Australasian ants of the subfamily Heteroponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): (2) the species-group of Heteroponera relicta (Wheeler), with descriptions of nine new species and observations on morphology, biogeography and phylogeny of the genus

Abstract

Workers and available gynes of Heteroponera relicta and nine new related morphospecies from northeast Queensland tropical rainforest are described in two species complexes: H. relicta (Wheeler), H. darlingtonorum, H. lioprocta, H. monteithi, H. rhodopygea, H. viviennae and H. wilsoni spp. n. (Heteroponera relicta complex); H. ecarinata, H. pendergrasti and H. trachypyx spp. n. (Heteroponera ecarinata complex). Known gynes (of 3 relicta-complex species) are flightless physogastric ergatoids. Biogeography and evolution of the group and of Heteroponera at large are reviewed. Show more