Guide to the Ants of South-western Australia

209 Pages·2010·18.82 MB·English

Records of the Western Australian Museum
Supplement No. 76
A Guide to the Ants of South-western Australia
Brian E. Heterick
Records
of the
Western Australian Museum
The Records of the Western Australian Museum publishes the results of research into all branches of natural
sciences and social and cultural history, primarily based on the collections of the Western Australian
Museum and on research carried out by its staff members.
Collections and research at the Western Australian Museum are centred on Earth and Planetary Sciences,
Zoology, Anthropology and History. In particular the following areas are covered: systematics, ecology,
biogeography and evolution of living and fossil organisms; mineralogy; meteoritics; anthropology and
archaeology; history; maritime archaeology; and conservation.
Western Australian Museum
Perth Cultural Centre, James Street, Perth, Western Australia, 6000
Mail: Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, Western Australia 6986
Telephone: [phone]
Facsimile: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Minister for Culture
and The Arts The Hon. John Day BSc, BDSc, MLA
Chair of Trustees Mr Tim Ungar BEc, MAICD, FAIM
Acting Executive Director Ms Diana Jones MSc, BSc, Dip.Ed
Editors Dr Mark Harvey BSC, PhD
Dr Paul Doughty BSc(Hons), PhD
Editorial Board Dr Alex Baynes MA, PhD
Dr Alex Bevan BSc(Hons), PhD
Ms Ann Delroy BA(Hons), MPhil
Dr Bill Humphreys BSc(Hons), PhD
Dr Moya Smith BA(Hons), Dip.Ed. PhD
The Records of the Western Australian Museum is published approximately three times per year. A series
of Supplements is also produced. The Records are available for sale and exchange, the current price being
$11 plus postage per part. Each volume comprises four Parts. Subscriptions can be taken out for whole
volumes at a rate of $33 plus postage. Supplements can be purchased from the Western Australian Museum
Bookshop. Prices on request. Prices include GST.
Published by the Western Australian Museum
© Western Australian Museum, August 2009.
ISSN 0313 122X
ISBN 978-1-920843-43-4
Cover: Exposed gallery of native carpenter ants (Camponotus claripes nudimalis Forel) in trunk of red-
flowering gum (Corymbia calophylla (Lindl.) K. D. Hill & L. A. S. Johnson) (B. E. Heterick)
PrEfACE
Increasingly, invertebrates are being used as indicators of environmental health in various native and altered
ecosystems throughout Australia. Among invertebrates that can be utilised in this way, ants are a very
suitable indicator group because they are abundant and have high biodiversity, are relatively well known
taxonomically, are easy to collect and identify, and are sufficiently robust to be able to be handled without
special preparation. They are also reasonably sensitive to environmental disturbance.
Assessing the progress of revegetation of minesites is one of the more common applications where ants
can be used as indicators of success. However, to this point of time, there has been no single authoritative
reference source for the ant species found in Western Australia, including those collected in rehabilitated
minesites and other programmes involving sampling of ants. This present work attempts a comprehensive
overview of all the described ant species currently recognised from the south-west of Western Australia,
specifically, the South-West Botanical Province (a phytogeographic zone). Also included are the many
undescribed species, or those of uncertain taxonomic status, recognised by the Curtin University of
Technology. The latter are indicated in this monograph by voucher numbers. Taxonomic keys will enable
an enquirer to arrive at subfamily, genus and species name (if described) for any particular worker ant
specimen.
Although this volume covers the ants of South-Western Australia, many of these species are also present
in the Pilbara, where Rio Tinto's iron ore group has most of its mining interests. We are therefore proud to be
associated with the sponsorship of this important work.
Warwick Smith
Managing director – Expansion Projects
Rio Tinto

TABlE of ConTEnTS
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................................................7
Botanical Districts within the SWBP in relation to the ant fauna.............................................................................8
Nomenclature ..................................................................................................................................................................9
What’s in a name? ...........................................................................................................................................................9
What makes an ant an ant? ..........................................................................................................................................12
Where and how do ants live in the SWBP? ...............................................................................................................13
Pest ants and tramp ants ..............................................................................................................................................14
Ants as bioindicators ....................................................................................................................................................15
Key to the ant subfamilies of the South-West Botanical Province .........................................................................16
Plates ...............................................................................................................................................................................20
Key to the ant genera of the South-West Botanical Province ..................................................................................28
Key to the ant species of the South-West Botanical Province .................................................................................42
A note on taxonomic decisions made in this work ..................................................................................................42
Species key and discussion of species ........................................................................................................................43
Appendix 1: Ant species and morphospecies recorded from the SWBP ............................................................180
Appendix 2: Ant species and morphospecies recorded from the SWBP
placed by botanical district ..................................................................................................................................187
Glossary of terms used in this work .........................................................................................................................198
References .....................................................................................................................................................................202
Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................................206

Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement No. 76 (2009)
A Guide to the Ants of South-western Australia
B. E. Heterick
Department of Environmental and Aquatic Sciences, Curtin University of Technology, Bentley,
Western Australia 6102, Australia. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract – This work constitutes a review of what is known about the ants
of the South-West Botanical Province, a region internationally recognized as
having a megadiverse flora. The ant fauna is also highly diverse, including
no fewer than 12 subfamilies, 61 genera and at least 500 species. The author
includes three illustrated taxonomic keys to the 13 Australian subfamilies,
61 genera and the workers of 497 morphospecies, respectively. The last-
mentioned key includes all species described for the region, but excludes a
tiny handful that cannot be identified with assurance because the information
in the original description is too scant or the type specimens have been lost.
Also included in the species key are workers of all the other morphospecies
known from the Province that appear to constitute recognizable species, and
are at present allocated voucher numbers in the Curtin Ant Collection. Many
of the south-west ants (almost 50%) appear to be undescribed. All of the above
ant taxa, described or undescribed, are included in a discussion following the
keys. Novelties mentioned in the key to genus include the first WA record of
the genus Mayriella, and the genus Rogeria (tentatively assigned to two spe-
cies). The genus Anillomyrma is removed from the WA checklist, as the local
species is now considered a Monomorium. Four species (Iridomyrmex argutus
Shattuck (under Iridomyrmex innocens Forel), Iridomyrmex occiduus Shattuck
(under I. innocens Forel), Pachycondyla (Trachymesopus) clarki Wheeler (under
Pachycondyla (Trachymesopus) rufonigra Clark), and Crematogaster perthensis
Crawley (under Crematogaster frivola (Forel)) here pass into synonymy, and
Tapinoma rottnestense Wheeler becomes Doleromyrma rottnestensis (Wheeler) in
a new combination. Also included in this work are short discussions on a vari-
ety of topics not well covered in the Australian ant literature, a comprehensive
glossary of terms, a complete ant check list (Appendix 1) and a table showing
known ant species distributions within the seven botanical districts that to-
gether make up the South-West Botanical Province (Appendix 2).
Key words: South-West Botanical Province, ant fauna, taxonomic keys
to the author’s knowledge, sixty-one described
InTroDuCTIon
ant genera, including almost 500 identifiable
The phytogeographic region in Western Australia morphospecies, have been recorded for this
known as the South-West Botanical Province, Province. These are the species that appear in the
(hereafter, SWBP) (Figure 1), is well known as a key to worker ants for the Province. Over half-a-
hotspot of mega-diversity for vascular plants (e.g. dozen additional names for ants described from
Beard et al. 2000). However, this region also has a the region can be found in the literature, but their
rich ant fauna, with, for example, approximately status is uncertain and the bulk of these are likely
ten times the number of ant species found in the to become junior synonyms in future revisions.
United Kingdom. Twelve of the thirteen subfamilies The paucity of novel taxa now being identified
currently recognized as occurring in Australia can by Curtin staff and students, along with myself,
be found in the SWBP. The thirteenth subfamily, suggests that additional species to those covered
Aenictinae, has been recorded south-east of in this monograph are likely either to be very rare,
Newman (Pilbara region) and may well occur or at the fringes of a distribution that mostly lies
in the far north of the SWBP. For this reason, the outside of the SWBP.
key to subfamilies provided below includes the
Despite the high ant biodiversity at a species
Aenictinae.
level, only six of the twelve subfamilies are
At a generic and species level, the ant fauna is represented by two or more genera. On the generic
also very diverse: the actual number of species level, several important recent changes from the
possibly exceeds well over 500. At the present time, genera discussed in Shattuck (1999) are noted here:
8 Brian E. Heterick
figure 1 The South-West Botanical Province, showing major cities in the Province. Inset: The South-West Botanical
Province in relation to the rest of the Australian land mass. (Revision of the Interim Biogeographic Region-
alisation for Australia (IBRA) Version 5.1; modified in the NE portion following Gunawardene and Majer,
2004).
Oligomyrmex (one species) now becomes Carebara, in Australia, and the small blind ants formerly
following Fernandez’s (2004) revision of the group; placed in this genus are more properly assigned to
the monotypic genus Nebothriomyrmex has been Monomorium. One undescribed species occurs in
erected for a tiny dolichoderine known only from the south-west.
the SWBP (Dubovikov 2004); Bothriomyrmex is now
Arnoldius (Dubovikov 2004); and Shattuck’s (1999) BoTAnICAl DISTrICTS wITHIn THE SwBP
myrmicine genus indet. no. 2 (with two species In rElATIon To THE AnT fAunA
occurring in the SWBP) is here tentatively identified
as Rogeria, based on Bolton (2003). This latter genus, Seven botanical districts, identified by their own
which is widely distributed in the Neotropical distinctive phytogeographic features, can be found
and Indo-Australian region, has not previously within the SWBP. These are the Avon Wheatbelt
been recognized from the Australian continent. (AW), characterised by open eucalypt woodland
Incidentally, Shattuck’s myrmicine genus indet. with areas of scrub-heath, the Esperance Plains
no. 1 (Shattuck 1999) is identified in this Guide as a (ESP), which is mainly mallee-heathland, the
Monomorium, i.e. Monomorium elegantulum Heterick. Geraldton Sandplains (GS), predominantly scrub-
heath with some taller trees, the Jarrah forest (JF),
In addition, this work records and discusses
which originally was mainly medium-height
genera not previously recorded for the Province
eucalypt forest but has now been much modified by
in the existing literature. Mayriella, a genus
farming and urban development, the Mallee (MAL),
formerly believed to be restricted to the eastern
consisting of eucalypt shrubland, patches of scrub-
half of Australia, was recently discovered in a DEC
heath and a mosaic of woodland and mallee in the
(Department of Environment and Conservation)
north-east, the Swan Coastal Plain (SWA), originally
survey of the Nuyts Wilderness area near Walpole,
a mix of jarrah woodland, banksia low woodland,
on the south coast, and the latest addition to the
teatree swamps and thicket (Acacia, Allocasuarina
list, a species of Ponera, has been found in a pitfall
and Melaleuca), but which, like the Jarrah forest, has
trap sample taken from an Alcoa mine site near
now been much modified by urban development,
Jarrahdale. Of the previously recognized genera,
and, finally, the Warren (WAR), a distinctive wet
Nothomyrmecia, described many years ago from
sclerophyll region of tall forest, including some of
workers taken from somewhere near the Russell
the largest trees in WA.
Range (in the far south-east of the SWBP), has
not been seen in WA for many years, and may be To some degree, the diversity of the ant fauna of a
extinct in this State. Moreover, as far as is known, region reflects the floristic communities in which it
the myrmicine genus Anillomyrma is not present lives, but probably soils are a more important factor
A Guide to the Ants of South-western Australia 9
governing nest establishment for a given species little collected, and their fauna counts are likely to
in the SWBP (here, it should be noted that WA has rise steeply as more attention is directed towards
very few truly arboreal ants, or species that are collecting in those districts. Conversely, the count
specialist nesters, e.g. in rotten logs or twigs). While for the WAR District is unlikely to rise substantially,
a number of species from the most abundant genera, since the relatively cool and moist climate and
e.g. Iridomyrmex, Monomorium and Rhytidoponera, the thick closed forest are not conducive to a high
can be found anywhere in the SWBP, other species, ant biodiversity. Those species recorded from
including those from genera with more specialized this District are typically cool climate specialists
behaviours, tend to be localised. Hence, some ants and cryptic species, many of which are rare
may be found only on sand-plain, whether this taxa, found in small nests under stones and logs.
sand-plain be in the form of coastal dune systems, Species distributions in Appendix 2 are based
or sand dunes many kilometres inland. Others primarily on type locality data, Curtin holdings
appear to be restricted to laterite soils. Within a and information from published sources, especially
single locality, nests of some species are found only recent monographs. Additional species are likely to
on the swales whilst others are located only on the be held in other institutions, as well as specimens
dune crests. Cryptic species may not be restricted to collected from outside of their distribution as listed
a particular floristic community, but may be absent in this work.
from any area that lacks the requisite litter layer in
which they prefer to live. Conversely, many species noMEnClATurE
of Melophorus and some Iridomyrmex require open
ground and highly insolated sandy soils for their Subspecies categories in ant research are a relic
nests. of earlier nomenclature and modern revisions
invariably eliminate these, either by erecting the
The very small number of ant species that appear
subspecies to full species status or by relegating
to have an entire global distribution limited to a few
them to synonymy. As this work is not meant
square kilometres are almost completely unstudied,
to be a formal revision, I have refrained from
and the reasons for their restricted distribution
synonymising taxa, except (after the urging of a
are unknown. These taxa include several species
colleague) for a small handful of cases in which
of Myrmecia and Monomorium, Carebara sp. JDM
I have looked carefully at the relevant type
440 and Notoncus sp. JDM 487. The bulldog ants,
specimens. These alterations are indicated in bold
from the subfamily Myrmeciinae, probably include
font and by the use of round brackets in Appendix
the bulk of the genuinely rare and potentially
1. A number of other species appear to me likely
threatened species. The isolated occurrence of
candidates for synonymy, and I have drawn
these species, their small colony size, and their
attention to those taxa when discussing them in the
vulnerability to disturbance make them candidates
text and by enclosing them in square brackets in
for special protection under future legislation. In
Appendix 1.
the case of other ants that are very restricted in
WA but much more abundant on Australia’s east Where possible, ant species in this work are
coast, climate and environment are clearly factors primarily designated by their scientific name.
affecting their distribution. Myopias tasmaniensis Genuine common names barely exist and would
Wheeler is one such species. Their distribution be meaningless in view of the number of ants
often follows a typical Gondwanan pattern, i.e. they involved, though an effort by Andersen (2002)
are found in cool, wet habitats in thick forest. to supply names of his own devising for very
many mainly northern and desert-dwelling
A list of all ant species (including morphospecies)
species should be mentioned here. In a few cases
known by myself to be recorded from the SWBP
I have indicated common names for genera where
is given in Appendix 1, while their known dis-
these appear to be in widespread use, both in
tributions are listed in Appendix 2. The latter is
Australia and overseas. Where the scientific name
intended as a guide only, as it reflects an inevitable
is unknown or the ant is undescribed, a Curtin Ant
bias towards those districts that are closest to
Collection (JDM) voucher number has been used. In
research institutions (especially in Perth), and hence
a small number of cases a voucher number assigned
more accessible to researchers. Nonetheless, several
by the Australian National Insect Collection
areas have been found to be particularly ant rich.
(ANIC) in Canberra exists, and this is preferred
These include the eastern flanks of the Darling
to the former voucher number because of its
Range, embracing the eastern JF District and
greater currency.
western AW District, and kwongan heath in the GS
district, north of Perth. At mineral sand minesites
wHAT’S In A nAME?
near Eneabba, in the heart of the GS, upwards of 115
species have been collected within a few hectares.
The concept of ‘species’ is not the simple matter
The ESP and MAL Districts have been relatively
supposed by the person-in-the-street. As indicated