FURTHER STUDIES OF THE MYRMICINE STING APPARATUS : EUTETRAMORIUM , OXYOPOMYRMEX , AND TERATANER ( HYMENOPTERA , FORMICIDAE )

In an earlier investigation (Kugler, 1978, 1979) I described the sting apparatus of representatives of 63 genera of tnyrtnicine ants. In so doing, it was shown that this cotnplex structure has clear potential for defining tnyrrnicine genera and perhaps generic groupings. Furthernore, its norphology tnay have played an inportant role in the evolution of sotne genera. Here I present descriptions of rnetnbers of 3 genera that could not be included in that work. Structural affinities with the sting apparatus of other genera are discussed in order to assist those reclassifying this taxonotnically probletnatical subfatnily.

Quadrate plate: Body and apodetne both subrectangular, equal in width; body extends well ventrad of apodetne.Dorsal edge of plate convex, with rnoderately wide tnedial and lateral lobes terminating in an acute anterodorsal corner.
Gonostylus: Two-segmented as indicated by bitnodal sensilla pattern and ill-defined tnetnbranous region; evenly tapered to end, neither long and slender nor short and wide, not strongly dorso- ventrally cotnpressed.Distal segment with 7 long setae and isolated dorsotertninal chaeta; proxitnal segment with 10 setae of varied lengths.Distal segtnent grades evenly into terminal tnetnbrane.No distal notch or basiconic sensilla.
Triangular plate: Body wide, basal portion abruptly tapered; ventroapical process a distinct extension frotn body, narrowly rounded apically.Dorsal and tnedial tubercles present.

Discussion
The sting apparatus of Eutetramorium mocquerysi seetns tnost closely related to those of the Tetrarnoriini and the Leptothorax genus group (see Kugler, 1978).Sotne corntnon characters are: the wide anterior apodetne and overall shape of the spiracular plate (Fig. 57); the tnedial and lateral lobes, and shape of the anterodorsal corner of the quadrate plate (Fig. 58); the shape of the anterior apodetne, ventral ridge and body of the posterior arrn of the oblong Psyche June-Septernber plate (Figs. 52,59); much of the shape of the sting (Figs. 55,56).The gonostyli are much like those of Leptothorax (Fig. 53), but not as long and narrow, and they lack the conpanion seta.The sting base and furcula have characteristics of those of Liomyrmex cf.aurianus (Figs. 69,70).
In spite of its sinilarities with the Tetranoriini, E. mocquerysi lacks the dorsal flange on the end of the sting and the character- istically stubby gonostyli of that tribe.On the basis of the fl,ange character and other external characters Bolton (1976) renoved Eutetramorium from its traditional association with the Tetranoriini.He prefers to place it in the Myrnicini, but as an alternative hypothesis, based adnittedly on one character systen, would suggest a position nearer Leptothorax and related genera.
Spiracular plate" Body subrectangular, with straight anterior edge, slightly concave posterior edge and convex dorsal and ventral edges.Anterior apodene forns a square anteroventral corner, then a thin nargin along anterior edge to dorsad of body of plate; nedial connection rnenbranous.Large V-shaped dorsal notch present; no distinct posteroventral tubercle or posterodorsal lobe.
Oblong plate: Dorsal ridge and body of posterior arm long and narrow, uniforn in width, without ventral ridge.Anterior apodene very long and slender.Ventral arn tapered and subtruncate distally; fulcral arn slender, weak, diffuse dorsad, forming acute angle with posterior arn.
Triangular plate: In O. tuneticus body and ventroapical process very slender and distinct; in O. t. var.thoracicus body wider dorsad and merging more with ventroapical process.In both specitnens, body evenly tapered to ratnus; neither dorsal nor medial tubercle present.
Lancet: Long, weak, and spatulate distally, with broadly rounded apex; about twice as deep as end of sting shaft.One large lancet valve per lancet.
Sting: (Figs. 5, 6) Sting bulb large with weak basal ridge and distinct anterolateral processes.Valve chamber well developed, clearly distinguishable from sting bulb and sting shaft in profile and in ventral view; internal apophysis long.Sting shaft short, very slender and weak; no dorsal flange.Index of reduction 21.9 for O. tuneticus, 20.4 for O. t. var.thoracicus.

Discussion
The sting apparatus of Oxyopomyrmex tuneticus and O. t. var.thoracicus are very sitnilar to those of Messor and Aphaenogaster.
The large dorsal notch and thin anterior apoderne of the spiracular Psyche [June-September plate (Fig. 130); the subtriangular quadrate plate (Fig. 131); the long slender posterior arm and anterior apoderne and the inclined fulcral arm of the oblong plate (Figs. 132,133); and the shape of the sting bulb, valve chamber and furcula (Figs. 138,139) are cormnon characteristics of the species so far exarnined in these 3 genera.The Oxyopomyrmex species, however, are distinct in two itnportant respects: the sting shaft has no dorsal flange (Fig. 138), and the lancets are spatulate and broadly rounded apically, rather than acute (Fig. 137).
Anal plate: Wider than long, clear suture between plate and anal arc; tnoderately well sclerotized proximally, posterior and lateral borders unsclerotized, undefined.Thirty-one long setae cover plate; no sensilla basiconica.
Valve chanber stnall, indistinguishable from sting shaft in profile; topped by heavy internal ridge; 2 large ventrolaterally projecting prongs seem to originate on the internal apophysis.Sting shaft long, slender, tapering to weak apex; hernocoel clearly visible in basal 2/3.Index of reduction 20.1.

Discussion
The sting apparatus of Terataner alluaudi bears most resemblance to several genera nortnally considered unrelated by tnost tnodern tnyrrnecologists.It has a variety of derived characters in cotntnon with Atopomyrmex mocquerysi, such as: shape of the anal plate; fortn of the gonostyli; long, flagellifortn lancets (Fig. 215); form of the bulb, valve chatnber and shaft of the sting, including 2 prongs extending into the sting bulb frotn the internal apophysis (Figs. 216,  217).These species, however, differ tnarkedly in the shapes of the spiracular and oblong plates, and in the lack of a furcula and anal setae in A. mocquerysi.With the Cephalotini, T. alluaudi shares the following characters: cotnplete medial connection of the anterior apodetne of the spiracular plate (tnay not be derived); anal plate wider than long and with nutnerous dorsal sensilla; long, well- defined fulcral artn of the oblong plate; gonostylus shape and setation (Fig. 192); shape of the lancets (Fig. 194); sting bulb shape, low valve chamber and flagellate sting shaft as in Procryptocerus scabriusculus (Figs. 196,197).The tnain differences are the shape of the spiracular plate (Fig. 198); and in T. alluaudi the lack of the long pollicate anterodorsal process of the quadrate plate (Figs. 189,198), the furcula not appressed to the sting base, the tnore elongate sting shaft containing a hetnocoel, and the prongs in the sting bulb (cf.Figs.190, 191, 196, 197).With Cataulacus tardus, T. alluaudi shares the tnedial connection of the spiracular plate anterior apodernes; the shape and setation of the gonostyli; flagellifortn lancets (though tnuch shorter in C. tardus); and prongs in the s.ting bulb (the nutnber of which is different, Figs. 203,204).Such prongs are known only frotn Terataner, Atopomyrmex and Cataulacus.
Both Emery (1922) and Wheeler (1922) placed Terataner in the tribe Myrtnecinini with Podomyrma, Lordomyrma, Atopomyrmex, Myrmecina, Pristomyrmex and Acanthomyrmex, along with other genera, the stings of which have not yet been exatnined.Etnery tnore specifically placed it with the first 3 genera in the subtribe Podo- rnyrtniti after earlier creating the genus Terataner frotn sotne of the species then in Atopomyrmex (Etnery, 1912).The sting apparatus does not support the groupings of the above genera into tribe Myrrnecinini (see also discussions in Kugler, 1978), but the view of Terataner and Atopomyrmex as distinct, related genera is seen here as likely.Sting apparatus tnorphology also suggests a relationship between Terataner, the Cephalotini and possibly Cataulacus that should be considered in future classifications of the Myrrnicinae.