Aretidris buenaventei, David Emmanuel M. GENERAL, 2015

David Emmanuel M. GENERAL, 2015, Aretidris, a new genus of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) from the mountains of Luzon Island, Philippines, Myrmecological News 21, pp. 131-136 : 134

Aretidris buenaventei sp.n. ( Figs. 1 ­ 6)

Type material: Holotype worker, Philippines: Luzon Island, Nueva Vizcaya Province, Municipality of Quezon, Mt. Palali, Maddianggat Village , 1436 m a.s.l., 16 ° 27 ' 24.1 " N, 121 ° 13 ' 17 " E, 5.I. 2010, primary upper montane forest, ex log nest, leg. P.A.C. Buenavente ( PNM 8980 ) (deposited in PNM). Paratypes: 22 workers with same data as holotype ( PNM 8981 ­ 9002 ) (one pin each to: ANIC, BMNH, CASC, DMGC, NHMW, PACB, UPLB; two pins to MCZC; the rest to PNM) .

Description of holotype worker: CI 88, EI 18, EL 0.16, HFL 1.3, HL 1.03, HW 0.90, ML 1.40, MtL 1.85, PW 0.73, SI 108, SL 0.98, TL 5.43. With all the character states of the genus. Body, except gaster and appendages, heavily sculptured. Head alveolate, each cavity bearing an erect or suberect hair. Mesosoma, petiole, and postpetiole alveolate with superimposed rugae. Mandible, median clypeus, and gaster smooth. First gastral tergite slightly less than half the length of gaster.

Description of paratype workers: CI 84 ­ 95, EI 16 ­ 19, EL 0.15 ­ 0.18, HFL 1.15 ­ 1.35, HL 0.98 ­ 1.08, HW 0.88 ­ 0.95, ML 1.38 ­ 1.50, MtL 1.75 ­ 1.93, PW 0.73 ­ 0.78, SL 0.88 ­ 1.03, TL 5.28 ­ 5.74 (17 measured).

Bionomics: This species was found when a rotten log on the forest floor containing its nest was disturbed in the dying light of late afternoon. Some foragers were collected by hand from nearby after the nest series of workers and brood were collected.

Etymology: This species is dedicated to my friend and colleague, Perry Archival C. Buenavente, researcher of the National Museum of the Philippines, who tirelessly surveys ant diversity in the Philippines and collected the type nest series.