Myrmoteras brachygnathum Moffett, 1985

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 : 73-74

Myrmoteras brachygnathum Moffett, 1985 ( Figs. 4-12 )

Diagnosis. M. brachygnathum belongs to subgenus Myrmoteras s.str. The subgenus is characterized by the labrum having pointed anterior margin with long trigger hairs, relatively shorter mandibles and weakly developed frontal sulcus. M. brachygnathum is easily separated from closely related M. ceylonicum Gregg, 1957 and M. scabrum Moffett, 1985 by the lack of sculpture on the head and pronotum. Male of M. brachygnathum is here described for the first time. For description and comparative account see ( Moffett, 1985; Pages. 26-27, Figs. 19 , 22 , Map 1).

Male description: Measurements. TL 3.45-3.53, HW 0.66-0.69, HL 0.71-0.73, CI 92-94, SL 1.04-1.05, ML 0.28-0.29, MI 39-40, SI 152-157, PTL 0.33-0.35, EL 0.33-0.34, HFL 0.99-0.10, TWI 11-12, WL 1.05-1.07, EI 49-50, GL 1.08-1.09, PW 0.60-0.63 (n=2).

Material examined: 2 ♂♂: INDIA: KERALA: Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, 10 o 45`N, 76 o 44`E, 118m a.m.s.l.,

10.x.2011, Winkler method, Coll. Shahid A. Akbar. Deposited in PUAC.

Description. Head 0.04 × as long as broad, excluding the large convex compound eyes. The mandible reduced to a triangular peg like structure with apex simple and acute. Frontal sulcus feebly impressed at medial line. Palpi segmentation 3, 2. Antennae slender, 13-segmented; antennal scrobes absent. Mesonotum with reduced notauli; scutellum disc shaped and raised. Legs with claws simple. Gaster elongated; terminalia retracted; pygidium broadly rounded. Petiole node more slender than that of worker. Genitalia with parameres exerted out and prominent.

Sculpture. Head smooth and shiny with reduced frontal sulcus. Pronotum dorsum smooth but, lateral side’s rugulose; mesonotum and metanotum with similar sculpture. Metasoma smooth and shiny.

Vestiture. Head mostly devoid of any erect pilosity, some erect hairs ca 0.14mm along posterior margins of head; hairs on mesosoma similar to that of head; gaster with number of erect hairs.

Colour. Body uniformly dark brown with appendages brown.

Figures

Figs. 4-5. M. brachygnathum worker. 4. body in profile. 5. body in dorsal view.

Figs. 7-8. M. brachygnathum gyne. 7. body in profile. 8. body in dorsal view.

Figs. 10-11. M. brachygnathum male. 10. body in profile. 11. body in dorsal view.

Figs. 9, 18. Heads in frontal view, gyne; 9. M. brachygnathum; 18. M. indicum gyne.

Figs. 12, 21. Heads in frontal view, male; 12. M. brachygnathum; 21. M. indicum.

Figs. 19-20. M. indicum male. 19. body in profile. 20. body in dorsal view.

Figs. 22-23. M. moffetti sp.n., holotype. 22. body in profile. 23. body in dorsal view.