Myrmoteras agostii, Bharti & Akbar, 2014

Bharti, Himender & Akbar, Shahid Ali, 2014, Taxonomic Studies on the Genus Myrmoteras Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with Description of Two New Species from India, J. Entomol. Res. Soc. 16 (2), pp. 71-80 : 72-73

Myrmoteras agostii sp.n. ( Figs. 1 - 3 )

Type material. Holotype and paratype (worker). INDIA: KERALA: Periyar tiger reserve, Manalar , 9 o 35`N, 77 o 18`E, 1630m a.m.s.l., 24.x.2011, hand picking, Coll. Shahid A. Akbar. Holotype and paratype deposited in PUAC .

Measurements (holotype in brackets): TL 4.52-4.62(4.62), HW 1.03-1.05(1.05), HL 0.88-0.90(0.90), CI 116-117(116), ML 1.19-1.20(1.20), MI 133-135(133), SL 1.09-1.12(1.12), SI 105-106(106), EL 0.24-0.27(0.27), HFL 1.25-1.27(1.27), PTL 0.21-0.22(0.22), TWI 14-15(15), WL 1.24-1.27(1.27), EI 23-25(25), GL 1.00-1.01(1.01), PW 0.58-0.60 (0.60) (n=2).

Description. Head 0.15 × as broad as long; blunt ridge on temple separates flat anterior from slightly convex posterior face; medial frontal sulcus deeply impressed posteriorly reaching anterior ocellus and anteriorly up to margin of frons; clypeus with anterior margin concave and posteriomedially prominently elevated; mandibles long with 14 teeth consisting of 4 large and 10 small teeth (mandibular teeth count include the preapical and apical denticles); maxillary palp 5- and labial with 3-segmented. Antennal scrobes indistinct; antennae with slender funiculus, each segment about 2x as long as broad.

Mesosoma. Pronotum with high convex summit, higher than mesonotum; metanotum groove conspicuously impressed; propodeum highly convex. Legs with middle and hind tibiae slender.

Metasoma. Petiole node moderately thick with steep anterior and posterior faces; ventral outline of petiole beneath the node convex. Gaster small and rounded.

Sculpture. Head and occiput mostly smooth and shiny; three to four rugae originating posterio-medially of torulus; frons, temples and vertex smooth and shiny; mandibles smooth. Mesonotum dorsally with longitudinal rugae; propodeum with transverse striations. Gaster smooth and shiny.

Vestiture. Body pilosity prominent, erect hairs (ca. 0.15mm) distributed evenly throughout its surface; body surface also with short suberect hairs. Apical funicular segments, mandibles and legs with small standing hairs.

Colour. Body largely light brown. Legs, antennae, palpi and mandibles yellow; gaster pale yellow.

Etymology. The species is named in honor of Donat Agosti for his contributions to the genus Myrmoteras Forel.

Differential diagnosis. The new species shares most affinities with M. tonboli Agosti, 1992 . The two species can be easily separated from each other by combination of following characters: In M. agostii sp.n., body is light brown coloured, mesonotum without any transverse rugae; propodeum and metanotum dorsally with transverse striations; pilosity prominent throughout the body, and mandibles relatively shorter (ML 1.20, MI 135) whilst M. tonboli , the body dark brown coloured; mesonotum dorsally with transverse rugae; propodeum dorsally smooth and shiny; pilosity reduced, and mandibles relatively longer (ML 1.64, MI 164). The new species is also somewhat close to M. cuneonodum Xu, 1998. The two species can be easily separated from each other by combination of following characters. In M. cuneonodum, head dorsum medially finely rugose, gena with short oblique rugae and petiolar node in lateral view with vertical anterior face and steep posterior slope; ventral outline of petiole beneath the node concave whilst M. agostii sp.n., head dorsum medially smooth, gena smooth and petiole node thick with steep anterior and posterior faces; ventral outline of petiole beneath the node convex.

Figures

Figs. 1-2. M. agostii sp.n., holotype. 1. body in profile. 2. body in dorsal view.

Figs. 3, 6, 15, 24, 27. Heads in frontal view, workers; 3. M. agostii sp.n., holotype; 6. M. brachygnathum; 15. M. indicum; 24. M. moffetti sp.n., holotype; 27. M. scabrum.