Vollenhovia terayamai Rilta, Dhadwal & Bharti, 2023

Fig. 11

Vollenhovia terayamai Rilta, Dhadwal & Bharti in Dhadwal et al., 2023: 5.

Type locality: West Bengal, Chapramari Wild Life Sanctuary [Holotype: PUAC, type series examined in Dhadwal et al. 2023] .

Worker measurements & indices (2 specimens, 1 colony, 1 locality)

CL 0.54–0.58, CW 0.46–0.50, CS 0.50–0.54, EL 0.12–0.14, ML 0.66–0.68, PEH 0.28–0.30, PEL 0.24– 0.26, PEW 0.16–0.18, PPH 0.28–0.30, PPL 0.18–0.20, PPW 0.20–0.22, PW 0.36–0.40, SL 0.35–0.36. Indices: CL/CW 1.16–1.17, EL/CS 0.24–0.26, ML/CS 1.26–1.32, PEH/CS 0.55–0.56, PEL/CS 0.48– 0.48, PEW/CS 0.32–0.33, PPH/CS 0.55–0.56, PPL/CS 0.36–0.37, PPW/CS 0.40–0.41, PW/CS 0.72– 0.74, SL/CS 0.67–071.

Remarks

This last Eastern Indian species was unfortunately described based on two specimens only (Dhadwal et al. 2023) so the discovery of further material once again appears crucial to appreciate its intraspecific variation. Vollenhovia terayamai differs from the other Eastern Indian taxa by having a wide smooth band in the front and on the promesonotum, as well as a largely smooth postpetiole dorsum, in addition to larger body size. It shares some affinities with V. yasmeenae sp. nov. but differs by having a broad smooth median band on the head and a finer punctate sculpture on the sides of the petiole.