: 2 9, from dead Eucalyptus,

Namadji, 18.iii.2006; 1 9, Black Mt., 7.x.2011; 1 9, Oakey Hill, 5.iii.2011. NEW

SOUTH WALES: 1 9, Dalmeny, 26.xii.2010. QUEENSLAND: 1 ĝ, Stanthorpe,

from dead wood, 28.xii.2011; 1 9, 1 ĝ, Brisbane, from bark spray, 27.vi.2011; 1 2, 2

36, Brisbane, from bark spray, rainforest, 22.i.2011. TASMANIA: 1 9, Flinders

Island, 27.xi.2011. NORFOLK ISLAND: 1 9, 2 36, 21-26.xii.2012. NEW

CALEDONIA: 1 3, La Foa, from dead Ocimum stems, 5.iv.2012.

Acknowledgement

We are particularly grateful to Desley Tree for her comments on the original

manuscript.

References

ANANTHAKRISHNAN, T.N. 1964. Thysanopterologica Indica I. Entomologisk Tidskrift 85:

99-120.

ANANTHAKRISHNAN, T.N. and SEN, S. 1980. Taxonomy of Indian Thysanoptera.

Zoological Survey of India, Handbook Series 1: 1-234.

MOUND, L.A. 1974. Spore-feeding thrips (Phlaeothripidae) from leaf litter and dead wood in

Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology. Supplement 27: 1-106.

MOUND, L.A. 2004. Australian Thysanoptera — biological diversity and a diversity of studies.

Australian Journal of Entomology 43: 248-257.

MOUND, L.A. 2006. Vicariance or dispersal — trans-Tasman faunal relationships among

Thysanoptera (Insecta), with a second species of Lomatothrips from Podocarpus. Papers and

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 140: 11-15.

MOUND, L.A. and PALMER, J.M. 1983. The generic and tribal classification of spore-feeding |

Thysanoptera (Phlaeothripidae: Idolothripinae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural |

History), Entomology 46: 1-174.

MOUND, L.A. and TREE, D.J. 2007. Oriental and Pacific Thripidae (Thysanoptera) new to

Australia, with a new species of Pseudodendrothrips Schmutz. Australian Entomologist 34: 7-

14.

MOUND, L.A. and TREE, D.J. 2009. The oriental lily-flower thrips, Taeniothrips eucharii

(Whetzel) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) new to Australia. Australian Entomologist 35: 159-160.

MOUND, L.A. and TREE, D.J. 2011. New records and four new species of Australian Thripidae

(Thysanoptera) emphasise faunal relationships between northern Australia and Asia. Zootaxa

2764: 35-48.

MOUND, L.A. and WALKER, A.K. 1986. Tubulifera (Insecta: Thysanoptera). Fauna of New

Zealand 10: 1-140.

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 117

MOUND, L.A. and WALKER, A.K. 2012. The Australia-New Zealand connection re-visited,

with two new species of Cartomothrips (Thysanoptera, Phalaeothripidae). Zootaxa 3487: 58-64.

MOUND, L.A. and WARD, A. 1971. The genus Strepterothrips Hood and its relatives with a

description of S. tuberculatus (Girault) comb.n. (Thysanoptera). Journal of the Australian

Entomological Society 10: 98-104.

OKAJIMA, S. 1978. Notes on the Thysanoptera from Southeast Asia III. Two new species of the

genus Azaleothrips Ananthakrishnan (Phlaeothripidae). Kontyu 46: 385-391.

OKAJIMA, S. 1990. The Old World species of Pygothrips (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae).

Systematic Entomology 15: 87-99.

OKAJIMA, S. 1995. The genus Strepterothrips Hood (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae) from east

Asia. Special Bulletin of the Japanese Society for Coleopterology 4: 213-219.

THRIPSWIKI. 2013. Thrips Wiki - providing information on the World's thrips. Thrips.info/wiki/

TREE, D.J. and WALTER, G.H. 2012. Diversity and abundance of fungivorous thrips

(Thysanoptera) associated with leaf-litter and bark across forest types and two tree genera in

subtropical Australia. Journal of Natural History 46: 2897-2918.

MR Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

RANGE EXTENSION OF ACRAEA TERPSICORE (LINNAEUS)

(LEPIDOPTERA: NYMPHALIDAE) TO WESTERN AUSTRALIA

DANIEL KING

420 Spencer Road, Thornlie, WA 6108 (Email: drd_king@hotmail.com)

Abstract

Acraea terpsicore (Linnaeus) is recorded from Kununurra, Western Australia.

Discussion - |

Two specimens of Acraea terpsicore (Linnaeus, 1758) (Figs 1-2), a native of |

India and Sri Lanka and recently recorded from the Northern Territory

(Braby et al. 2013), were collected by the author on 11 and 12 May 2013

from two sites in Kununurra, Western Australia. It was also collected in the

area a few weeks earlier (19 April) by Matt Williams (pers. comm.). The first |

site was on the verge of Weaber Plains Road (15.77S, 128.74E) and the

second at the well known Ivanhoe Crossing (15.688, 128.68E). At both sites ©

other specimens were seen but not collected. No specimens were observed at |

Lake Argyle or along the Lake Argyle Road, nor at either Wyndham or The |

Grotto (30 km from Wyndham along the Great Northern Highway). |

Significantly with regard to the species’ dispersal, it was not recorded during |

the recent survey of the El Questro area near Kununurra (Braby 2012) but |

this was the site of Matt Williams’ capture. |

Figs 1-2. Acraea terpsicore from Kununurra, WA: (1) male; (2) female.

Acknowledgements

I thank Michael Braby, Kelvyn Dunn and Matt Williams for their comments.

References

BRABY, M.F...2012. The butterflies of El Questro Wilderness Park, with remarks on the |

taxonomy of the Kimberley fauna, Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 27(2): |

161-175.

BRABY, M.F., BERTELSMEIER, C., SANDERSON, C. and THISTLETON, B. 2013. Spatial —

distribution and range expansion of the Tawny Coster butterfly, Acraea terpsicore (Linnaeus, |

1758) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), in South-East Asia and Australia. Insect Conservation and |

Diversity. In press.

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3): 119-130 5 119

PREDATION ON BUTTERFLIES AND OTHER INSECTS BY

BREEDING RAINBOWBIRDS (MEROPS ORNATUS: MEROPIDAE)

IN SOUTH-EAST QUEENSLAND

ALBERT ORR

School of the Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld 4111

(Email: agorr@bigpond.com)

Abstract

The diet of a family of Rainbowbirds (Merops ornatus Latham) nesting in the Currimundi

Environmental Park, southern Queensland, was investigated over approximately four months.

Three birds were involved, a breeding pair and a helper male. Insect prey was monitored

photographically with 836 items being recorded. The recorded diet of the adults before hatching

and that brought to the nestlings differed considerably, with Hymenoptera being the most

important adult prey class for adults, both numerically and in terms of biomass. However, few

honeybees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) were eaten by adults. Conversely, the most important

components of the nestling diet in terms of biomass were cicadas, dragonflies (Anisoptera) and

various Diptera. Large numbers of honeybees were also brought to the nestlings during their later

development, particularly by the female bird and these comprised almost all the Hymenoptera

fed to the nestlings. Lepidoptera, chiefly butterflies of all families, formed a minor but

conspicuous part of the diet, particularly of the adults. Relatively fewer were fed to the nestlings,

possibly because of the abundance of cicadas and dragonflies in the foraging territory.

Introduction

Some of the most voracious predators of aerial insects are the Bee-eaters of

the family Meropidae (including the genera Merops, Nyctyornis and

Meropogon), which inhabit the old world tropics and warm temperate

regions. Merops ornatus Latham, also known as the Rainbowbird (Fig. 1), is

found throughout much of Australia, where it breeds in long tunnels

excavated in flat ground or in the vertical faces of river banks and in coastal

dunes (Fry 1984, Higgins 1999). It overwinters mainly in New Guinea and

possibly on islands further west, thus ensuring a continuous supply of insect

food during the Australian winter or tropical dry season. When not nesting,

the birds travel in nomadic groups and are difficult to observe closely but,

when nesting, breeding pairs and often one or more helpers confine their

activities to a small territory around the nest. They rapidly habituate to a

human observer, allowing close visual monitoring of their insect diet.

There has been only limited study of the diet of the Rainbowbird. The

Honeybee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus, is not native to its range but often forms

a large proportion of prey taken, especially around apiaries, where the birds

are regarded as pests and are often shot (McKay 1969). On the other hand,

one report from Victoria claimed that dragonflies (Odonata) supplied the

greatest biomass of food consumed, although they were numerically fewer

than other forms of prey (Fry 1984). Another study reported that larger prey

items were selectively taken to the nest to feed the growing chicks (Fry

1984). Conversely, Calver (1987) reported nestling Rainbowbirds feeding

mainly on Hymenoptera. Lepidoptera reported as casual prey items include

Vanessa cardui (L.) (= kershawi (McCoy)), Vanessa itea (F.), Zizina

120 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

labradus (Godart) and species of Noctuidae (Higgins 1999). Draffan et al. |

(1983) reported migrating Rainbowbirds consuming large numbers of

Eurema hecabe (L.) before making the journey across Torres Strait to New |

Guinea. Additional records of prey captured (but not necessarily eaten) found |

on internet images include Arhopala centaurus (F.). Belenois java (L.) and |

Tirumala hamata (W.S. Macleay). |

Rainbowbirds breed regularly in horizontal tunnels in the banks of the |

northern shore of Currimundi Lake and along the beachfront dunes in front of |

the Currimundi Lake Conservation Park (26°46'12"S, 153°7'19"E). This |

habitat island is a fully protected area of 52 ha of ‘Wallum’. It comprises a

complex association of vegetation types including stunted, fire-climax heath |

with exceptionally high plant diversity and stands of low Casuarina, Banksia |

and Melaleuca. To seaward it is bordered by a narrow, low rainforest-like |

association in the swale behind the sand dunes facing the Pacific Ocean to the |

east. Elsewhere, the park is bounded by the salt water Currimundi Lake to the |

south and dense suburban areas on its northern and western sides. During the

breeding season of 2012, I observed the birds closely and regularly, recording |

their social behaviour and the range of insect prey consumed. |

Area, breeding chronology of birds and methods

From early September 2012 to 6 January 2013, I was able to monitor one |

nesting family of Rainbowbirds consisting of a breeding pair and a helper

male. The two males could be separated by slight differences in the symmetry

of their streamers, visible in most photographs. They occupied a territory

approximately 6 ha in area, including both shores of Currimundi Lake (Fig.

2). To the east and north their territory abutted those of other breeding

groups. Upon arrival, an existing tunnel in a small embayment on the

northern bank of the lake was refurbished, chiefly by the female, until its

final depth was 1.25 m. Several other false tunnels up to 0.35 m long were

constructed or refurbished nearby. Foraging activity was coordinated from an

observation perch ca 10 m high and ca 30 m from the nest entrance. Birds

returned there to eat their prey or, if intended for the nest, to subdue it. When

prey was brought to the nest, the birds almost always first perched at least for

a few seconds on a low ‘nest perch’ ca 4 m from the nest. Almost all prey _

items were photographed when the birds were on the observation perch or the

nest perch using a 70-300 lens mounted on a Nikon D90 DX format SLR

camera. In total, ca 18,000 photographs were taken. It was possible to

identify all butterflies, most cicadas and all Odonata prey to genus or species

and all other groups at least to family, with the exception of a few smaller |

Hymenoptera. Average biomass estimates of all common prey species were

made by weighing fresh killed specimens, collected outside the reserve, on a

milligram balance. When no specimens were available, biomass was

estimated by comparing their linear measurements, easily assessed relative to

the length of the birds’ bills (27-28 mm), with those of known species.

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 121

Fig. 1. Rainbowbirds with prey: (a) helper male on the nest perch with a female

Ogyris zosine; (b) female in flight taking cicada to nest.

observation

perch

CURRIMUNDI LAKE

50m

Fig. 2. Map of study area showing salient features.

122 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Throughout September and October, the birds were monitored in the vicinity

of the main perch and at other favoured perches around the territory for at

least 30 minutes on most days. Any prey taken was recorded

photographically. On 3 November, courtship feeding was recorded when the

breeding male presented the female with a moth, ?Ophiusa disjungens (Fig. |

3) and a tabanid fly. Judging from the time the female spent in the burrow,

egg laying probably commenced on 7 November, continuing over several

days. Presumably four eggs were laid as four fledglings later appeared with

no evidence of any egg or chick mortality. Brooding was shared by the

female and at least one of the males, probably chiefly the helper. The helper

male soon broke his streamers, greatly facilitating individual recognition. It

was inferred from the behaviour of the birds that the first hatching occurred

on or around 1 December, which suggests an incubation period of 21 days,

similar to the figure reported by Boland (2004). Boland (2004) also reported

asynchronous hatching. From the time of laying, observations in the vicinity

of the nest were increased to one hour per day and later, after hatching, to two

daily one-hour observation periods morning and afternoon. The chicks

fledged between 1 and 5 January 2013 and on the morning of 6 January all

birds disappeared.

Results

Overall

The total number of individuals and biomass representation of different

orders of insects recorded as captured and eaten at either the main perch or at

other perches around the territory is shown in Table 1. Of 167 items recorded,

Hymenoptera were clearly the preferred prey, followed by Diptera, especially

Tabanidae. Only three honeybees were recorded among the prey. Lepidoptera

comprised only 8.4% of individuals and 6.5% of biomass. Most prey items

had a wet mass of >50 mg, although in a few cases smaller insects were

observed taken and swallowed on the wing. Presumably, smaller items do not

justify the expenditure of energy involved in their capture.

Table 1. Breakdown of prey items taken and eaten before hatching of eggs.

individuals percent biomass mg percent

individuals biomass

Hymenoptera 107 64.1 8560 50.0

Diptera 22 13.2 2640 15.4

Lepidoptera 14 8.4 1120 6.5

Coleoptera 9 5.4 630 3.7

Cicadidae 4 2.3 1250 7.3

Odonata 8 4.8 2310 13.5

Other 3 1.7 600 3.5

TOTAL 167 17110

$$$ N N iiiI

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 123

Fig. 3. (a) female Rainbowbird tossing Junonia villida with her mate alongside; (b)

breeding male giving female a nuptial gift (?Ophiusa disjungens) just before breeding;

Junonia villida.

Conversely, larger items such as dragonflies, cicadas and some butterflies

generally involved considerable handling time, lasting 150 seconds in one

case of Graphium eurypylus (L.) (Fig. 4). Typically, the bird perched on a

124 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

thick branch near the main perch and repeatedly bashed the insect’s head

against it with a characteristic twist of the (bird’s) head, which meant that it

was often turned upside down at the moment of impact. The stunned insect

was several times tossed into the air and caught before being swallowed head

first, wings and all (Fig. 4), with harder parts eventually regurgitated as a

pellet. Such pellets accumulated in large numbers under the main perch.

Table 2 shows the same statistics for prey taken to the nest after hatching. A

total of 669 items was recorded. During this period many insects were also

observed being eaten by the providers, including two butterflies, but their

number was much fewer than the number of prey items taken to the nestlings.

Because observations were concentrated mainly on the nest, it is considered

that these records are not comparable with either pre-hatching feeding

records or with nest provisioning rates; hence they are not included in the

general analysis.

Table 2. Breakdown of prey items captured and taken to feed nestlings after hatching.

individuals percent biomass mg percent

individuals biomass

Hymenoptera 178 26.6 15130 8.8

Diptera 146 21.8 21906 12.8

Lepidoptera 24 3.6 2200 1.3

Coleoptera 3 0.5 240 0.1

Cicadidae 213 31.8 103850 60.5

Odonata 87 13.0 24270 14.1

Other 18 2.7 3960 2.3

TOTAL 669 171556

The range of prey taken to the nestlings differed greatly from the adult diet,

with cicadas, especially Psaltoda harrisii (Leach), Tamasa tristigma

(Germar) and Cicadetta sp. accounting for more than 30% numerically and

60% of biomass. Significant biomass was also contributed by Odonata,

mainly Adversaeschna brevistyla (Rambur) and Hemicordulia sp. and by

Diptera, including Apiocera sp. (Apioceridae), Rutilia sp. (Tachinidae),

Tabanidae and a few Asilidae. Hymenoptera were far less important in the

diet and almost all were honeybees, brought to the nest principally by the

female between 1400-1600h, starting when the nestlings were about 15 days

old. At first she brought devenomed individuals, then dead but intact

specimens, then, just before fledging, living bees. At times she brought

honeybees to the nest at a rate of almost one per minute, sometimes impeding

the helper male in his efforts to deliver food. It is tempting to interpret these

bouts of honeybee provisioning as educational, designed to teach the young

to cope with venomous Hymenoptera after they leave the nest. The helper

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 125

Fig. 4. Helper male tossing and swallowing a male Graphium eurypylus on a thick

‘anvil’ branch behind the main perch.

126 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

male also brought a few bees, mainly devenomed, towards the end of the

chicks’ development.

Lepidoptera

Lepidoptera generally made up a relatively small proportion of the diet with

just 14 taken prior to hatching, 24 taken to the nest and 2 eaten during the

nest provisioning period. All butterfly families were represented and there

were just two moths, one Erebidae and one Noctuidae (following Zahari et al.

2012). Lepidoptera formed a significantly smaller proportion of the nestlings’

diet than that of adult birds (P<0.01 test of proportions). Table 3 shows all

Lepidoptera captured, a range of which are illustrated in Figs 5 and 6, and the

individual birds which took them. The greater number taken by the female

probably reflects the fact that she was most active in provisioning the nest

overall. Conversely, the breeding male caught only four lepidopterans, one

given to the female before courtship, one taken to the nest just before

fledging and two eaten before breeding. Overall, the breeding male took

relatively few items to the nest, but once chicks were fledged they stayed

very close to him, watching his hunting sallies closely. They begged and

were fed by him.

Table 3. Total of all Lepidoptera taken by each bird during the study, including items

eaten and items fed to nestlings.

—

female helper male breeding male

PREY Merops ornatus Merops ornatus Merops ornatus

Trapezites symmomus 6 1

Ocybadistes ?walkeri 1l

Telicota ?colon 1 1

Cephrenes augiades 5

Graphium eurypylus 2

Graphium sarpedon 2

Catopsilia pomona 2 1

Junonia villida 3 2 2

Vanessa itea 1

Ogyris zosine 3 2

Theclinesthes miskini 2

Nacaduba berenice

?Ophiusa disjungens 1

? Spodoptera sp. l

TT e a

—

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 127

Fig. 5. Range of Lepidoptera prey: (a) Trapezites symmomus; (b) Catopsilia pomona,

sp.

128 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Fig. 6. Range of Lepidoptera prey: (a) Nacaduba berenice; (b) Theclinesthes miskini;

as bird crushes it with its bill; (f) tossing Cephrenes augiades.

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 129

When the nestlings were newly hatched, prey was thoroughly processed

before being taken to them. The wings of dragonflies were removed, while

butterflies were pulverised and their wings removed as far as possible, to the

point where they were unrecognisable (Figs 3 c-e). After about ten days, dead

but otherwise intact butterflies were fed to the chicks.

Discussion

Rainbowbirds are opportunistic predators that are said to always take their

prey on the wing (Fry 1984). Although they are clearly behaviourally adapted

to catch and process venomous Hymenoptera, other groups such as Diptera,

Odonata (Orr 2013) and cicadas can obviously represent an important food

source when available. Lepidoptera in this case were of less importance, but

this may have reflected their relative availability. Also, with their broad

wings they may create more problems with handling and swallowing then

other larger insects such as dragonflies and cicadas. Nevertheless, the present

study documents predation on 12 species of butterfly, only one of which,

Vanessa itea, is recorded in literature. Thirty-four percent of these are

hesperiids, which with their stout bodies and narrow wings may offer a better

nutritional return versus handling effort than other species. Also, as far as is

known, all local hesperiid species are palatable to vertebrates.

It is of interest that Delias argenthona (F.), one of the commonest butterflies

present throughout the study, often flew close to the main perch but was

never attacked or even looked at. It has been established that Delias nigrina

(F.) possess emetic properties that are effective against some birds (Orr 1999,

Orr and Kitching 2010) and very probably the same is true of D. argenthona.

Other reasonably common species ignored included Euploea core (Cramer),

Tirumala hamata and Papilio aegeus Donovan. The first two are generally

thought to be toxic or unpalatable due to cardeneloids and/or pyrrholozidine

alkaloids, gained respectively from their asclepiadaceous and apocynaceous

host plants (Ackery and Vane Wright 1984). As noted above, a photograph

on the internet shows a Rainbowbird with a T. hamata in its bill, but this is

not conclusive proof that it swallowed it. Papilio aegeus is probably only

moderately palatable but the size of its wings would necessitate much

handling before it could be swallowed. Evidence that size may be a deterrent

comes from an aborted attack on a Polyura sempronius (F.), first sighted

about 40 m away; the female bird had swooped on the butterfly from behind,

but at the last moment pulled away. Belenois java is probably only

moderately palatable (see Turner 1984 for discussion of the palatability

spectrum) and, as with 7. hamata, there is a photograph of one in the bill of a

Rainbowbird on the internet. Again, this does not prove it was consumed. In

November, B. java adults were extremely abundant for about four days but

elicited no interest from the birds. However, as they were only briefly present

it is possible the birds were unwilling to attack them because of their

unfamiliarity.

130 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Once the chicks had fledged they remained close by a parent, typically their

father. Every foraging flight by the adult bird was closely watched and, after

a few days, the young attempted to catch insects themselves, generally with

indifferent results. When one observes how closely the young birds watch

their parents foraging, it seems possible that avoidance of putatively

distasteful or toxic species such as Delias may be learned culturally, without

any experimentation by naive birds as is usually supposed. It is also of

interest that, although Ogyris zosine (Hewitson) shares the same food plants

as Delias argenthona, it clearly is palatable to Rainbowbirds. No doubt the

sequestration of toxic compounds from a host plant depends on the

physiology of each species and may vary within species.

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank Mr E.D. Edwards for assistance with identification of

the two moths.

References

ACKERY, P.R. and VANE-WRIGHT, R.I. 1984. Milkweed butterflies, their cladistics and

biology. British Museum (Natural History), London; ix + 429 pp.

BOLAND, C.R.J., 2004. Breeding biology of rainbow bee-eaters (Merops ornatus): a migratory,

colonial, cooperative bird. Auk 121: 811-823.

CALVER, M.C., SAUNDERS, D.A. and PORTER, B.D. 1987. The diet of nestling Rainbow

bee-eaters, Merops ornatus, on Rottnest Island, Western-Australia, and observations on a non-

destructive method of diet analysis. Australian Wildlife Research 14: 541-550.

DRAFFAN, R.D.W., GARNETT, S.T and MALONE, G.J. 1983. Birds of the Torres Strait: an

annotated list and biogeographical analysis. Emu 83(4) 207-234.

FRY, C.H. 1984. The Bee-eaters. Poyser, Calton UK; 304 pp + 8 col. plates.

HIGGINS, P.J. 1999. Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, vol. 4: Parrots

to Dollarbirds. Oxford University Press, Melbourne; Meropidae 1209-1225.

McKAY, C. 1969. Notes on Myrops (sic) ornatus Latham. Australasian Beekeeper 71: 105-106.

ORR, A.G. 1999. Evidence for unpalatability in the genus Delias Hübner (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

and its role in mimetic assemblages. Australian Entomologist 26: 45-52.

ORR, A.G. 2013. The importance of dragonflies as food for breeding Rainbowbirds in

subtropical eastern Australia. Agrion. In press.

ORR, A.G. and KITCHING, R.L. 2010. The butterflies of Australia. Allen & Unwin, Sydney;

viii + 328 pp.

TURNER, J.R.G. 1984. Mimicry: the palatability spectrum and its consequences. In: Vane-

Wright, R.I. and Ackery, P.R. (eds), The biology of butterflies. Symposium of the Royal

Entomological Society of London 11: 141-161.

ZAHIRI, R., HOLLOWAY, J.D., KITCHING, I.J., LAFONTAINE, J.D., MUTANE, M. and

WAHLBERG, N. 2012. Molecular phylogenetics of Erebidae (Lepidoptera, Noctuoidea).

Systematic Entomology 37: 102-124.

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3): 131-135 131

THE FIRST RECORD OF ORTALOTRYPETA ISSHIKIT

(MATSUMURA) AND SUBFAMILY TACHINISCINAE (DIPTERA:

TEPHRITIDAE) FROM INDIA, WITH REDESCRIPTION OF THE

SPECIES

K.J. DAVID! and D.L. HANCOCK?

National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects, P. B. No. 2491, H. A. Farm Post, Bellary

Road, Hebbal, Bangalore-560024, Karnataka, India (Email: davidento@gmail.com)

?8/3 McPherson Close, Edge Hill, Cairns, Qld 4870

Abstract

Ortalotrypeta isshikii (Matsumura) and subfamily Tachniscinae are recorded for the first time

from India and the species redescribed.

Introduction

The Tachiniscinae is regarded as one of the most primitive subfamilies of

Tephritidae (Korneyev 1999, Korneyev and Norrbom 2006). It is

characterised by the presence of: (i) a short-pubescent arista; (ii) 1-3 (usually

2) postpronotal setae; (iii) 1-2 postsutural supra-alar setae; (iv) oviscape

opened posterodorsally; (v) eversible membrane of the ovipositor devoid of

taeniae but with basoventral area of dense, very dark, larger scales; and (vi)

aculeus short and stiletto-like (Korneyev 1999). Members of this subfamily

are represented in the Afrotropical, Oriental, Australasian, Palaearctic and

Neotropical Regions of the world.

Two tribes, Tachiniscini Kertész and Ortalotrypetini Ito, are recognised, each

with five genera. The Tribe Ortalotrypetini includes Ortalotrypeta Hendel

and Cyaforma Wang from the Palaearctic and Oriental Regions, plus

Ischyropteron Bigot, Neortalotrypeta Norrbom and Agnitrena Korneyev

from the Neotropical Region (Norrbom 1994, Korneyev 1999, Korneyev and

Norrbom 2006). The Tribe Tachiniscini comprises fossil Protortalotrypeta

Norrbom and extant Tachinisca Kertész from the Neotropical Region, plus

Bibundia Bischof and Tachiniscidia Malloch from the Afrotropical Region

and Aliasutra Korneyev from Australia, the latter only recently described

(Korneyev and Norrbom 2006, Korneyev 2012).

The only known biological record for the subfamily is of an undescribed

species of Bibundia (tribe Tachiniscini) reared from pupae of two saturniid

moths (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) in Africa (Roberts 1969), although

Korneyev (1999) noted that the form of the aculeus suggests that all members

of the subfamily are parasitoids.

Ortalotrypeta includes yellow to orange-bodied flies with well developed

chaetotaxy and a yellowish to milky-white wing with brown bands and spots

(Wang 1998). Nine species are currently recorded from China, Taiwan,

Japan, Nepal and Vietnam (Norrbom 1994, Wang 1998). Ortalotrypeta

isshikii (Matsumura), the most widespread species known previously from

China, Japan and Nepal, is recorded here for the first time from India.

132 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Material and methods

The specimen examined was in the Commonwealth Institute of Biological

Control (CIBC) collection deposited in the University of Agricultural

Sciences, Bangalore, India (UASB). The specimen was identified using the

keys by Norrbom (1994) and Wang (1998). Images were captured using a

Leica DFC 420 camera mounted on a Leica M205A stereozoom microscope;

the images were stacked and combined to a single image using Combine ZP

(Hadley 2011).

Systematics

Ortalotrypeta Hendel, 1927

Ortalotrypeta isshikii (Matsumura, 1916)

(Figs 1-7)

Material examined. INDIA: 19, Sikkim, Lachung, vii.1960, resting on silver fir,

CIBC coll. (UASB).

Description. Body orange-yellow in ground colour, 7.4 mm long. Head (Fig.

1) orange-yellow; anterior margin of face and parafacial strongly receded

ventrally. Frons 1.6 times as broad as eye, with 3 pairs of frontal setae and 2

pairs of orbital setae. Frons setulose between the three pairs of frontal setae.

Ocellar seta, medial and lateral vertical setae longer than posterior orbital

seta, postocellar seta present, postocular row thin and black. Antenna shorter

than face, arista short-pubescent. Gena and postgena broad, occiput swollen.

Thorax (Figs 2-3) with scutum 2.3 mm long, orange-yellow covered with

black setulae. Chaetotaxy: 3 postpronotal, 1 anterior notopleural, 1 posterior

notopleural, 1 presutural supra-alar, 2 postsutural supra-alar, 1 postalar, 1

intra-alar, 1 dorsocentral (aligned with anterior supra-alar seta) and 1

prescutellar acrostichal seta. Scutellum yellow with 3 pairs of scutellar setae.

Proepisternum with three setae longer than postocular seta. Anepisternum

setulose, with three setae anterior to anepisternal phragma; anepimeron and

katepisternum each with single seta.

Legs (Fig. 6) yellow; forefemur setulose with two rows of long dorsal setae

and a single row of ventral setae; mid and hindfemur with sub-dorsal setae.

Foretibia devoid of setae; mid and hindtibia with 1 and 2 rows of dorsal setae

respectively; midtibia with 2 large ventroapical spur-like setae.

Wing (Fig. 7) 8.4 mm long; veins R; and R4 with setulae throughout their

entire length; predominantly hyaline to pale brown with dark brown spot in

pterostigma which extends to cell rj, isolated ovoid spot on crossvein R-M,

dark apical mark including subapical band over DM-Cu and extending along

apical section of vein M to wing apex then extending into cell r23, large oval

hyaline spot in distal half of cell r4,s, hyaline indentation in cell m, subapical

hyaline spot in cell dm, large subhyaline area in cell br.

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 133

Abdomen (Figs 4-5) with tergites yellow, black setulose. Oviscape yellow

basally and black apically.

Figs 1-3. Ortalotrypeta isshikii: () eee 0) 7 ee pue view; 3) thorax, ven

view.

134 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Figs 4-7. Ortalotrypeta isshikii: (4) abdomen, dorsal view; (5) abdomen, lateral view;

(6) legs; (7) wing.

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 135

Comments. The above specimen, plus those recorded from Nepal by

Norrbom (1994), differ from typical O. isshikii from Japan and China in

having the brown spot in the pterostigma extending into cell rj; in typical

specimens cell rı is entirely yellowish. In the absence of further evidence this

variation is regarded as infraspecific, although some possibility that the

Indian and Nepalese specimens represent a separate species exists.

Elsewhere, O. isshikii appears to be widespread, being recorded from Japan

(Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu) and the Chinese mainland (Hubei, Sichuan,

Xizang [Tibet]) by Wang (1998).

This is the only species of Ortalotrypeta known with certainty to occur south

of the Chinese or Tibetan borders. Records of O. gigas Hendel, 1927 and O.

idanina Zia, 1963 from southern Vietnam, based on a single specimen of

each from Ho Chi Minh City, collected in July 1939 (Wang 1998), are of

uncertain provenance (no collector indicated) and are likely to have been

mislabelled.

References

HADLEY, A. 2011. Combine ZP (Accessed 11 January 2013). http://hadleyweb.pwp.

blueyonder.co.uk/CZM/News.htm

KORNEYEV, V.A. 1999. Phylogenetic relationships among higher groups of Tephritidae. Pp

73-113, in: Aluja, M. and Norrbom, A.L. (eds), Fruit flies (Tephritidae): phylogeny and

evolution of behavior. CRC Press, Boca Raton; xviii + 944 pp.

KORNEYEV, V.A. 2012. A new genus and species of the subfamily Tachiniscinae (Diptera,

Tephritidae) from Australia. Records of the Australian Museum 64(3): 159-166.

KORNEYEV, V.A. and NORRBOM, A.L. 2006. Genera of the subfamily Tachiniscinae

(Diptera: Tephritidae) with discussion of the position of Descoleia and Nosferatumyia, gen. n.

(Tephritoidea incertae sedis). Pp 105-155, in: Merz, B. (ed.), Phylogeny, taxonomy, and biology

of tephritoid flies (Diptera, Tephritoidea). Instrumenta Biodiversitatis VI. Muséum histoire

naturelle, Geneva; 274 pp.

NORRBOM, A.L. 1994. New genera of Tephritidae (Diptera) from Brazil and Dominican

amber, with phylogenetic analysis of the tribe Ortalotrypetini. Insecta Mundi 8(1-2): 1-15.

ROBERTS, H. 1969. Forest insects in Nigeria with notes on their biology and distribution.

Institute Paper, Commonwealth Forestry Institute, Oxford 44: 206 pp.

WANG, X.-J. 1998. The fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) of the East Asian Region. Acta

Zootaxonomica Sinica 21: Supplement (1996); viii + 419 pp.

136 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

A YELLOW-FORM MALE OF DELIAS MYSIS MYSIS (FABRICIUS)

(LEPIDOPTERA: PIERIDAE) FROM NORTHERN QUEENSLAND

DAVID L. HANCOCK

8/3 McPherson Close, Edge Hill, Cairns, Qld 4870

Abstract

A male Delias mysis mysis (Fabricius), with the red hindwing band on the underside replaced by

yellow, is reported from northern Queensland and illustrated.

Discussion

Orr and Kitching (2010) noted that at least one female specimen of Delias

mysis mysis (Fabricius, 1775) was known that had the red pigment of the

underside submarginal hindwing band replaced by yellow; they also provided

an illustration and a discussion of how this change occurs.

The first known male showing this colour aberration (Fig. 1) is recorded and

illustrated here. It bears the label data ‘Mourilyan Hbr, nr Innisfail, N. Qld,

18.viii.1971, D. L. Hancock’. The specimen is lodged in the Queensland

Museum, Brisbane (QM Reg. No. T190783).

Fig. 1. Delias mysis mysis: yellow-banded form from Mourilyan Harbour, Qld.

Acknowledgement

I thank Federica Turco (Queensland Museum) for locating and photographing

the specimen.

Reference

ORR, A.G. and KITCHING, R.L. 2010. The butterflies of Australia. Allen & Unwin, Sydney;

viii + 328 pp.

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3): 137-171 137

A REVIEW OF THE POLYRHACHIS ACULEATA SPECIES-GROUP

OF THE SUBGENUS MYRMA BILLBERG (HYMENOPTERA:

FORMICIDAE: FORMICINAE), WITH KEYS AND DESCRIPTIONS

OF NEW SPECIES

RUDOLF J. KOHOUT

Biodiversity Program, Queensland Museum, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane, Qld 4101

(Email: rudolf-kohout@qm.qld.gov.au)

Abstract

The Polyrhachis aculeata species-group of the subgenus Myrma Billberg is reviewed. Seventeen

species of the group are recognised, including nine previously described: Polyrhachis aculeata

Mayr, P. cybele Wheeler, P. diana Wheeler, P. gibbosa Forel, P. hemiopticoides Mukerjee, P.

latona Wheeler, P. murina Emery, P. numeria Fr. Smith and P. pubescens Mayr. Two former

subspecies, Polyrhachis murina selecta Forel and P. pubescens alatisquamis Forel, are raised to

specific status and six species are described as new: Polyrhachis dimoculata, P. kebunraya, P.

noonananti, P. palawanensis, P. starri and P. watanasiti. Polyrhachis alatisquamis is

redescribed and the previously unknown queens of P. cybele, P. latona and P. pubescens are

described. A neotype of Polyrhachis pubescens Mayr and a lectotype of P. murina Emery are

designated. A key to the species of the group is included. All species are illustrated and their

known distributions summarised.

Introduction

The subgenus Myrma Billberg is the most widespread of all the Polyrhachis

subgenera, occurring throughout the Indo-Malayan, Oriental, Australasian

and Ethiopian regions. It is also the second most speciose subgenus,

comprising more than one hundred described species and subspecific forms.

In an attempt to partition the substantial diversity in such a large subgenus,

Emery (1925) established five species-groups, two Afrotropical: laboriosa

and viscosa-decemdentata; two South East Asian: abrupta and zopyrus; and

one occurring in both regions: militaris-relucens. Chapman (1963) described

a new monotypic subgenus, Anoplomyrma, to house his P. parabiotica from

the Philippines; however, Hung (1967) considered this subgenus to be closely

related to Myrma. Dorow (1995) concurred with Hung’s opinion and listed

Anoplomyrma as a junior synonym of Myrma. Kohout (2006) established the

P. parabiotica species-group, essentially equivalent to Chapman’s

Anoplomyrma, again placing it within the subgenus Myrma.

In his revision of the Afrotropical species, Bolton (1973) recognised six

species groups: alexisi, gamaii, militaris, monista, revolii and viscosa, all

restricted to the Ethiopian region. A year later (Bolton 1974), he introduced

the inermis species-group for several South East Asian species, including

some placed by Emery (1925) in the very similar zopyra-group. Kohout

(1989) included all four Australian species of Myrma in the relucens species-

group. Dorow (1995) listed all of Bolton’s Afrotropical species-groups;

however, he did not attempt to subdivide the Australasian fauna and only

mentioned the previously established abrupta, zopyra and relucens species-

groups (Emery 1925) in his introduction to the subgenus.

138 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Kohout (1998), dealing with the South East Asian and Australasian fauna of

Myrma, included four species-groups, the pre-existing re/ucens and inermis

groups and the new continua and aculeata groups, although he did not

provide diagnoses for either. The continua group comprised several closely

allied Melanesian species while the aculeata-group included a single species.

Ten years later, Kohout (2008) proposed a new vestita-group for several

closely allied species endemic to Sulawesi and provided diagnoses for the

continua, inermis and zopyra species-groups. Here, I diagnose the aculeata-

group and outline the combination of characters clearly separating it from the

other members of the subgenus Myrma. Besides six species described here as

new, I consider the aculeata-group to contain P. diana Wheeler, P. latona

Wheeler and P. numeria Fr. Smith, placed by Emery (1925) into the

combined militaris-relucens species-group, and P. aculeata Mayr, P. cybele

Wheeler, P. gibbosa Forel, P. alatisquamis Forel, P. murina Emery, P.

pubescens Mayr and P. selecta Forel, listed by him in the abrupta-group, plus

P. hemiopticoides Mukerjee, described since Emery’s work was published.

Currently, the Afrotropical fauna of Myrma remains divided into six species-

groups, all restricted to the region, as proposed by Bolton (1973), while the

number of species-groups for the Oriental and Australasian fauna has

increased to nine. Following the transfer of most of its members to the

aculeata-group, the abrupta-group now comprises only a single, name-

bearing species, P. abrupta Mayr from Halmahera. The parabiotica-group

introduced by Kohout (2006) and the cyaniventris-group established by

Sorger and Zettel (2009) each include three species, all apparently endemic to

the Philippines, while the vestita-group is restricted to the Indonesian island

of Sulawesi. The recently revised continua-group (Kohout 2013) comprises

mostly Melanesian elements. The inermis and zopyra species-groups almost

equally share the species originally included by Emery (1925) in a single

zopyra-group, and both are distributed from Sri Lanka and India across

Indonesia and the Philippines. Finally, the re/ucens-group, the largest and

most widespread of the Oriental and Australasian species-groups, comprises

a diverse assemblage of species that could conceivably be subdivided into

several more morphologically uniform species-groups.

Methods

Publication dates and spelling of species epithets and authors’ names follow

Bolton et al. (2007). This study is principally based on the worker caste but

diagnoses and notes are provided for queens of several species.

Images of specimens were taken with a digital camera attached to a

stereomicroscope and processed using Auto-Montage (Syncroscopy, Division

of Synoptics Ltd, USA) and Adobe CS2 (Adobe Systems Inc, USA)

software. Unless otherwise indicated, all images of the new species depict

their primary types. Those of previously described species depict types or

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 139

type-compared voucher specimens. Most photographs were taken by Dr

Steve O. Shattuck (ANIC), Assoc. Prof. Dr Yoshiaki Hashimoto (MNHA)

and Hans Peter Katzmann (UUUG). Photographs of P. numeria were taken

by the AntWeb.org team and are reproduced here by the courtesy of Dr Brian

L. Fisher (CASC).

Measurements and indices follow those of Kohout (2008): TL = Total length

(the necessarily composite measurement of the outstretched length of the

entire ant measured in profile); HL = Head length (the maximum measurable

length of the head in perfect full face view measured from the anterior-most

point of the clypeal border or teeth, to the posterior-most point of the

occipital margin); HW = Head width (width of the head in perfect full face

view, measured immediately in front of the eyes); CI = Cephalic index (HW

x 100/HL); SL = Scape length (excluding the condyle); SI = Scape index (SL

x 100/HW); PW = Pronotal width (width of the pronotal dorsum measured at

the bases of pronotal spines); MTL = Metathoracic tibial length (maximum

measurable length of the tibia of the hind leg). All measurements were taken

using a Zeiss SR stereomicroscope with an eyepiece graticule calibrated

against a stage micrometer. All measurements are expressed in millimetres

(mm).

Abbreviations used in specimen data are: c. — circa; Cons. — Conservation;

Distr. — District; For. — Forest; NP — National Park; nr — near; Prov. —

Province; Pt — Point; Ra. — Range; Rd — Road; Riv. — River; rf. — rainforest;

w —worker/s; WS — Wildlife Sanctuary.

Institutions and depositories (with the names of cooperating curators) are:

AMNH — American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, USA (Dr

J.M. Carpenter); ANIC — Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO,

Canberra, ACT, Australia (Dr S.O. Shattuck); BMNH — The Natural History

Museum, London, UK (S. Ryder); BZMI — The Bogor Zoological Museum,

Java, Indonesia (Dr Rosichon Ubaidillah); CASC — California Academy of

Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA (Dr B.L. Fisher); GUGG — Göttingen

University, Göttingen, Germany (M.M. Boss); IMCI — Indian Museum,

Calcutta, India; IRSN — Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique,

Brussels, Belgium (Drs P. Grootaert, P. Dessart, J. Constant); ITBC —

Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah,

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia (Prof. Datin Dr Maryati Mohamed, Dr

Bakhtiar E.Y.); IZAS — Institute of Zoology, Ukrainian Academy of

Sciences, Kiev, Ukraine (Dr A.G. Radchenko); JCUT — James Cook

University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia (Prof. Dr S.K.A. Robson);

MCZC — Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge,

MA, USA (Dr S.P. Cover); MHNG — Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, Geneva,

Switzerland (Dr B. Merz); MNHA — Museum of Nature and Human

Activities, Hyogo, Japan (Assoc. Prof. Dr Yoshiaki Hashimoto); MNHU —

Museum fiir Naturkunde, Humboldt-Universitat, Berlin, Germany (Dr F.

140 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Koch); MSNG — Civic Museum of Natural History ‘G. Doria’, Genova, Italy

(Dr R. Poggi, F. Penati), NHMW — Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien,

Austria (Drs H. Zettel, D. Zimmermann); NMCR — National Museum,

Prague—Kunratice, Czech Republic (Dr J. Macek); OUMNH — Hope

Entomological Collections, Oxford University Museum of Natural History,

Oxford, UK (Drs D.J. Mann, J.E. Hogan); PSUT — Prince of Songkla

University, Hat Yai, Songkhla Prov., Thailand (Drs S. Watanasit, Nawee

Noon-anant); PUPI — Punjabi University, Patiala, India (Dr H. Bharti);

QMBA — Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Qld, Australia (Drs C.J. Burwell,

G.B. Monteith); RMNH — Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum, Leiden, The

Netherlands (Dr Ing. C. van Achterberg); SKYC — Kagoshima University,

Kagoshima, Japan (Prof. Dr S. Yamane); SMNS — Staatliches Museum fiir

Naturkunde, Stuttgart, Germany (Dr J. Ketterl); UUUG — University of Ulm,

Ulm, Germany (H.P. Katzmann).

Systematics

Genus Polyrhachis Fr. Smith, 1857

Polyrhachis Fr. Smith, 1857: 58. Type species: Formica bihamata Drury, 1773: 73,

pl. 38, figs 7, 8, worker; by original designation.

Subgenus Myrma Billberg, 1820

Myrma Billberg, 1820: 104. Type species: Formica militaris Fabricius, 1781: 493; by

subsequent designation of Wheeler, 1911: 859.

Myrma Billberg; Wheeler, 1911: 859 (as genus and senior synonym of Polyrhachis

Fr. Smith, 1857).

Myrma Billberg; Wheeler, 1922: 993 (as subgenus of Polyrhachis Fr. Smith, 1857).

Polyrhachis aculeata species-group

Characters of the P. aculeata species-group

Worker. Relatively small ants (HL <1.90) with characteristics of the genus

and subgenus. Head with closely approximated frontal carinae. Most species

with peculiar, posteriorly truncate eyes, closely resembling those in species

of the subgenus Hemioptica Roger; however, eye shape varying within group

from posteriorly truncate (as in P. aculeata Mayr), to relatively flat and

conspicuously posteriorly protracted (as in P. pubescens Mayr or P.

palawanensis sp. nov.), or only mildly truncate (as in P. Jatona Wheeler or P.

numeria Fr. Smith), or virtually normal (as in P. murina Emery). Dorsum of

mesosoma laterally marginate, evenly convex in side view, with only weakly

indicated border between propodeal dorsum and declivity (as in P. aculeata),

or with a distinct transverse carina dividing propodeal dorsum from shallowly

concave declivity (as in P. palawanensis sp. nov.). Pronotal shoulders armed

with relatively strong, acute, anterolaterally directed spines that are relatively

long (as in P. aculeata) or short (as in P. murina); propodeum armed with

upturned, acute, minute teeth or tubercles. Petiolar node armed with two

moderately long (as in P. aculeata or P. selecta Forel) or relatively short

C O eee

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 141

spines (as in P. noonananti sp. nov.); spines situated at dorsolateral angles of

petiole and separated by transversely broad, more-or-less convex, dorsal

margin, which is mostly entire but may be furnished with an intercalary tooth

(as in P. aculeata and P. dimoculata sp. nov.), or weakly medially notched

(as in P. cybele). Lateral margin of petiole below base of spine with a

relatively short tooth (as in P. cybele or P. pubescens), or a somewhat

lengthened and flattened tooth (as in P. murina or P. starri sp. nov.), which is

entire or dorsally notched.

Queen. Apart from larger size and usual sexual characters, including three

ocelli and fully developed mesosoma with wings, very similar to worker.

Male. The male is known for only three species: P. aculeata (see Forel, 1893:

28), P. selecta (Forel, 1911: 215-216) and P. pubescens (Fuminori Ito,

private collection and QMBA). Their diagnosis is beyond the purpose and

scope of this paper.

Within the group the species tend to polarise into two complexes, centring on

either P. aculeata or P. pubescens. The Polyrhachis aculeata-complex

includes jet-black species with the whole body smooth and highly polished

(except in P. dimoculata). Pilosity in this group consists of medium length,

erect or semierect hairs, variously distributed over most body surfaces, that

range from rather sporadic (as in P. hemiopticoides Mukerjee) to relatively

abundant (as in P. gibbosa Forel). Closely appressed pubescence is virtually

lacking in most species, except in P. gibbosa, where it is present mostly

along the lateral margins of the mesosomal dorsum and sides. The aculeata-

complex is known from Sri Lanka, India and Thailand eastwards to the

Philippines, Borneo and Indonesia, including Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi.

The pubescens-complex includes species with dorsal body surfaces more-or-

less distinctly reticulate-punctate or longitudinally striate, with the sculpture

of most species partly or completely obscured by closely appressed, rather

abundant, silvery-grey or golden pubescence. Species in this complex have

rather short, erect hairs distributed in various densities over most body

surfaces. The pubescens-complex is known from India, Thailand, Vietnam,

China, Taiwan and Japan and southwards to the Philippines, Peninsular

Malaysia, Borneo, Sumatra, Java and Sulawesi.

Key to Polyrhachis aculeata-group species

(Based on worker caste).

1 Dorsal body surfaces smooth, highly polished, mostly glabrous (e.g. Figs

6, 15), only rarely with scattered long hairs or a pile of sparse whitish

pubescence in some species (Figs 4, 13) (aculeata-complex, in part) ...... 2

- Dorsal body surfaces finely sculptured, reticulate-punctate or

longitudinally striate, semi-polished or opaque with sculpture often

obscured by abundant, closely appressed, silvery-grey or golden

pubescence (e.g. Figs 25, 36) ...sessesesesessessessssessesnssnsssesnessenseneeneenenssnnenecnes 6

142

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Pronotal spines long and slender, more than 2x as long as width at their

bases; dorsal petiolar spines relatively long (e.g. Figs 4, 5)... 3

Pronotal spines relatively short, broad-based, only about 1.5x as long as

width at their bases; dorsal petiolar spines reduced to short, acute teeth

(Figsili7,-1'8)\(Chailand) ech ass N E P. noonananti sp. nov.

. Distinct pile of relatively long, appressed, silvery or whitish pubescence

rather abundant over most body surfaces, notably along lateral margins of

mesosomal dorsum and sides (Figs 10, 13); petiolar spines rather stubby,

distinctly dorso-medially flattened (Sri Lanka) .............++: P. gibbosa Forel

Short, appressed, silvery or whitish pubescence very sparse on pronotal

collar and sides of mesosoma and petiole, virtually absent from most

dorsal body surfaces; petiolar spines slender, only weakly flattened or

almostiroundtinicross-sectionimen smite E 4

Body slender with long and slender pronotal and petiolar spines; antennal

scapes with numerous, erect or semierect hairs; appendages generally

lightireddish\brown¥at2t=. 5 aah scene oe, ae Denn ne A apeane 5

Body broader with shorter and thicker pronotal and petiolar spines;

antennal scapes without hairs or with only a few hairs along superior

edge; appendages distinctly darker, medium to dark reddish brown (Figs

6, 7) (Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Philippines) .... P. cybele Wheeler

Relatively long, erect or semierect hairs rather abundant over most body

surfaces (Figs 1, 4) (India, Sri Lanka) ......cccceseseseeeee P. aculeata Mayr

Relatively long, erect or semierect hairs present on front of head, gastral

apex and appendages; hairs virtually absent from vertex of head, dorsum

of mesosoma and petiole (Fig. 15) (India, Thailand, Laos) .......:.sssseseseees

eaaa aaa aa A E OA A E A P. hemiopticoides Mukerjee

Head, mesosoma and petiole very finely sculptured, semi-polished; gaster

highly polished; pilosity and pubescence virtually absent from all dorsal

body surfaces (Figs 3, 8, 9) (aculeata-complex, in part) (Borneo) ............

TARTTI EET LLE teres ee te te TTT P. dimoculata sp. nov.

Head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster finely or distinctly sculptured,

opaque; pilosity and pubescence abundant over most body surfaces,

mostly obscuring underlying sculpturation (e.g. Figs 25, 38) (pubescens-

complex: ate Sar E Se eS ie a ee eee eee 7

Eyes strongly posteriorly truncate or protracted (e.g. Figs 25, 59) ........... 8

Eyes normal or only weakly posteriorly truncate (e.g. Figs 44, 51) ....... 12

Node of petiole strongly transverse, distinctly wider than high (Figs 20,

PAD annoa acinar tatty ot terrasse 9

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 143

9 Eyes very strongly protracted posteriorly, with somewhat angular outline

in full face view (Fig. 27), posterior faces virtually flat, which is notably

evident when viewed from behind (Fig. 28) (Philippines) ........---sseeee+

E S E E EE AO, P. palawanensis sp. nov.

- Eyes posteriorly truncate, with smooth convex outline in full face view

(Fig. 19) (India, Myanmar, Thailand) ..................000 P. alatisquamis Forel

10 Antennal scapes with numerous short hairs; whole body with abundant,

closely appressed pubescence, almost hiding underlying sculpturation

(Fig. 25) (India to Borneo) .......seeeseccsssescesessessessenserees P. pubescens Mayr

- Antennal scapes with only occasional hairs present; body pubescence

relatively sparse, not completely hiding underlying sculpturation (Figs 59,

O A A E ecto ees Porat 11

Bases of antennal scapes distinctly broadened (Figs 57, 58); eyes only

moderately truncate (Figs 57, 58, 61) (Thailand) .... P. watanasiti sp. nov.

- Bases of antennal scapes not broadened (Fig. 55); eyes strongly truncate

(Bigs}55459)iGava)iesssscsticssntr P. kebunraya sp. nov.

12 Pronotal spines relatively long, more than 1.5x as long as width at their

bases; petiole with dorsolateral spines moderately long, distinctly longer

than short and stubby lateral teeth (Figs 35, 50) ....c.ccsesessesscecessseeeeeeeres 13

- Pronotal spines distinctly shorter, only about as long as width at their

bases; petiole with dorsolateral spines relatively short, about same length

as rather prominent lateral teeth (Figs 41, 43) .....cccssessssccsseceseeeeseeeeeees 16

13 Dorsum of petiole with distinct intercalary tooth (Figs 35, 50); body with

rather diluted, pale golden, appressed pubescence distributed over most

CE E EE rro D 14

—

- Dorsum of petiole without intercalary tooth (Figs 33, 51); body with

rather abundant, silvery grey, appressed pubescence that almost

completely hides underlying sculpturation ......s.sssssessssesssessesesesessesesereeses 15

14 Eyes distinctly convex (Fig. 53) (Java) ...s..ssssssssssssssessssesees P. selecta Forel

- Eyes rather flat (Fig. 38) (Japan, China, Vietnam) ........ P. latona Wheeler

15 Antennal scapes with numerous short hairs along superior edge

(Sulawesi, Sunda'Strait).......s.esseeeressoeriseseeseotesersesesees P. numeria Fr. Smith

- Antennal scapes without hairs (Philippines) ................ P. diana Wheeler

16 Dorsal margin of petiole strongly raised and bluntly angular medially

(Fig. 43); dorsum of mesosoma relatively slender, only moderately

convex in lateral view (Figs 46, 47) (Philippines) ........... P. starri sp. nov.

- Dorsal margin of petiole only weakly raised with distinct intercalary tooth

(Fig. 41); dorsum of mesosoma relatively broad, distinctly convex in

lateral view (Figs 44, 45) (Borneo, Sumatra) .............00+ P. murina Emery

144 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Figs 1-9. Polyrhachis aculeata-group spp: (1-3) head in full face view; (4, 6, 8) dorsal

view; (5, 7, 9) lateral view. (1, 4-5) P. aculeata Mayr; (2, 6-7) P. cybele Wheeler; (3,

8-9) P. dimoculata sp. nov. (holotype) (not to scale).

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 145

Polyrhachis aculeata-complex

Polyrhachis aculeata Mayr, 1879

(Figs 1, 4-5)

Polyrhachis aculeata Mayr, 1879: 657. Holotype worker. Type locality: INDIA (as

‘Ostindien’) (Schmidt-Gébel), NHMW (examined).

Polyrhachis aculeata Mayr; Emery, 1887: 235. Description of queen.

Polyrhachis aculeata Mayr; Forel, 1893: 28. Description of male.

Hemioptica aculeata Mayr; Bingham, 1903: 382. Combination in Hemioptica Roger.

Polyrhachis (Hemioptica) aculeata Mayr; Wheeler, 1919: 126. Combination in P.

(Hemioptica).

Polyrhachis (Myrma) aculeata Mayr; Emery, 1925: 205. Combination in P. (Myrma).

Polyrhachis (Myrma) aculeata Mayr; Dorow & Kohout, 1995: 94.

Additional material examined. INDIA: Travancore (H. Ferguson) (w); Kerala,

Kondotty, 23.viii.1962 (A.B. Soans) (w).

Worker. Dimensions (holotype cited first): TL c. (gaster missing), 6.40-6.80;

HL 1.59, 1.59-1.75; HW 1.43, 1.36-1.43; CI 84, 81-84; SL 1.93, 1.93-2.03;

SI 144, 142-149; PW 1.30, 1.12-1.30; MTL 2.06, 2.06-2.21 (1+2 measured).

Remarks. I have examined two worker specimens of P. aculeata from the

Mayr collection in Vienna (NHMW), neither labelled as the type. However,

in the original description Mayr noted ‘Ich besitze nur ein Exemplar aus

Ostindien, welches ich Herrn Professor Schmidt-Gébel verdanke.’ I have

therefore considered the specimen bearing a tag inscribed ‘Ind. or. Schm.’ to

be the holotype of P. aculeata and labelled it accordingly. The specimen

bears two additional, original labels as follows: ‘P. aculeata det. G. Mayr’

and ‘Collect. G. Mayr’. The specimen is pinned and missing the gaster, but

otherwise is in relatively sound condition.

Polyrhachis cybele Wheeler, 1919

(Figs 2, 6-7)

Polyrhachis (Hemioptica) aculeata ssp. cybele Wheeler, 1919: 126. Syntype workers.

Type locality: BORNEO, SARAWAK, Kuching (J. Hewitt), MCZC (Type 9076)

(examined).

Polyrhachis (Myrma) aculeata subsp. cybele Wheeler; Emery, 1925: 205.

Combination in P. (Myrma).

Polyrhachis cybele Wheeler; Kohout, 2008: 271, fig. 3A-B. Raised to species.

Additional material examined. BORNEO, SABAH: W coast Residency, Ranau,

500m, 22-25.i.1959 (T.C. Maa) (w); Crocker Ra., Mahua Falls, 05°47°N, 116°24’E, c.

950 m, rf., 4.xi.2000 (R.J. Kohout acc. 2000.198) (w, 2); SARAWAK: Sadong,

Kampong Tapuh, 300-450 m, 4-9.vii.1958 (T.C. Maa) (w). BRUNEI: Belait Distr., c.

1-2 km SE of Melilas Longhouse, rf., 16.vii.1994 (R.J. Kohout et al. acc.94.121) (w).

INDONESIA, SUMATRA: Kepahiang, xi-xii.1925 (H.C. Kellers, Navy Dept. Eclipse

Exped.) (w); Pematang, Siantar, vii-viii. (?year) (J. Mathews) (w); JAVA: Bogor,

Kebun Raya, 06°35’S, 106°47’E, 290 m, 7-12.ix.1999, S.K.A. Robson #823 (w);

146 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3>

SULAWESI (as Celebes): Kandari, iii.1874 (O. Beccari) (w); SULAWESI TENGAH:

Lore-Lindu NP, 01°15’S, 120°20’E, nr Dongi-Dongi, c. 1010m, 4-9.xii.1985 (Malaise

trap 2) (C.van Achterberg) (w); SULAWESI SELATAN: Sampulage nr. Mangkrana,

02°20’S, 120°48’E, 800 m, 19.x.1999 (K. Ogata & K. Masaoka) (w). PHILIPPINES,

NEGROS I.: Dumaguete (J.W. Chapman) (w); MINDANAO: Davao (A. Reyes) (w).

Worker. Dimensions (syntype cited first): TL c. 7.00, 5.95-7.96; HL 1.68,

1.53-1.87; HW 1.43, 1.28-1.56; CI 85, 75-85; SL 2.09, 1.81-2.28; SI 146,

133-150; PW 1.22, 1.06-1.50; MTL 2.15, 1.96-2.46 (1+25 measured).

Queen (not previously described). Dimensions: TL c. 8.26; HL 1.84; HW

1.59; CI 86; SL 2.18; SI 137; PW 1.72; MTL 2.34 (1 measured).

Queen larger than worker with usual characters identifying full sexuality, including

three ocelli, complete thoracic structure and wings. Pronotal spines distinctly shorter,

only marginally longer than their basal width, anteriorly directed. Mesoscutum

somewhat wider than long; lateral margins converging anteriorly into smoothly

rounded anterior margin; median line distinct; parapsides only weakly raised

posteriorly; mesoscutum in profile with widely rounded anterior face and almost flat

dorsum posteriorly. Mesoscutellum moderately convex, only marginally elevated

above dorsal plane of mesosoma. Propodeal dorsum convex in outline with lateral

margins terminating in narrowly rounded, medially continuous ridges that form rather

thin, transverse, medially bowed line dividing propodeal dorsum from declivity.

Petiole biconvex in profile, dorsolateral spines reduced to rather blunt, wide-based

teeth, only marginally longer than acute lateral teeth; dorsal margin very shallowly,

medially notched. Rather smooth and highly polished dorsal body surfaces, pilosity,

pubescence and colour, very similar to worker.

Remarks. Polyrhachis cybele is a relatively uncommon species distributed

from Borneo, Sumatra and Java to Sulawesi and the Philippines. Specimens

from Sumatra are rather similar to those of the Bornean population, but those

from Sulawesi and Java differ in a number of characters. Sulawesi specimens

are characterised by a distinctly broader pronotal dorsum and shorter antennal

scapes (SI 133-140 versus 144-150 in other populations). In contrast, the

single available series of specimens from Java (Kebun Raya, Bogor), differ

markedly from other populations by their distinctly more slender body (PW

1.06-1.18 versus 1.22-1.50 in specimens from Borneo, Sumatra and

Sulawesi). The Bogor specimens also have the body hairs distinctly less

abundant and virtually absent from the antennal scapes, vertex of the head,

dorsum of the mesosoma and most of the gastral dorsum, except the apex.

However, specimens from across the entire distribution are closely similar in

their general appearance and I believe all the examined populations are

conspecific.

Polyrhachis cybele is a very characteristic species discussed in detail,

together with the closely similar P. aculeata Mayr, P. gibbosa Forel and P.

hemiopticoides Mukerjee, by Kohout (2008: 258, 271). The distinguishing

characters separating P. cybele from the closely similar new species P.

dimoculata are given below in the remarks section of that species.

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 147

Polyrhachis dimoculata sp. nov.

(Figs 3, 8-9)

Types. Holotype worker, BORNEO, SABAH: Danum Valley Cons. Area, Segama

River Trail, 04°57’N, 117°48’E, 11.xi.2000, rf., R.J. Kohout acc.2000.222 (worker).

Paratype worker, SABAH: Poring Hot Springs, iv.1993, A. Floren (Polyrhachis #14)

(worker). Type deposition: Holotype in ITBC, paratype in QMBA.

Description. Worker. Dimensions (holotype cited first): TL c. 7.66, 7.41; HL

1.90, 1.84; HW 1.53, 1.43; CI 80, 78; SL 2.43, 2.37; SI 159, 166; PW 1.37,

1.34; MTL 2.62, 2.50 (2 measured).

Mandibles with 5 teeth. Anterior clypeal margin arcuate, narrowly medially truncate.

Clypeus with blunt median carina, virtually straight in profile, posteriorly rounding

into weakly impressed basal margin. Frontal triangle distinct. Frontal carinae sinuate

with rather strongly raised margins; central area narrow with distinct median furrow.

Sides of head in front of eyes converging towards mandibular bases in evenly convex

line; behind eyes sides converging into smoothly rounded occipital corners. Eyes

convex, strongly posteriorly truncate, in full face view clearly breaking lateral

cephalic outline. Ocelli lacking; positions of lateral ocelli indicated by weakly raised

cephalic sculpturation. Dorsum of mesosoma evenly convex in profile; pronotal

humeri armed with rather long, acute spines; dorsum of each spine with distinct,

rather acute, longitudinal carina running from base towards and almost reaching tip;

outer edges of spines acute, weakly notched basally and continuous with lateral

margins of pronotal dorsum. Promesonotal suture distinctly impressed. Mesonotal

dorsum with lateral margins narrowly rounded and weakly raised anteriorly;

metanotal groove impressed laterally, rather flat medially. Propodeal dorsum with

lateral margins distinctly converging posteriorly and terminating in narrowly rounded,

weakly raised ridges that are continued medially and merge into a dorsally bowed,

somewhat medially notched carina dividing propodeal dorsum from shallowly

concave declivity; secondary carinae extending from propodeal margins towards

propodeal spiracles dividing declivity from sides of propodeum. Petiole biconvex in

profile, armed with a pair of dorsolaterally and posteriorly directed, acute spines,

situated on dorsolateral angles close to posterior face of petiole; dorsal margin of

petiole with intercalary tooth visible in lateral view; distinctly shorter, rather blunt

tooth situated laterally below base of each spine. Anterior face of first gastral segment

concave to accommodate posterior face of petiole, anterodorsal margin distinctly

lower than full height of petiolar node.

Mandibles finely, longitudinally striate with numerous piliferous pits. Body surfaces

very finely sculptured, reticulate-punctate, rather semi-polished to opaque, sculpture

on pronotal dorsum, notably along lateral margins, somewhat longitudinally directed;

bases of pronotal spines more distinctly longitudinally striate. Propodeal declivity,

tips of pronotal and petiolar spines and gaster, smooth and polished.

Mandibles along masticatory borders with a few semierect, relatively short, golden

hairs. Anterior clypeal margin with a few moderately long, anteriorly directed, golden

setae medially. A few pairs of moderately long, erect, golden hairs along basal margin

of clypeus and along frontal carinae. Hairs totally absent from vertex of head,

antennal scapes, dorsum of mesosoma, petiole and dorsum of gaster. Only a few,

148 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

moderately long hairs on anterior and posterior faces of fore coxae. Gaster with

numerous, posteriorly directed hairs around apex and on venter.

Colour. Black throughout, with only extreme tip of apical funicular segment

reddish brown.

Sexuals and immature stages unknown.

Etymology. Derived from the combination of the Latin words dimidiatus,

meaning halved, and oculus, meaning eye, in reference to the rather peculiar

truncate eyes.

Remarks. Polyrhachis dimoculata is similar to other species of the aculeata-

complex; however, it is easily recognised by its very fine body sculpturation

that produces a very characteristic, somewhat semi-polished appearance to

the head, mesosoma and petiole (Figs 3, 8-9), which contrasts with the highly

polished gaster. Also, unlike other species of the complex, P. dimoculata has

virtually no pubescence and pilosity on all the dorsal body surfaces.

Polyrhachis dimoculata appears to be a rather rare species and, in spite of

extensive collecting undertaken in recent years at Danum Valley and

Kinabalu Park, the holotype and paratype remain the only specimens known.

The holotype was collected foraging on low vegetation along the Segama

River walking track and the paratype by fogging the rainforest canopy at

Poring Hot Springs.

Polyrhachis gibbosa Forel, 1908

(Figs 10, 13-14)

Polyrhachis aculeata var. gibbosa Forel, 1908: 9. Syntype workers. Type locality:

SRI LANKA (as ‘Ceylan’), Puwakpitiya, 1906-7 (E. Bugnion), MHNG

(examined).

Polyrhachis aculeata var. gibbosa Forel; Forel, 1913: 139 (footnote). Description of

queen.

Polyrhachis (Myrma) aculeata var. gibbosa Forel; Emery, 1925: 205. Combination in

P. (Myrma).

Polyrhachis gibbosa Forel; Kohout, 2008: 258. Raised to species.

Additional material examined. SRI LANKA: Sinharaja For. Reserve, 06°20'-06°26'N,

80°23'-80°33'E, 173-657 m, 2006-2007 (Nihara R. Gunawardene) (w).

Worker. Dimensions (syntypes): TL c. 5.85-6.35; HL 1.59-1.62; HW 1.31-

1.37; CI 82-84; SL 1.87-1.93; SI 141-143; PW 1.18-1.25; MTL 1.87-1.96 (2

measured).

Remarks. Polyrhachis gibbosa differs from the other species of the aculeata-

complex by the dorsal body surfaces being only partly polished and the

mesonotum and propodeum being more distinctly sculptured. The mesosoma

also appears somewhat shorter and relatively broad, with the pronotal spines

only about as long as the width at their bases and the mesosomal dorsum is

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 149

Figs 10-18. Polyrhachis aculeata-group spp: (10-12) head in full face view; (13, 15,

17) dorsal view; (14, 16, 18) lateral view. (10, 13-14) P. gibbosa Forel; (11, 15-16) P.

hemiopticoides Mukerjee; (12, 17-18) P. noonananti sp. nov. (holotype) (not to scale).

150 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

highly convex in lateral view. The body is entirely black with rather

abundant, silvery, appressed pubescence, notably on the pronotal collar and

along the dorsolateral margins and sides of the mesosoma.

Polyrhachis hemiopticoides Mukerjee, 1930

(Figs 11, 15-16)

Polyrhachis (Myrma) hemiopticoides Mukerjee, 1930: 161, fig. 5. Syntype workers.

Type locality: INDIA, Calcutta (C.A. Paiva), IMCI.

Additional material examined. INDIA: Ayur, North Salem, F.R.I. Sandal Insect

Survey, 11.ix.30, Plot 21 (w). LAOS: Borikhane Prov., Pak Kading, 100 m,

22.iv.1965, in bamboo (J.L. Gressitt) (w). SOUTHERN THAILAND: Surat Thani

Prov., Klong Sang W’life Sanctuary, Chiew Larn reservoir, iii-v.1994, lowland rf.,

fogging (L. Lebel) (w).

Worker. Dimensions: TL c. 6.55-7.31; HL 1.68-1.81; HW 1.40-1.56; CI 83-

86; SL 2.03-2.06; SI 132-145; PW 1.18-1.28; MTL 2.12-2.21 (3 measured).

Sexuals and immature stages unknown.

Remarks. I did not have the opportunity to examine the syntypes of P.

hemiopticoides lodged in the Indian Museum in Calcutta. In lieu of the

original types, I have examined, by the courtesy of Dr Himender Bharti of

Punjabi University, Patiala, India (PUPI), a specimen from Ayur identified by

the original author (see Mukerjee 1934: 11-12), with the collection data listed

above.

Polyrhachis hemiopticoides is a rather elegant species closely resembling

both P. aculeata and P. cybele. It shares with the former a slender body with

rather long and slender pronotal and petiolar spines and markedly light,

reddish brown appendages. In contrast, P. cybele is more robust with thicker

and shorter pronotal and petiolar spines and has generally very dark

appendages. The petiole in P. hemiopticoides and P. cybele is broadly

transverse, with a distinctly arcuate dorsal edge and dorsolateral spines

arising obliquely from close to the posterior face of the petiole. As a result,

the dorsal edge of the petiole is clearly visible in lateral view (Fig. 7). In

comparison, the dorsal edge of the petiole in P. aculeata is less prominent

and, in lateral view, is hidden by the more upright dorsolateral spines (Fig. 5).

Polyrhachis aculeata also differs by the presence of numerous, relatively

long, erect or semierect hairs that, in both the other species, are distinctly less

abundant and virtually confined to the head and gaster (see also Kohout

2008: 258, 271).

Polyrhachis noonananti sp. nov.

(Figs 12, 17-18)

Type. Holotype worker, SOUTHERN THAILAND: Surat Thani Prov., Klong Sang

WS, Chiew Larn reservoir, iii-v.1994, lowland rf., fogging, L. Lebel (worker). Type

distribution: Holotype worker in QMBA (QMT 183498).

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 151

Description. Worker. Dimensions (holotype): TL c. 5.74; HL 1.43; HW 1.22;

CI 85; SL 1.87; SI 153; PW 0.97; MTL 1.93.

Anterior clypeal margin arcuate, widely medially truncate. Clypeus with median

carina blunt anteriorly, weakly raised towards almost flat basal margin; straight in

profile. Frontal triangle distinct; short median carina running for short distance from

triangle towards central area. Frontal carinae closely approximate and rather flat

anteriorly, distinctly raised and sinuate from midlength with central area relatively

wide posteriorly. Sides of head in front of eyes converging towards mandibular bases

in weakly convex line; behind eyes sides widely rounding into occipital margin. Eyes

convex, only moderately posteriorly truncate. Ocelli lacking. Dorsum of mesosoma

convex longitudinally and transversely, with rather poorly developed lateral margins

and in profile with a very shallow depression indicating position of metanotal groove.

Pronotal spines relatively short, about 1.5x longer than their basal width; lateral

margins of pronotal dorsum subparallel, gently rounding into weakly impressed

promesonotal suture. Mesonotal dorsum with lateral margins flat, weakly converging

posteriorly; metanotal groove only weakly impressed dorsally. Propodeal dorsum with

lateral margins converging posteriorly and terminating in narrowly rounded, weakly

raised ridges that continue medially and merge into a dorsally bowed carina dividing

propodeal dorsum from shallowly concave declivity; secondary carinae extending

from propodeal margins towards propodeal spiracles, dividing declivity from sides of

propodeum. Petiole biconvex in profile, armed with a pair of very short, acute spines

situated on dorsolateral angles of petiole; rather blunt, secondary tooth situated

laterally at base of each spine. Anterior face of first gastral segment in unique

holotype is damaged beyond recognition of its shape or height (Figs 17, 18).

Mandibles finely, longitudinally striate with numerous piliferous pits. All dorsal body

surfaces very smooth and highly polished. Sides of mesosoma very finely wrinkled.

Mandibles along masticatory borders and near bases with a few semierect, relatively

short, golden hairs. Anterior clypeal margin with a few moderately long, anteriorly

directed, golden setae medially. A few pairs of moderately long, erect, golden hairs on

clypeus and along frontal carinae. Hairs totally absent from dorsum of mesosoma,

petiole, dorsum of first gastral segment, femora and tibiae. Only a few short hairs

along superior edge of antennal scapes; longer hairs on anterior and posterior faces of

fore coxae. Gaster with numerous, posteriorly directed hairs around apex and on

gastral venter.

Colour. Body black; mandibular teeth, antennae, tarsi and venter of gaster

very dark reddish brown. Trochanters, femora and tibiae, except joints,

distinctly light reddish brown.

Sexuals and immature stages unknown.

Etymology. Named after Dr Nawee Noon-anant of Prince of Songkla

University, Hat Yai, Thailand, in appreciation of his support during my visit

to southern Thailand and for making the Polyrhachis material in his

collection available for examination.

Remarks. Polyrhachis noonannanti is very similar to other species of the

aculeata-complex (e.g. P. cybele and P. hemiopticoides); however, it is easily

152 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

separable by the unique structure of the front of the head (i.e. a short median

carina running from the frontal triangle to the central area between the

anteriorly flat frontal carinae), the presence of a shallow posterior depression

in the profile of the mesosoma and the greatly reduced petiolar spines.

Polyrhachis pubescens-complex

Polyrhachis alatisquamis Forel, 1893, stat. nov.

(Figs 19-20, 23-24)

Polyrhachis pubescens var. alatisquamis Forel, 1893: 17 (diagnosis in key), 28.

Holotype worker. Type locality: MYANMAR (as Birmanie), Ataran Valley,

iii.1891 (C.T. Bingham), MHNG (examined).

Polyrhachis (Myrma) pubescens var. alatisquamis Forel; Emery, 1925: 205.

Combination in P. (Myrma).

Additional material examined. THAILAND (as Siam): (no further data) (w). INDIA,

ANDAMAN IS: 30.v.1905 (G. Rogers, BMNH 1006-204) (w).

Forel (1893: 17) only gave a very short diagnosis of P. pubescens var.

alatisquamis by providing characters distinguishing it from P. pubescens in a

key, mainly alluding to the form of the petiole. Consequently, I present a full

redesciption of the species below.

Redescription. Worker. Dimensions (holotype cited first): TL c. 5.85, 5.49-

6.00; HL 1.43, 1.43-1.50; HW 1.12, 1.06-1.18; CI 78, 74-79; SL 1.84, 1.72-

1.96; SI 164, 162-166; PW 1.00, 0.97-1.06; MTL 1.78, 1.72-1.84 (1+2

measured).

Mandible with 5 teeth slightly reducing in length towards mandibular base. Anterior

clypeal margin arcuate, narrowly medially truncate. Clypeus with distinct median

carina; virtually straight in profile with moderately impressed basal margin. Frontal

triangle poorly indicated. Frontal carinae sinuate with margins moderately raised:

central area with distinct frontal furrow. Sides of head in front of eyes weakly convex

towards mandibular bases; behind eyes sides rounding into relatively narrow occipital

margin. Eyes convex, distinctly protracted posteriorly; clearly exceeding lateral

cephalic outline in full face view. Ocelli lacking. Dorsum of mesosoma evenly convex

in profile; pronotal dorsum armed with very slender and acute spines, about 3x as long

as their basal width; spines anterolaterally directed and curving slightly downwards;

lateral edges of spines acute and continuous with subparallel margins of pronotum.

Promesonotal suture distinctly impressed laterally, virtually flat medially; mesonotal

dorsum strongly transverse, about 2.5x as wide as long with lateral margins narrowly

rounded and raised anteriorly, widely rounded posteriorly into medially indistinct

metanotal groove. Propodeal dorsum with lateral margins converging posteriorly and

terminating in distinct, dorsally raised ridges; inner borders of ridges continued

medially and merging into transverse carina dividing dorsum from weakly concave

declivity; secondary carinae extending from propodeal margins towards propodeal

spiracles, dividing declivity from sides of propodeum. Petiole biconvex in profile;

dorsum strongly transverse with weakly convex dorsal margin armed with pair of

dorsolaterally and posteriorly directed spines situated on dorsolateral angles of

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 153

petiole; shorter, rather flat, secondary spine situated laterally at base of each spine.

Anterior face of first gastral segment concave to accommodate posterior face of

petiole; anterior margin rather narrowly rounding onto dorsum.

Mandibles distinctly, longitudinally striate, semipolished. Clypeus reticulate-punctate

with rest of head and dorsum of mesosoma distinctly, rather regularly, longitudinally

striate, opaque. Sides of mesosoma wrinkled; petiole finely reticulate. Tips of pronotal

and petiolar spines smooth, highly polished. Gaster rather distinctly reticulate-

punctate, opaque.

Figs 19-26. Polyrhachis aculeata-group spp: (19, 21) head in full face view; (20, 22)

petiole in frontal view; (23, 25) dorsal view; (24, 26) lateral view. (19-20, 23-24) P.

alatisquamis Forel (holotype); (21-22, 25-26) P. pubescens Mayr (not to scale).

Mandibular masticatory borders and outer margins with numerous, suberect, golden

hairs. Anterior clypeal margin medially with a few anteriorly directed, golden setae

and fringe of very short setae laterally. Numerous relatively long, erect or suberect,

pale golden hairs on clypeus, along frontal carinae, vertex and sides of head;

moderately long, suberect hairs lining superior edge of antennal scapes. Somewhat

less abundant and shorter hairs on dorsum of mesosoma and petiole; hairs distinctly

154 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

more abundant on gaster, with notably longer hairs towards gastral apex and on

venter. Closely appressed, relatively long, white or greyish pubescence abundant over

most body surfaces and almost completely hiding underlying sculpturation;

pubescence less abundant on antennal scapes and legs and completely absent from

mandibles and tips of spines.

Colour. Black; antennae, legs and gastral venter and apex dark to very dark

reddish brown; mandibular masticatory borders and teeth a shade lighter.

Sexuals and immature stages unknown.

Remarks. Closely similar to P. pubescens but differing by its generally

smaller size, more slender body, distinctly less convex eyes and more

strongly transverse dorsum of the petiole.

Polyrhachis pubescens Mayr, 1879

(Figs 21-22, 25-26)

Polyrhachis pubescens Mayr, 1879: 657. Neotype worker (by present designation).

Type locality: WEST MALAYSIA: Selangor, Ulu Gombak, 15.xii.2004

(Fuminori Ito, FI 04-49), QMBA (examined).

Hemioptica (Hemioptica) pubescens Mayr; Bingham, 1903: 381. Combination in

Hemioptica Roger.

Polyrhachis (Myrma) pubescens Mayr; Emery, 1925: 205. Combination in P.

(Myrma).

Polyrhachis (Myrma) pubescens Mayr; Dorow & Kohout, 1995: 94.

Neotype designation. Polyrhachis pubescens was originally described from a

single worker collected in ‘Ostindien’. The specimen was presented to Mayr

by Prof. Schmidt-Gébel and, like that of P. aculeata, the holotype should be

lodged in the Mayr collection in Vienna (NHMW). However, in spite of an

extensive search, the specimen cannot be located there or in any other

collection examined and is considered lost. To establish the nomenclatural

stability of the species, I here designate, in accordance with Article 75.3.5 of

the /nternational Code of Zoological Nomenclature (Fourth Edition: 1999), a

worker specimen as the neotype of Polyrhachis pubescens Mayr. The

specimen was selected from a nest series that also includes queens and a

male, with part of the colony donated to QMBA, where the neotype has also

been deposited. The specimen bears the following label: ‘FI 04-49, Ulu

Gombak, W-Malaysia, 15.xii.2004, ITO Fuminori’, plus an additional red

label: ‘NEOTYPE, QMT 183497, Polyrhachis pubescens Mayr, 1879,

designated by R.J. Kohout, 2013’.

Additional material examined. SOUTHERN THAILAND: Yala Prov., Betong,

Piyamit Village, 750-950 m, 6.1.2006, rf. edge (N. Naw) (w). WEST MALAYSIA:

Selangor, Gombak Research Centre, i-ii.1989 (M. Edmunds) (w); Ulu Gombak,

15.xii.2004 (Fuminori Ito, FI 04-49) (w, 2, ¢). BORNEO, SABAH: Kinabalu Park,

Poring, 06°3’N, 116°42’E, 500 m, 19.ix.2006, fogging (A. Floren) (w).

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 155

Worker. Dimensions: TL c. 6.05-7.31; HL 1.59-1.72; HW 1.22-1.34; CI 75-

79; SL 2.00-2.18; SI 156-169; PW 1.18-1.25; MTL 1.96-2.09 (11 measured).

Queen (not previously described). Dimensions: TL c. 7.61-7.71; HL 1.72;

HW 1.34-1.37; CI 78-79; SL 2.09; SI 152-156; PW 1.56-1.59; MTL 2.03-

2.09 (2 measured).

Queen larger than worker with usual characters identifying full sexuality, including

three ocelli, complete thoracic structure and wings. Pronotal spines shorter.

Mesoscutum wider than long; lateral margins converging anteriorly into moderately

rounded anterior margin; median line distinct, bifurcate anteriorly; parapsides flat,

only weakly raised posteriorly; mesoscutum in profile with relatively low anterior

face and posteriorly flat dorsum. Mesoscutellum only weakly convex, not elevated

above dorsal plane of mesosoma. Propodeal dorsum weakly convex in outline, with

lateral margins somewhat angular at midlength and terminating in short ridges that

extend medially, forming transverse carina dividing propodeal dorsum from concave

declivity. Petiole with dorsal margin convex, dorsolaterally armed on each side with

two teeth of virtually equal length. Sculpturation, pilosity, pubescence and colour very

similar to worker.

Males and immature stages in private collection of Fuminori Ito.

Remarks. Polyrhachis pubescens is recorded from India, Myanmar, Thailand

and West Malaysia. Only very recently it has been identified from Borneo

(Sabah); it was not included by Wheeler (1919) or Kohout (in Pfeiffer et al.

2011) in their lists of Bornean ants. The specimens from Kinabalu Park in

Sabah are very similar to material from continental Malaysia and differ

mainly in their marginally larger size (HL >1.68 in Bornean specimens

versus <1.68 in continental specimens). The longitudinal body striation is

also more distinct, due to the somewhat less abundant silvery pubescence

which, in continental specimens, is richer and partly obscures the underlying

sculpturation.

Polyrhachis palawanensis sp. nov.

(Figs 27-31)

Type. Holotype worker, PHILIPPINES, PALAWAN: Mantalingajan Ra., Pingisan,

620 m, H. Holtmann (worker). Type deposition: Holotype in MCZC.

Description. Worker. Dimensions: TL c. 6.60; HL 1.62; HW 1.31; CI 81; SL

2.06; SI 157; PW 1.28; MTL 2.00 (1 measured).

Mandibles with 5 teeth. Anterior clypeal margin arcuate, distinctly truncate medially,

truncate portion delimited laterally by blunt angles. Clypeus with poorly indicated

median carina; virtually straight in profile, posteriorly rounding into moderately

impressed basal margin. Frontal triangle poorly indicated. Frontal carinae sinuate,

margins only moderately raised; central area flat with rather short frontal furrow.

Sides of head in front of eyes convex towards mandibular bases; behind eyes sides

strongly converging towards rather narrow occipital margin. Eyes very prominent,

Virtually flat, strongly projecting laterally, resembling blinkers, outline somewhat

angular in full face view (Fig. 27); flatness of eyes notably evident when viewed from

156 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

behind (Fig. 28). Ocelli lacking. Pronotal dorsum armed with relatively long spines,

about 2x as long as basal width; pronotal margins subparallel, rounding posteriorly

into promesonotal suture that is distinctly impressed laterally and rather flat medially.

Mesonotal lateral margins narrowly rounded and raised anteriorly, posteriorly

rounding into laterally impressed, medially indistinct, metanotal groove. Propodeal

dorsum with lateral margins distinctly converging posteriorly and terminating in

narrowly rounded, dorsally raised ridges that are continued medially and form

transverse, dorsally bowed carina separating propodeal dorsum from virtually vertical,

concave declivity. Secondary carinae extending from propodeal margins towards

propodeal spiracles, dividing declivity from sides of propodeum. Petiole biconvex in

profile; dorsum strongly transverse with weakly convex dorsal margin armed with

pair of dorsolaterally and posteriorly directed spines situated on dorsolateral angles of

petiole; shorter, rather flat, secondary spine situated laterally at base of each spine

(Fig. 29). Anterior face of first gastral segment concave to accommodate posterior

face of petiole; anterior margin only narrowly rounding onto dorsum.

Mandibles distinctly, longitudinally striate with piliferous pits. Clypeus reticulate-

punctate with rest of head and dorsum of mesosoma, including spines, distinctly,

rather regularly, longitudinally striate, opaque. Sides of mesosoma wrinkled; petiole

finely reticulate. Tips of pronotal and petiolar spines smooth, polished. Gaster

distinctly, rather closely reticulate-punctate, opaque.

Mandibular masticatory borders and outer margins with numerous, suberect, golden

hairs. Anterior clypeal margin medially with a few anteriorly directed golden setae

and few shorter setae fringing margin laterally. Numerous relatively long, erect or

suberect, mostly silvery or whitish hairs on clypeus, along frontal carinae, vertex and

sides of head; moderately long, suberect hairs lining superior edge of antennal scapes

with only a few distinctly shorter hairs along inferior edge. A few shorter, silvery

hairs on sides of pronotum and fore coxae; more abundant, somewhat longer, pale

golden hairs on legs. Hairs virtually absent from dorsum of mesosoma and petiole.

Several moderately long, pale golden hairs on dorsum of gaster, distinctly longer and

more abundant hairs on gastral venter and around apex. Closely appressed, relatively

long, white or greyish pubescence abundant over most body surfaces and almost

completely hiding underlying sculpturation; pubescence somewhat less abundant on

antennal scapes and legs and completely absent from mandibles and tips of spines.

Colour. Black; mandibular masticatory borders lined with reddish brown.

Antennae, legs and gastral apex dark to medium reddish brown.

Sexuals and immature stages unknown.

Etymology. Named after the type locality, Palawan Island in the Philippines.

Remarks. Polyrhachis palawanensis closely resembles P. pubescens and P.

alatisquamis. All have short to medium length, semierect to erect, bristle-like

hairs and abundant, relatively long, silvery, appressed pubescence.

Polyrhachis palawanensis and P. alatisquamis both have a transversely broad

petiole distinguishing them from P. pubescens (Fig. 29). In addition, P.

palawanensis has unusually flat, posteriorly protracted eyes (Figs 27, 28),

which distinguish it from both of the above species.

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 157

Figs 27-31. Polyrhachis aculeata-group spp: (27) head in full face view; (28) oblique

view of head from behind; (29) petiole in frontal view; (30); dorsal view; (31) lateral

view. (27-31) P. palawanensis sp. nov. (holotype). (not to scale).

Polyrhachis diana Wheeler, 1909

(Figs 32-33, 36-37)

Polyrhachis diana Wheeler, 1909: 343. Syntype workers. Type locality:

PHILIPPINES, MINDANAO, Butuan, 19.xii.1907 (H.M. Smith), AMNH, MCZC

(Co-type 22958) (examined).

Polyrhachis (Myrma) diana Wheeler; Emery, 1925: 201. Combination in P. (Myrma).

Additional material examined. PHILIPPINES, LUZON: Manila (as Manille) (Baer)

(w); Manila (no further data); Los Baños (Baker) (2); LUZON: 29.ix.1945 (H.E.

Milliron) (w); NEGROS ORIENTAL: Dumaguete (J.W. Chapman) (9).

Worker. Dimensions (syntypes cited first): TL c. 6.35-7.16, 6.35-7.16; HL

1.65-1.72, 1.65-1.72; HW 1.25-1.31, 1.25-1.34; CI 76-77, 76-80; SL 2.06-

2.18, 2.06-2.18; SI 161-167, 160-167; PW 1.28-1.31, 1.28-1.31; MTL 2.03-

2.12, 2.03-2.12 (5+2 measured).

Queen (two queen specimens in MCZC collection).

Males and immature stages unknown.

Remarks. When describing P. diana, Wheeler (1909) noted it was closely

related to P. latona, described from Taiwan in the same paper. He listed the

more abundant and silvery pubescence, shorter thorax and the different shape

of the petiole and its associated spines as characters distinguishing P. diana

158 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

from P. latona. In addition to these characters, P. diana also differs from P.

latona by its more distinct sculpturation of the head (Figs 32, 36) and

mesosoma, more convex eyes, notably when viewed from behind, and

transversely broader petiolar node, which lacks the intercalary tooth (Fig. 33)

that is rather prominent in P. /atona (Fig. 35). Polyrhachis diana is also

similar to P. murina Emery, a species originally described from Borneo and

the Philippines. Polyrhachis murina differs by its distinctly shorter pronotal

spines (Fig. 44), much finer sculpturation of the mesosomal dorsum and by

having the lateral petiolar teeth extended into short spines (Fig. 41).

Polyrhachis latona Wheeler, 1909

(Figs 33-34, 38-39)

Polyrhachis latona Wheeler, 1909: 337. Syntype workers. Type locality: TAIWAN

(as Formosa), Takao (H. Sauter), AMNH, MCZC (Type 21662) (examined).

Polyrhachis (Myrma) latona Wheeler; Emery, 1925: 201. Combination in P.

(Myrma).

Polyrhachis latona v. dorsorugosa Forel, 1913: 202. Syntype workers, male. Original

localities: TAIWAN (as Formosa), Kankau (Koshun) (H. Sauter); Chip-Chip (H.

Sauter), MHNG (examined).

Polyrhachis dorsorugosa Forel; Wang & Wu, 1991: 599, 601. Raised to species.

Polyrhachis dorsorugosa Forel; Wu & Wang, 1995: 167, 201. Junior synonym of P.

latona.

Additional material examined. TAIWAN: Taipei, Ankung, 8.viii.1992 (D.G. Furth)

(w); Huan Tao Chi, nr Pu Li, c. 660 m, 24.x.1960 (A.C.F. Hung) (w); ditto,

21.vi.1962 (A.C.F. Hung) (w). CHINA: Chusan Is (J.J. Walker) (w). HONG KONG,

N.T.: Tai Po Kau for., tree fern stump, 29.x.1980 (R. Winney) (w). JAPAN: Ryukyu

Is, Miyako Group, Erabu, 6.ix.1951 (F.G. Werner) (w). N. VIETNAM: Cuo Phang

Forest, 295 m, 23.viii.1981 (P. Jolivet) (w).

Worker. Dimensions (syntypes cited first): TL c. 6.25-7.16, 6.30-7.26; HL

1.62-1.72, 1.65-1.84; HW 1.22-1.31, 1.26-1.34; CI 75-76, 73-78; SL 1.96-

2.06, 2.03-2.21; SI 157-161, 156-166; PW 1.18-1.34, 1.25-1.40; MTL 1.93-

2.09, 2.00-2.25 (2+10 measured).

Queen (not previously described). Dimensions: TL c. 8.62; HL 1.90; HW

1.42; CI 75; SL 2.25; SI 158; PW 1.78; MTL 2.31 (1 measured).

Queen larger than worker with usual characters identifying full sexuality, including

three ocelli, complete thoracic structure and wings. Pronotal spines very short, about

as long as basal width. Mesoscutum only marginally wider than long; lateral margins

converging anteriorly into rather narrowly rounded anterior margin; median line

distinct; parapsides virtually flat; mesoscutum in profile with anterior face widely

rounding onto convex dorsum. Mesoscutellum weakly convex, not distinctly elevated

above dorsal plane of mesosoma. Propodeum with lateral margins in profile

somewhat angular at midlength, terminating in short ridges that are continued

medially forming distinct, dorsally bowed carina dividing propodeal dorsum from

declivity. Petiole with dorsolateral and lateral spines subequal in length; dorsal margin

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 159

with distinct intercalary tooth. Sculpturation, pilosity, pubescence and colour very

similar to worker.

Figs 32-39. Polyrhachis aculeata-group spp: (32, 34) head in full face view; (33, 35)

petiole in frontal view; (36, 38) dorsal view; (37, 39) lateral view. (32-33, 36-37) P.

diana Wheeler; (33-34, 38-39) P. latona Wheeler (not to scale).

Male in MHNG collection. Immature stages unknown.

Remarks. When describing P. latona, Wheeler (1909) noted that his new

species ‘is closely related to P. relucens Latr., mayri Roger [= P. illaudata

Walker] and proxima Roger’. He listed the smalier size, more approximate

frontal carinae, different pilosity, shallower promesonotal and ‘mesoépinotal’

notches in the lateral margins, differences in the shape and length of the

pronotal and petiolar spines and several other characters as the main

differences distinguishing his new species. Besides the characters indicated

by Wheeler, P. /atona also differs from the above species by having rather

flat, mildly posteriorly protracted eyes.

160 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Polyrhachis murina Emery, 1893

(Figs 40-41, 44-45)

Polyrhachis murina Emery, 1893: 198. Lectotype worker (by present designation).

Original localities: BORNEO, SARAWAK (Bedot); PHILIPPINES, Jolo

(MSNG) (examined).

In his original description of P. murina, Emery (1893) listed Sarawak in

Borneo and Jolo in the Philippines as localities for his new species, evidently

considering specimens from both locations to be conspecific. I have

examined two syntype workers of P. murina from Sarawak in the Emery

collection in Genova (MSNG), both bearing identical labels as follows:

“Sarawak, Bedot’ and ‘Polyrhachis murina Emery’. I have also examined

three additional specimens from Sumatra, deposited in the general collection

of that museum and labelled ‘P. murina teste Emery’, and several specimens

identified as P. murina from the Philippines. This examination has shown

that specimens from the Philippines stand well apart from the syntypes of P.

murina from Sarawak, with a number of characters exceeding the variability

that would be expected between different populations of a single biological

species. I therefore believe that the Philippine specimens represent a different

species from P. murina, which is described below as P. starri.

Lectotype designation. To establish the nomenclatural stability of

Polyrhachis murina and to prevent any future selection of a lectotype from

specimens other than those from Sarawak, I here designate, in accordance

with Article 74.7.3 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature

(1999), one of the syntype workers from Sarawak mentioned above as the

lectotype of Polyrhachis murina Emery, 1893. The specimen is lodged in the

Emery collection (MSNG) and, in addition to the labels listed above, it now

also bears a red tag: ‘Lectotype, Polyrhachis murina Emery, 1893, designated

by R.J. Kohout, 2013’. The remaining specimens of the original series

consequently become paralectotypes and are labelled accordingly.

Additional material examined. BORNEO, SABAH: Kota Kinabalu, 05°59’N,

116°04’E, 20 m, 9.x.1978, relict rf. (B.B. Lowery) (w); SARAWAK: Bau Distr., Bidi,

90-240 m, 31.viii.1958, rf. (T.C. Maa) (w). INDONESIA, SUMATRA: Pea Ragia,

x.1890 (E. Modigliani) (w); Pangherang-Pisang, x.1890 and iii.1891 (E. Modigliani)

(w); Siboga, x.1890 and iii.1891 (E. Modigliani) (w).

Worker. Dimensions (lectotype cited first): TL c. 6.75, 6.55-7.00; HL 1.78,

1.75-1.87; HW 1.40, 1.34-1.43; CI 79, 75-79; SL 2.21, 2.12-2.31; SI 158,

158-165; PW 1.22, 1.15-1.28; MTL 2.21, 2.12-2.31 (1+4 measured).

Sexuals and immature stages unknown.

Remarks. Polyrhachis murina is morphologically a relatively stable species

with specimens from Borneo and Sumatra closely comparable. Apart from

some differences in the length of the pronotal spines, length and shape of the

lateral petiolar spines and colour of the pubescence, which ranges from

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 161

golden to silvery or just dull greyish, I found them all very similar and

undoubtedly conspecific.

Figs 40-47. Polyrhachis aculeata-group spp: (40, 42) head in full face view; (41, 43)

petiole in frontal view; (44, 46) dorsal view; (45, 47) lateral view. (40-41, 44-45) P.

murina Emery; (42-43, 46-47) P. starri sp. nov. (holotype) (not to scale).

Polyrhachis starri sp. nov.

(Figs 42-43, 46-47)

Types. Holotype worker, PHILIPPINES, LUZON: Camarines Sur, Sibao, Carolina,

Naga City, 29.xii.1982, C. Starr (worker). Paratypes: data as for holotype (2 workers).

Type distribution: Holotype in QMBA (QMT 189650); 1 paratype each in BMNH and

MCZC.

Additional material examined. PHILIPPINES, PALAWAN: Brooke’s Pt, Macagua,

75 m, 27-31.iii.1962 (H. Holtmann) (w), LUZON: Los Baños (F.X. Williams) (w);

Boguio (F.X. Williams) (w); Laguna, Majayjay (no further data) (w); Banahao

(Baker) (w); NEGROS ORIENTAL: Dumaguete, 11.ix.1948 (Domingo Empeso) (w);

MINDANAO: Mt Apo, 5-6000ft (C.F. Clagg) (w).

162 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Worker. Dimensions (holotype cited first): TL c. 6.75, 6.25-6.80; HL 1.81,

1.72-1.81; HW 1.37, 1.25-1.37; CI 76, 73-76; SL 2.15, 2.09-2.15; SI 157,

155-167; PW 1.09, 1.03-1.15; MTL 2.21, 2.06-2.21 (1+4 measured).

Anterior clypeal margin arcuate, medially very narrowly truncate. Clypeus with

posteriorly raised median carina; in profile with shallow depression medially,

posteriorly rounding into virtually flat basal margin. Frontal triangle distinct. Frontal

carinae sinuate with moderately raised margins; central area with distinct frontal

furrow. Sides of head in front of eyes almost straight, before rounding into mandibular

bases; behind eyes sides rounding into relatively narrow occipital margin. Eyes

moderately convex; in full face view clearly breaking lateral cephalic outline; eyes.

Ocelli lacking. Pronotal dorsum with rather short spines, as long as their basal width

or marginally longer; lateral edges of spines continuous with subparallel pronotal

margins. Promesonotal suture distinctly impressed laterally, rather flat medially;

mesonotal dorsum transverse, about 2x as wide as long, lateral margins converging

posteriorly before rounding into metanotal groove that is poorly indicated medially.

Propodeal dorsum with lateral margins converging posteriorly and terminating in

weakly raised, blunt teeth, with dorsum between them descending into oblique

declivity in medially uninterrupted line; short, rather blunt carinae extend from lateral

propodeal margins towards distinct propodeal spiracles, dividing declivity from sides

of propodeum. Petiole biconvex in lateral view, with dorsal margin raised and bluntly

angular medially; dorsolateral spines relatively short, about as long as secondary spine

situated laterally below base of each spine (Fig. 43). Anterior face of first gastral

segment concave to accommodate posterior face of petiole.

Mandibles distinctly, longitudinally striate, with piliferous pits. Clypeus reticulate-

punctate with rest of head rather finely longitudinally striate. Dorsum of mesosoma

and petiole finely reticulate-punctate; sides of mesosoma wrinkled. Gaster closely

reticulate-punctate.

Mandibular masticatory borders and outer margins with numerous curved, golden

hairs. Anterior clypeal margin with a few anteriorly directed setae medially and fringe

of shorter setae lining margin laterally. A few paired, erect, golden hairs on clypeus

and along frontal carinae; several longer hairs on fore coxae. Gaster with numerous

posteriorly inclined, golden hairs on venter and around apex. No hairs on vertex of

head, dorsum of mesosoma, petiole, antennal scapes and legs. Closely appressed,

silvery pubescence rather diluted on clypeus, more abundant on rest of head and

notably on dorsum of mesosoma and petiole, where it completely hides underlying

sculpturation. Pubescence distinctly longer and golden on gastral dorsum, silvery on

gastral venter.

Colour. Black; legs black or very dark reddish brown.

Queen. Dimensions: TL c. 8.47; HL 2.06; HW 1.59; CI 77; SL 2.28; SI 143;

PW 1.87; MTL 2.50 (1 measured).

Queen distinctly larger than worker with usual characters identifying full sexuality,

including three ocelli, complete thoracic structure and wings. Pronotal spines

distinctly shorter, tooth-like, with posterior lateral margins widely rounded.

Mesoscutum marginally wider than long; lateral margins converging anteriorly into

broadly rounded anterior margin; median line distinct, bifurcate anteriorly; parapsides

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 163

flat, only weakly raised posteriorly; mesoscutum in profile with anterior face widely

rounding onto posteriorly flat dorsum. Mesoscutellum only weakly convex, not

elevated above dorsal plane of mesosoma. Propodeum convex in outline with rather

blunt lateral margins terminating posteriorly in indistinct, medially directed, short

ridges; propodeal dorsum between ridges descending into propodeal declivity in

medially uninterrupted line. Petiole with dorsal margin bluntly angular medially and

dorsal spines reduced to obtuse teeth; dorsolaterally situated secondary spines

relatively long and acute. Sculpturation, pilosity and colour scheme very similar to

worker, except pubescence on dorsum of mesosoma with somewhat golden tint.

Etymology. Named after the collector of the type series, Dr Chris K. Starr of

the University of the West Indies, Trinidad & Tobago, for his generous

donations of many Polyrhachis ants collected during his tenure as an

Associate Professor at De La Salle University in the Phillippines.

Remarks. Although Polyrhachis starri closely resembles P. murina, close

examination and comparison of the available specimens has revealed a

number of distinguishing characters. Polyrhachis starri is generally more

slender (PW <1.15 versus >1.15 in murina), with the mesosoma longer and

only moderately convex in outline (Fig. 47), the profile of the clypeus

shallowly impressed medially and the petiole with its dorsal margin raised

and bluntly angular medially and armed with distinctly shorter dorsolateral

spines (Fig. 43). In contrast, in P. murina the mesosoma is wider and shorter,

with the dorsum distinctly more convex in outline (Fig. 45), the profile of the

clypeus is virtually straight and the petiole has its dorsal margin only weakly

raised and armed with a distinct intercalary tooth and longer dorsolateral

spines (Fig. 41). In addition, the head of P. murina has numerous short, erect

hairs between the eyes and occipital corners that are totally absent in P.

starri. As mentioned above, when describing P murina, Emery (1893)

considered specimens from Sarawak and Philippines (Jolo) to be conspecific.

However, following their comparison I believe they represent separate

species, P. starri from the Philippines and P. murina from Borneo and

Sumatra.

Polyrhachis numeria Fr. Smith, 1861

(Figs 48, 51-52) l

Polyrhachis numeria Fr. Smith, 1861: 42, pl. 1, fig. 25. Holotype worker. Type

locality: INDONESIA, SULAWESI (A.R. Wallace), OUMNH (examined).

Polyrhachis (Myrma) numeria Fr. Smith, Emery, 1925: 201. Combination in P.

(Myrma).Type locality cited erroneously as ‘Halmahera’.

Polyrhachis (Johnia) schizospina Karavaiev, 1927: 44, fig. 20. Holotype queen. Type

locality: INDONESIA, Prinsen Island in Sunda Strait (Karavaiev #2397) IZAS

(examined). Synonymy by Kohout, 1998: 527.

Polyrhachis (Aulacomyrma) schizospina Karavaiev; Hung, 1967: 402. Combination

in P. (Aulacomyrma).

164 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Worker. Dimensions (holotype): TL c. 6.50; HL 1.65; HW 1.28; CI 77; SL

2.03; SI 158; PW 1.34; MTL 1.96.

Queen. Dimensions (P. schizospina holotype): TL c. 7.96; HL 1.81; HW

1.40; CI 77; SL 2.12; SI 151; PW 1.52; MTL 2.18.

Male and immature stages unknown.

Remarks. Polyrhachis numeria appears to be a rare species and, in spite of

examination of several collections gathered during the 1985 ‘Project

Wallace’ by N.E. Stork and M.J.D. Brendell (BMNH), C. van Achterberg

(RMNH) and subsequently by other collectors, namely B. Gobin (KULB), K.

Ogata & K. Masaoka (ITAK), I. Ketterl (SMNS), J. Constant (IRSN), M.M.

Bos (GUGG) and S. Yamane (KUKJ), the holotype is the only specimen

recorded from Sulawesi. This species is superficially very similar to P. diana

described by Wheeler (1909) from Mindanao. However, recent examination

and direct comparison of the P. diana syntypes with the holotype of P.

numeria indicate that they are distinct species. In P. numeria the eyes are

weakly posteriorly truncate, the superior edge of antennal scapes has

numerous, relatively short hairs and all dorsal body surfaces have rather

abundant, moderately long, golden hairs. In contrast, the eyes in P. diana are

normal, the antennal scapes lack hairs and the body pilosity is confined to the

front of the head and venter and apex of the gaster. Also, the pronotal spines

in P. numeria are somewhat shorter with broad and dorsally flat bases, while

they are longer and more slender with distinctly dorsomedially flattened

bases in P. diana.

Polyrhachis selecta Forel, 1911, stat. nov.

(Figs 49-50, 53-54)

Polyrhachis murina ssp. selecta Forel, 1911: 215. Syntype workers, male. Original

localities: INDONESIA, JAVA, Samarang, Sept. 1909 (E. Jacobson) (w);

Melambong, Juli 1909 (E. Jacobson) (4), MNHG (examined).

Polyrhachis (Myrma) murina selecta Forel; Emery, 1925: 205. Combination in P.

(Myrma).

Worker. Dimensions (syntype): TL c. 6.65; HL 1.78; HW 1.37; CI 77; SL

2.18; SI 159; PW 1.37; MTL 2.25 (1 measured).

Queen and immature stages unknown. Male in MNHG collection.

Remarks. The syntypes of P. selecta are the only available specimens of this

species. Their direct comparison with syntypes of P. murina Emery has

shown these taxa differ in numerous characters and I consider they are

distinct species. Polyrhachis selecta features well developed pronotal spines,

more than twice as long as their basal width, a distinctly longitudinally striate

mesosomal dorsum and long and slender dorsal petiolar spines. In contrast, in

P. murina the pronotal spines are very short, barely as long as their basal

width, the mesosomal dorsum is finely reticulate-punctate, with the

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 165

sculpturation partly hidden by closely appressed silvery or pale golden

pubescence, and the dorsal petiolar spines are shorter, less than twice as long

as their basal width.

Figs 48-54. Polyrhachis aculeata-group spp: (48, 49) head in full face view; (50)

petiole in frontal view; (51, 53) dorsal view; (52, 54) lateral view. (48, 51-52) P.

numeria Fr. Smith (holotype images courtesy of AntWeb.org — casent0901872); (49-

50, 53-54) P. selecta Forel (syntype) (not to scale).

Polyrhachis kebunraya sp. nov.

(Figs 55-56, 59-60)

Types. Holotype worker, INDONESIA, JAVA: Bogor, Kebun Raya, 06°35’S,

106°47°E, 290 m, 7-12.ix.1999, S.K.A. Robson #825 (worker). Paratypes: Bogor,

Kebun Raya, xii.1990 (F. Ito) (2 workers). Type deposition: Holotype in QMBA

(QMT 183499); 1 paratype each in BZMI and SKYC.

166 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

Description. Worker. Dimensions (holotype cited first): TL c. 7.31, 7.21-

7.31; HL 1.84, 1.81-1.87; HW 1.34, 1.31-1.37; CI 73, 72-73; SL 2.37, 2.34-

2.40; SI 177, 175-179; PW 1.28, 1.25-1.31; MTL 2.43, 2.40-2.50 (1+2

measured).

Mandibles with 5 teeth. Anterior clypeal margin arcuate, narrowly medially truncate,

Clypeus with blunt median carina, virtually straight in profile, posteriorly rounding

into rather shallowly impressed basal margin. Frontal triangle distinct. Frontal carinae

sinuate with strongly raised margins; central area narrow with distinct median furrow,

Sides of head in front of eyes converging towards mandibular bases in evenly convex

line; behind eyes sides produced into short, blunt carina extending towards occipital

corners. Eyes distinctly convex, strongly posteriorly truncate, in full face view clearly

breaking lateral cephalic outline. Ocelli lacking. Dorsum of mesosoma evenly convex

in profile; pronotal humeri armed with rather long, acute spines; dorsum of each spine

with longitudinal carina running from base towards tip; outer edge of spine acute,

smoothly merging with lateral margin of pronotal dorsum. Promesonotal suture

distinct, but relatively flat. Mesonotal dorsum with lateral margins narrowly rounded

and weakly raised anteriorly, widely rounded and flat posteriorly; metanotal groove

impressed laterally, indistinct medially. Propodeal dorsum with lateral margins

distinctly converging posteriorly and terminating in narrowly rounded, moderately

raised ridges that continue medially and merge, forming straight transverse carina

dividing propodeal dorsum from shallowly concave declivity; secondary carinae

extends from propodeal margins towards propodeal spiracles, dividing declivity from

sides of propodeum. Petiole biconvex in profile, armed with a pair of dorsolaterally

and posteriorly directed, acute spines situated on dorsolateral angles of petiole; bases

of spines close to posterior face of petiole with dorsal margin of petiole clearly visible

in lateral view (Fig. 60); shorter, dorsally emarginate, tooth situated laterally below

base of each spine. Anterior face of first gastral segment concave to accommodate

posterior face of petiole, anterodorsal margin distinctly lower than full height of

petiolar node.

Mandibles finely, longitudinally striate with numerous piliferous pits. Clypeus finely

reticulate-punctate, sculpture on dorsum and sides of head distinctly longitudinally

organised. Dorsum of mesosoma finely longitudinally striate, striae more prominent

on pronotal spines and along lateral mesosomal margins; petiole and gaster very

finely reticulate-punctate. Tips of pronotal and petiolar spines highly polished;

propodeal declivity, petiole and gaster finely shagreened, semipolished.Mandibles

along masticatory and outer borders with semierect, relatively short, golden hairs.

Anterior clypeal margin with a few rather long, anteriorly directed, golden setae

medially and few very short setae laterally. Numerous moderately long, erect, golden

hairs on clypeus, along frontal carinae and a few shorter hairs on vertex; several

shorter hairs along superior edge of antennal scapes. Hairs totally absent from dorsum

of mesosoma and petiole. Only a few moderately long hairs on anterior and posterior

faces of fore coxae. Gaster with numerous posteriorly directed hairs around apex and

on venter.

Colour. Black throughout, only extreme tip of apical funicular segment

reddish brown.

Sexuals and immature stages unknown.

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 167

Figs 55-62. Polyrhachis aculeata-group spp: (55, 57) head in full face view ; (56)

petiole in frontal view; (58) base of antennal scape; (59, 61) dorsal view; (60, 62)

lateral view. (55-56, 59-60) P. kebunraya sp. nov. (holotype); (57-58, 61-62) P.

watanasiti sp. nov. (holotype) (not to scale).

Etymology. Named after the type locality, Bogor Botanical Gardens,

popularly known as Kebun Raya.

Remarks. Polyrhachis kebunraya is most similar to P. dimoculata, described

above, from Borneo. They share the fine reticulate-punctate sculpturation of

the dorsal body surfaces, distinctly striate pronotal spines, including their

bases, and a virtual lack of pilosity on the vertex of the head, dorsum of the

mesosoma, petiole and dorsum of the gaster. However, the sculpture on the

dorsum of the head and mesosoma in P. kebunraya is distinctly

longitudinally directed and covered with a very fine pile of closely appressed

pubescence that is completely lacking in P. dimoculata. The truncate eyes in

P. kebunraya are distinctly more convex and more protracted posteriorly and

the sides of head behind the eyes are produced into short, blunt, carinae that

168 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

are absent in P. dimoculata. Also, the antennal scapes in P. kebunraya have

several hairs along their superior edge that are completely lacking in P.

dimoculata.

Polyrhachis kebunraya appears to be restricted to the type locality and is

known only from the specimens collected by Simon Robson and Fuminori

Ito.

Polyrhachis watanasiti sp. nov.

(Figs 57-58, 61-62)

Type. Holotype worker, SOUTHERN THAILAND: Center Ranong Prov., Ngao

Mangrove For., 24.x.2003, mangroves, N. Naw (worker). Type distribution: Holotype

in QMBA (QMT 189651).

Worker. Dimensions: TL c.6.85; HL 1.75; HW 1.28; CI 73; SL 2.31; SI 180;

PW 1.18; MTL 2.28.

Anterior clypeal margin arcuate, medially obtusely truncate. Clypeus with blunt,

poorly indicated median carina; clypeus straight in profile with rather flat basal

margin.Frontal triangle distinct. Frontal carinae very closely approximate anteriorly

with sharply raised, almost vertical margins; central area very narrow with distinct

frontal furrow. Antennal scapes with bases distinctly broadened (Fig. 58). Sides of

head in front of eyes converging towards mandibular bases in even convex line;

behind eyes sides rounding into moderately convex occipital margin. Eyes truncate

posteriorly, in full face view clearly exceeding lateral cephalic outline. Ocelli lacking.

Pronotal dorsum with slender, anterolaterally directed, acute spines, about 3x as long

as basal width; outer edges of spines acute and basally continuous with virtually

parallel pronotal margins, promesonotal suture distinctly impressed laterally, rather

flat medially. Mesonotal lateral margins narrowly rounded and distinctly raised

anteriorly, rather flat posteriorly before converging into medially flat metanotal

groove. Propodeum with lateral margins distinctly converging posteriorly and

terminating in distinct, upturned ridges that meet medially and form transverse carina

dividing propodeal dorsum from shallowly concave declivity. Petiole biconvex in

profile; transversely broad, convex dorsal margin armed with moderately long,

dorsolaterally directed and outwardly curved spines; lateral margins of petiole with

secondary, shorter, somewhat dorsally flattened tooth below each spine. Anterior face

of first gastral segment concave to accommodate posterior face of petiole;

anterodorsal margin narrowly rounding onto dorsum.

Mandibles finely, mostly longitudinally striate with piliferous pits. Clypeus and rest of

head reticulate-punctate with sculpture on vertex and sides of head somewhat

longitudinally directed; pronotal spines longitudinally striate, striae continued onto

lateral margins of pronotum; mesosomal and propodeal dorsa striate medially. Petiole

and gaster finely reticulate-punctate, opaque.

Mandibular masticatory and outer borders with numerous curved, golden hairs.

Anterior clypeal margin with a few anteriorly directed setae medially. Numerous

rather long hairs on clypeus, front and vertex of head, many breaking lateral cephalic

outline. Antennal scapes with several shorter hairs along superior edge. Dorsum of

mesosoma with only a few very short, bristle-like hairs on pronotal dorsum; several

Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3) 169

longer hairs on fore coxae and along subpetiolar process; no hairs on mesonotal and

propodeal dorsa, petiole and legs.Gaster with numerous hairs on venter and towards

apex. Closely appressed, silvery pubescence distributed in various densities over

whole body, partly obscuring underlying sculpturation on head, dorsum of mesosoma

and sides of petiole and gaster.

Colour. Black, virtually throughout; only condyla of scape and extreme tip of

apical funicular segment reddish brown.

Sexuals and immature stages unknown.

Etymology. Named after Prof. Dr Suparoek Watanasit of Prince of Songkla

University, Hat Yai, Thailand, for his generous support during my visit to

southern Thailand.

Remarks. Polyrhachis watanasiti is very similar to P. pubescens but differs in

having the bases of the antennal scapes distinctly broadened and flattened

(Fig. 58) and the body pubescence greatly reduced.

Acknowledgements

I am very grateful to the Harvard University Grant Committee for three Ernst

Mayr Grants that allowed me to travel and study specimens in the Museum of

Comparative Zoology and other museums and institutions in the USA and

Europe. I am much indebted to Prof. Dr Seiki Yamane for access to

Polyrhachis specimens from his sizeable collection and for generously

donating many important specimens to the QMBA. My special thanks go to

Prof. Simon K.A. Robson (JCUT), Dr Nawee Noon-anant (PSUT) and

Fuminori Ito, who provided many specimens from their private collections

gathered during their collecting activities throughout South East Asia. I owe

my sincere thanks to Dr Steve O. Shattuck (ANIC), Assoc. Prof. Dr Yoshiaki

Hashimoto (MNHA) and Hans Peter Katzmann (UUUG) for producing the

digital images used for illustrations. To Dr Brian L. Fisher (CASC), I owe my

thanks for permission to reproduce images taken by the AntWeb.org team. To

the curators and other staff of the museums and institutions listed earlier, I

am grateful for loans of types and other material under their supervision.

Finally, I would like to extend my gratitude to Dr Chris Burwell (QMBA) for

reading and commenting on the draft manuscript.

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172 Australian Entomologist, 2013, 40 (3)

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

The following note is abstracted from the Entomological Society of

Queensland News Bulletin and appeared, with illustrations, in the Volume

and Part indicated.

Orthomorpha coarctata (de Saussure, 1860) [an introduced millipede]

(Polydesmida: Paradoxosomatidae) was found at an apartment complex in

Brisbane’s West End in April, 2013. This is the southernmost record known

for the species in mainland Australia. O. coarctata was first collected in

Darwin in 1961 and has since spread to northwest Western Australia. In

2008, specimens were received from Hamilton Island in Queensland, 1000

km north of Brisbane.

O. coarctata is believed to be native to Indonesia. It is now established on

most Pacific Islands and in some Southeast Asian cities, as well as parts of

tropical South America, the Caribbean and extreme southeastern USA. In

non-mainland Australia it occurs on Christmas and Lord Howe Islands.

The species is 15-20 mm long and medium to dark brown in colour, with pale

yellow tips to the paranota, or ‘keels’ along its back. Unfortunately, this

description fits more than one invasive millipede and a few native Australian

species also. Positive identification requires careful examination of the

gonopods of a mature male.

It is not known if O. coarctata competes with any native millipedes but

eradication is not possible since it spends much of its life hidden in garden

mulch. Like most other millipedes, O. coarctata eats rotting vegetation and is

harmless to humans and pets. It is known to wander (sometimes in large

numbers) after heavy rains, mainly in summer. The wanderers are adults

looking to disperse and mate. Individuals take 1-2 years to mature.

R. MESIBOV — A pantropical tramp in Brisbane. — Volume 41(2): 26-27

(May 2013).

ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTICES

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Printed by Bayfield Printing, Unit 6/60 Kremzow Rd, Brendale, Q 4500, Ph: 1300 685 820

THE AUSTRALIAN

Entomologist

Volume 40, Part 3, 26 August 2013

see

CONTENTS

DAVID, K.J. AND HANCOCK, D.L.

‘The first record of Ortalotrypeta isshikii (Matsumura) and subfamily Tachiniscinae

(Diptera: Tephritidae) from India, with redescription of the species

HANCOCK, D.L.

A yellow-form male of Delias mysis mysis (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) from

northern Queensland

HOPKINSON, M.

Life history notes and new food plant records for Graphium macfarlanei macfarlanei

(Butler, 1877) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae: Papilioninae)

KING, D.

A provisional range extension for Theclinesthes sulpitius (Miskin) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

in Western Australia

KING, D.

Range extension of Acraea terpsicore (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) to

Western Australia

KOHOUT, RJ. :

A review of the Polyrhachis aculeata species-group of the subgenus Myrma Billberg

(Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae), with keys and descriptions of new species

MOUND, L.A. AND DANG, L.-H.

New Australian records of Asian or New Zealand Phlaeothripidae (Thysanoptera)

SSeS

ORR, A.

Predation on butterflies and other insects by breeding Rainbowbirds (Merops ornatus:

Meropidae) in South-East Queensland

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

ISSN 1320 6133