Diagnosis
Lordomyrma polita is readily discernable from the other long-spined Fijian species, L. levifrons , by its short hairs. There exists considerable variation with respect to sculpture of the promesonotum among specimens of L. polita as currently defined. Whereas the type specimens from Nadarivatu together with a series collected from nearby Navai tend towards a more sculptured promesonotum and face, and a flatter petiole node, the series collected from the islands of Koro and Vanua Levu tend a smoother promesonotum and face, and a more rounded petiole node. Additionally, a male specimen from the Navai series has a smooth and shining metapleuron while that of the Koro male specimen is finely punctate. The single specimen collected from the Vuda province of Viti Levu appears intermediate between the Nadarivatu/Navai series and the Koro/Vanua Levu series. The allopatric pattern of these morphological traits does not allow for confident separation of species, thus all of the aforementioned series are considered here as belonging to a single species.
Measurement Table
| n = 11 | |||||||||
| min | 3.32 | 0.74 | 0.64 | 0.86 | 0.75 | 0.22 | 1.13 | 0.97 | 0.91 |
| max | 3.86 | 0.87 | 0.76 | 0.91 | 0.79 | 0.27 | 1.46 | 1.05 | 1.09 |
Distribution & Biology
Thus far, L. polita is known from the highlands surrounding Mt. Tomanivi, the drier western forest near Vaturu Dam, the interior of Vanua Levu, and the island of Koro. This species has been observed nesting in logs in the Navai area and Vanua Levu, and nesting between epiphyte roots and a tree trunk on the island of Koro.
Distribution Table
| x | x | - | - | x | - | - | - |
Type specimens
Rogeria tortuosa subp. polita Mann. Syntypes, workers, 1 dealate queen, Nadarivatu, Fiji (W. M. Mann)
Citation of original description
Mann, W. M. (1921). The ants of the Fiji Islands. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 64: 401-499.
Synonyms
Rogeria tortuosa subsp. polita
Classification
Vespoidea: Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Stenammini