Anochetus turneri Forel

Anochetus turneri Forel

(Fig. 15)

Anochetus turneri Forel, 1900a: 55.

Anochetus turneri var. latunei Forel, 1915: 35 (junior synonym of turneri by Brown, 1978: 559).

Types. A. turneri: Syntype workers from Mackay, Queensland (1 worker in ANIC, examined; additional workers in MHNG). A. turneri latunei: Holotype worker from Yarrabah, Queensland (NHRS, examined).

Diagnosis. Sculpture on front of head extending only slightly beyond eyes; pronotum smooth dorsally, sculptured laterally; mesonotum with transverse striations which extend onto the dorsal surface of the propodeum, and never smooth; anterior face of petiolar node swollen basally and with a distinct angle near mid-height. The sculptured mesonotum and unique shape of the petiolar node will separate this taxon from all other Australian species.

Worker description. Sculpturing on front of head extending slightly beyond eyes. Scapes not reaching posterolateral corners ('lobes') of head; with abundant pubescence and a limited number of erect hairs. Pronotum smooth and shining, with anterior and lateral surfaces striate. Dorsum of propodeum rounded laterally, without defined posterolateral angles and with erect hairs. Mesonotum, propodeum and metapleuron covered with distinct transverse striations. Petiolar node rounded dorsally and in lateral view with the base swollen and an angle near mid-height. Hind tibiae with only a few erect hairs. Colour dark brown, head, mandibles and legs brown, antennae yellow-brown.

Measurements. Worker (n = 5): CI 94–97; EI 20–21; EL 0.28–0.29; HL 1.45–1.48; HW 1.36–1.42; HFL 1.26– 1.28; ML 1.70–1.85; MandL 0.78–0.81; MTL 0.95–0.97; PronI 58–62; PronW 0.79–0.88; SL 1.17–1.21; SI 82–86.

Material examined. Australia: Queensland: Mackay (Turner) (ANIC); Missionary Bay, Hinchinbrook Island (Taylor, R.W.) (ANIC); Prince of Wales Island, Torres Strait (Heatwole, H. & Cameron, E.) (ANIC); Water Park Creek, Byfield (Monteith, G.B.) (ANIC); West Claudie River, Iron Range (Monteith, G.B. & Cook, D.) (ANIC).

Comments. Anochetus turneri, while relatively broadly distributed from the tip of Cape York Peninsula south to approximately Rockhampton, is uncommonly collected. It has been found in rainforest and mangrove habitats in litter samples.