Pachycondyla wasmannii

Rakotonirina, Jean Claude & Fisher, Brian L., 2013, Revision of the Pachycondyla wasmannii - group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Malagasy region, Zootaxa 3609 (2), pp. 101-141 : 105-108

Key to species of the Malagasy P. wasmannii -group worker:

The following key also identifies ergatoid and winged queens to species as long as the form of the mesosoma and the presence of the mesopleural sulcus are not applied.

1. Larger species (HW: 2.49–3.13 mm); with head in full-face view, antennal scape surpassing the posterior margin of the head (SI: 94–104) ( Figs 1 , 3 ); dorsum of head and mesosoma finely striate and interspersed with scattered punctures; dorsum of the body covered with erect stout hairs ( Figs 30, 38 )............................................................. 2

- Smaller species (HW: 1.19–2.58 mm); with head in full-face view, antennal scape not surpassing the posterior margin of the head (SI: 70–87) ( Fig. 2 ); dorsum of head and mesosoma variably sculptured but not finely striate, dorsum of the body with erect slender hairs and pubescence (e.g., Figs 35 , 43, 45 )...................................................... 3

2. With head in full-face view, anterior margin of clypeus broadly rounded or medially triangular; eye breaking the outline of the side of the head ( Fig. 3 ); hairs on the dorsum of the mesosoma and petiole node distinctly erect relative to the body surface ( Fig. 47 )....................................................................................... tavaratra

- With head in full-face view, anterior margin of clypeus truncate; eye not breaking the outline of the side of the head ( Fig. 4 ); hairs on the dorsum of the body decumbent and much more inclined to the body surface ( Fig. 39 ).............. comorensis

3. Basal half of the antennal scape dorsoventrally flattened, the leading edge very thin ( Fig. 5 ); basitarsus of the hind leg laterally compressed, basal half of its inner surface concave................................................... planicornis

- Basal half of the antennal scape subcylindrical, not dorsoventrally flattened; the leading edge rounded ( Fig. 6 ); basitarsus of the hind leg generally rounded, without concavity............................................................ 4

4. With petiole in dorsal view, the node flattened, about twice as broad as long ( Fig.7 ); higher than long in profile; erect hairs on dorsum of propodeum most frequently absent ( Fig. 41 ), if present then reduced in number...................... masoala

- With petiole in dorsal view, the node thick, approximately as long as broad ( Fig. 8 ), about as high as long in profile; erect hairs on dorsum of propodeum numerous (e.g., Figs 18 , 43 , 51 ) or rarely absent ( Fig. 31 )................................. 5

5. Anterior half of the fourth abdominal tergite (gastral tergite 2) covered with numerous and very dense small punctures between larger ones ( Fig. 9 ) which become moderate on mesosoma and petiole node; integument usually matte; mostly found in dry forest habitats........................................................................................ 6

- Anterior half of the fourth abdominal tergite (gastral tergite 2) mostly smooth and shiny between large punctures, sometimes with randomly scattered small punctures ( Fig. 10 ); mesosoma and petiole node sparsely punctulate between coarse punctae; integument mostly shiny; humid forest species.............................................................. 7

6. Larger species (HW: 1.72–2.21 mm); mesopleural sulcus usually distinct and complete ( Fig. 11 ); dorsum of mesosoma and petiole node covered with more robust and longer standing hairs ( Fig. 51 ); antennal segments 6, 7, and 8 nearly as wide as long; with petiole in dorsal view, the posterior margin straight or with weak median notch; outer surface of the hind tibia with erect hairs................................................................................... wasmannii

- Smaller species (HW: 1.38–1.5 mm); mesopleural sulcus indistinct or incomplete ( Fig. 12 ); dorsum of mesosoma and petiole node with short and thin erect hairs ( Fig. 49 ); antennal segments 6, 7, and 8 nearly twice as wide as long ( Fig. 48 ); with petiole in dorsal view, the posterior margin broadly concave; outer surface of the hind tibia usually without erect hairs..... vazimba

7. With mesosoma in profile, the dorsal outline forming a continuous convexity with a nearly rounded junction between the propodeal dorsum and the declivitous margin ( Fig. 13 ), which is short and strongly inclined posteriorly; in full-face view, head heart-shaped, with the posterior margin strongly concave, and anterior clypeal margin strongly excised medially ( Fig. 42 ); larger species (HW: 2.34–2.58 mm).................................................................. perroti

- With mesosoma in profile, the dorsal outline not forming a continuous convexity, propodeal dorsum meeting the declivity at a distinct angle ( Fig. 14 ); propodeal declivity nearly vertical, but not distinctly inclined posteriorly; in full-face view head not heart-shaped, the posterior margin usually straight ( Figs 30, 34, 36 ) or slightly concave ( Figs 26, 28 , 32 ); smaller species (HW<2.3 mm)................................................................................. cambouei

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Full-face view of the head showing the length of the antennal scape; Fig. 1: scape surpassing the posterior cephalic margin; Fig. 2: scape not surpassing the posterior cephalic margin.

FIGURES 3 – 4. Shape of the clypeus and location of the eyes when head in full-face view; Fig. 3: P. t a v a r a t r a, anterior clypeal margin broadly triangular; eyes breaking the lateral margin of head; Fig. 4: P. c o m ore n s i s, anterior clypeal margin truncate; eyes not breaking the lateral margin of head.

FIGURES 30 – 39. Full-face view of the head and lateral view of the body of the worker caste of Pachycondyla cambouei and its various forms; Figs 30 – 31: Form 4, CASENT 0034474; Figs 32 – 33: Form 5, BLF 0976 (40) - 2; Figs 34 – 35: Form 6, CASENT 0027983.

FIGURES 42 – 47. Full-face view of the head and lateral view of the body of the worker caste. Figs 42 – 43: Pachycondyla perroti, CASENT 0048930; Figs 44 – 45: Pachycondyla planicornis, CASENT 0096369; Figs 46 – 47: Pachycondyla tavaratra, CASENT 0410152.

FIGURES 5 – 6. Antennal scape and leading edge viewed from the back; Fig. 5: basally dorsoventrally flattened and thin in P. planicornis; Fig. 6: subcylindrical and rounded (e. g., P. cambouei).

FIGURES 7 – 8. Petiole in dorsal view; Fig. 7: petiole node anteroposteriorly flattened in P. m a s o a l a, about twice as broad as long; Fig. 8: petiole nodiform, about as long as broad (e. g., P. cambouei).

FIGURES 36 – 41. Full-face view of the head and lateral view of the body of the worker caste. Figs 36 – 37: Form 7 of Pachycondyla cambouei, AntWeb CASENT 0034493; Figs 38 – 39: Pachycondyla comorensis, CASENT 0410164; FigsFigs 40 – 41: Pachycondyla masoala, CASENT 0317384.

FIGURES 15 – 23. Morphological character variation within P. c a m b o u e i. Figs 15 – 17: Head in profile showing the shape of the occipital corner. Fig. 15: Normally rounded in form 1; Fig. 16: Protruding as a lobe in form 2; Fig. 17: Hornlike extension in form 3. Figs 18 – 19: Mesosoma in lateral view showing hairs on propodeal dorsum. Fig. 18: Hairs present in form 1; Fig. 19: Hairs absent in form 4. Figs 20 – 21: Anterodorsal angles of pronotum. Fig. 20: Bidentate in form 5; Fig. 21: Smoothly rounded in form 6. Figs 22 – 23: Sculpture and pubescence on fourth abdominal tergite. Fig. 22: Smooth and shiny between large punctures and pubescence absent (form 1); Fig. 23: With closely-spaced small punctures between large punctures and abundant pubescence (form 6).

FIGURES 48 – 52. Full-face view of the head and lateral view of the body of the worker caste, and form of the femora of the Malagasy Pachycondyla in dorsal view. Figs 48 – 51: Full-face and lateral views of worker: Figs 48 – 49: Pachycondyla vazimba, CASENT 0034562; Figs 50 – 51: Pachycondyla wasmannii, CASENT 0031384; Fig. 52: Dorsal view of P. m a s o a l a showing the flattened basal portion of the femora.

FIGURES 9 – 10. Fourth abdominal tergite in dorsal view; Fig. 9: Anterior half of the fourth abdominal tergite with dense small punctures between larger ones; Fig. 10: Anterior half of the fourth abdominal tergite smooth and shining.

FIGURES 11 – 12. Mesosoma in lateral view; Fig. 11: mesopleural sulcus of P. wasmannii complete; Fig. 12: mesopleural sulcus of P. v a zi m ba indistinct.

FIGURES 13 – 14. Mesosoma in profile; Fig. 13: the dorsal outline of mesosoma forming a continuous convexity in P. perroti; Fig. 14: the dorsal outline of mesosoma showing a distinct blunt angle between the propodeal dorsum and the declivity in P. c a m b o u e i.

FIGURES 24 – 29. Full-face view of the head and lateral view of the body of the worker caste of Pachycondyla cambouei and its various forms; Figs 24 – 25: Form 1, CASENT 0101404; Figs 26 – 27: Form 2, CASENT 0029098; Figs 28 – 29: Form 3, CASENT 0034270.