Cataulacus reticulatus Smith 1857

Cataulacus reticulatus Smith, 1857a PDF: 81, pl. 2, fig. 8 (w.) BORNEO. Indomalaya. AntCat AntWiki HOL

Taxonomic history

Junior synonym of Cataulacus granulatus: Dalla Torre, 1893 PDF: 138; Wheeler, 1919f PDF: 92.Revived status as species: Donisthorpe, 1932c PDF: 451.Senior synonym of Cataulacus reticulatus minor: Bolton, 1974a PDF: 82.

C. niger, delicatule reticulatus, praesertim in abdomine; marginibus capitis thoracisque lateribus crenulatis; thorace spinis duabus validis postice armato.

Worker. Length 1 1/2 - 2 lines. Black; head and thorax reticulated; antennae short, thick and clavate; the clypeus widely emarginate; the sides of the head produced into a sharp angle in front of the eyes; behind the eyes the margin is crenulated, the posterior lateral angles acute. Thorax: the anterior margin slightly rounded; the sides rounded and narrow to the metathorax, with a short tooth anteriorly and posteriorly; the thorax produced behind into two elongate, lateral, acute spines; the anterior tibiae and tarsi and the apical joints of the intermediate and posterior tarsi, ferruginous. Abdomen: oval, margined, emarginate in front and very delicately reticulate.

Var. a. minor. The scape, apical joint of the flagellum, the margin of the head before the eyes and the legs, ferruginous.

Hab. Borneo (Sarawak).

This species somewhat resembles the C. Taprobanae, but is different in sculpture and form.

Worker. Length 1 1/2 - 2 lines. - Black: finely reticulated, the abdomen very delicately so; the margins of the head and thorax crenulated, the latter armed with two long, stout, straight, parallel spines; the antennae short, thick and clavate; the clypeus widely emarginate, the lateral margins of the head with a minute angular spine or tooth before the eyes. Thorax: the anterior margin slightly rounded; the sides rounded, the margins with a short tooth anteriorly and posteriorly; the anterior tibiae and tarsi, and the apical joints of the intermediate and posterior tarsi ferrugi- nous. Abdomen ovate, margined at the sides and emarginate at the base.

Var. minor. The scape, apical joint of the flagellum, the head, before the eyes, and the legs, ferruginous.

Hab. Borneo (Sarawak). (Coll. W. W. Saunders, Esq.)