Probolomyrmex salomonis Taylor, 1965, sp. n.
Creators: name: Taylor, R. W.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 1965
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Formicidae
Probolomyrmex
Probolomyrmex salomonis

description: Probolomyrmex salomonis sp. n. (figs. 20, 21)
Holotype worker
HL, 0.59 mm.; HW, 0.38 mm.; SL, 0.37 mm.; CI, 64; SI, 97; WL, 0.79 mm.; PW, 0.30 mm.; dorsal petiole width, 0.17 mm; petiolar node index, 57; petiolar height, 0.28 mm.; petiolar node length, 0.26 mm.; lateral petiolar index, 93. General form as shown in the figures. Habitus similar to that of P. dammermani and P. greavesi. Head narrower than in these species, with occipital border moderately concave. Scapes relatively as long as in dammermani, somewhat longer than in greavesi. Eyeless. Mandible with a large acute apical tooth followed by a series of six denticles, distal one of which slightly enlarged. Visible terminal maxillary and labial palpomeres proportioned as in P. angusticeps. General form of mesosoma as in P. dammermani. Declivitous face of propodeum, viewed from above, moderately concave, depth of concavity about one-third distance between dorsal corners of posterolateral propodeal lamellae. Petiolar node as in figure 21; posterior face moderately concave in side view, its surrounding flange feebly emarginate at dorsal mid-line. Subpetiolar process well developed, similar to that of P. greavesi, but shallower and with ventral edge distinctly concave in side view.
Pilosity reduced, as is normal for the genus; pubescence extremely fine and very sparse, most abundant on second segment of gaster, virtually lacking on head, mesosoma and node. Sculpturation almost exactly as described above for P. dammermani. Colour rich golden-brown, as in the type of P. dammermani.
Holotype [[worker]] Solomon Islands: Guadalcanal, Mt. Austen, Honiara, 25. ii. 1963 (P. J. M. Greenslade). The unique holotype is deposited in the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University.
Distribution. - Known only from type locality.
Biology. - The holotype was collected in a Berlese funnel sample of leafmould from the floor of undisturbed rainforest, at an elevation of about 1000 feet.
Relationships. - This species is clearly close to P. dammermani, and is distinguished from it mainly by the shorter petiolar node (lateral petiole index 93, compared with 115 - 120 in dammermani), with a much more distinct subpetiolar process. The Australian P. greavesi is also related, but it has an even shorter petiolar node (lateral petiolar index 82 - 83), which is thicker in dorsal view (petiolar node index 66 - 69, opposed to 57 in salomonis), and somewhat shorter antennal scapes (SI 85 - 87, compared with 97 in salomonis and 103 in dammermani). P. salomonis bears a general resemblance to the east African P. guineensis, but the two differ in proportions, especially those of the petiolar node, and in the intensity of sculpturation.
description: Published as part of Taylor, R. W., 1965, A monographic revision of the rare tropicopolitan ant genus Probolomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., pp. 345-365 in Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 117 on page 358