Prenolepis fisheri Bharti & Wachkoo, 2012

Williams, Jason L., 2016, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the ant genus Prenolepis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 4200 (2), pp. 201-258 : 221-222

Prenolepis fisheri Bharti & Wachkoo, 2012

( Figs 66–68 )

Prenolepis fisheri Bharti & Wachkoo, 2012: 120 (w.q.). Holotype worker, INDIA: Uttarakhand, Forest Research Institute , 30.3476°N 77.9965°E, 640m, 11.v.2009 ( PUPM) [Holotype images (ANTWEB1008045) examined].

Worker diagnosis. Three small ocelli present; head subtriangular in shape; dark brown head and mesosoma with a dark brown to black gaster; erect setae on scapes; overall shape of petiole subtriangular with a rounded dorsal apex of the scale.

Most similar species. P. darlena , P. fustinoda

Morphology. Worker. Measurements (n=8): HL: 0.63–0.65; HW: 0.62–0.66; SL: 0.67–0.69; WL: 0.75–0.80; CI: 95–105; SI: 102–110.

Dark brown; cuticle of head lightly reticulate; cuticle of pronotum smooth and shiny; long, erect setae on scapes, head, mesosoma, and legs; head as broad as long and subtriangular in shape with indistinct posterolateral corners; three small ocelli present; eyes moderately large and convex, but do not surpass the lateral margins of the head in full-face view; torulae do not touch the posterior border of the clypeus; clypeus without prominent anterolateral lobes ( Fig 40 ); mandibles with 5–6 teeth on the masticatory margin; ectal surface of mandibles with light longitudinal striations; in profile view, propodeum is domed with a rounded dorsal face ( Fig 17 ); petiole is elongate with a rounded dorsal apex of the scale.

Notes. We were unable to obtain type specimens of this species. The provided measurements and images are cited from Bharti & Wachkoo (2012), and indirect examination of the holotype was done using the images provided on www.AntWeb.org (ANTWEB1008045). This species is most similar to P. darlena and P. fustinoda but is much darker in color. The petiole appears to be taller in profile than those of both P. darlena and P. fustinoda , and does not have the club-like shape that is seen in P. fustinoda . The overall shape of the petiole appears to be most similar to that of P. jerdoni ( Fig 55 ).

Other material examined. No other material was examined.

Figures

FIGURES 66 – 68. Prenolepis fisheri holotype worker ANTWEB 1008045. Lateral, full-face, and dorsal view of the body. Images were downloaded from www. AntWeb. org and were taken by Bharti & Wachkoo (2012).

FIGURES 38 – 50. Illustrations of clypeus shapes (full-face view) observed in all Prenolepis species. Apparent differences in width of torulae are artifacts of specimen orientation. In some species the torulae are oriented more laterally. 38, P. angularis; 39, P. darlena; 40, P. fisheri; 41, P. fustinoda; 42, P. imparis; 43, P. jacobsoni; 44, P. jerdoni; 45, P. mediops; 46, P. melanogaster; 47, P. naoroji; 48, P. nitens; 49, P. shanialena; 50, P. subopaca.

FIGURES 15 – 27. Illustrations of mesosoma shapes (profile view) observed in all Prenolepis species. 15, P. angularis; 16, P. darlena; 17, P. fisheri; 18, P. fustinoda; 19, P. imparis; 20, P. jacobsoni; 21, P. jerdoni; 22, P. mediops; 23, P. melanogaster; 24, P. naoroji; 25, P. nitens; 26, P. shanialena; 27, P. subopaca.

FIGURES 51 – 56. Illustrations of petiole shapes (profile view) observed in Prenolepis species. 51, P. darlena; 52, P. fustinoda; 53, P. imparis (typical shape seen in most Prenolepis species); 54, P. jacobsoni; 55, P. jerdoni; 56, P. subopaca.