Vollenhovia gastropunctata Bharti & Kumar, 2013

Akbar, Shahid Ali, Bharti, Himender, Schifani, Enrico & Wachkoo, Aijaz Ahmad, 2023, Overview of the ant genus Vollenhovia (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in India and Sri Lanka, with an illustrated key and the description of a new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 908, pp. 77-107 : 81

Vollenhovia gastropunctata Bharti & Kumar, 2013

Fig. 3

Vollenhovia gastropunctata Bharti & Kumar, 2013: 180 .

Type locality: India, Himachal Pradesh, Andretta [Holotype PUAC; type series examined].

Worker measurements & indices (2 specimens: holotype & paratype, 1 colony, 1 locality)

CL 0.56–0.56, CW 0.49–0.49, CS 0.52–0.52, EL 0.12–0.12, ML 0.73–0.75, PEH 0.23–0.23, PEL 0.23– 0.24, PEW 0.18–0.18, PPH 0.19–0.19, PPL 0.24–0.24, PPW 0.20–0.20, PW 0.36–0.36, SL 0.33–0.33. Indices: CL/CW 1.14–1.14, EL/CS 0.23–0.23, ML/CS 1.39–1.43, PEH/CS 0.44–0.44, PEL/CS 0.44– 0.46, PEW/CS 0.34–0.34, PPH/CS 0.36–0.36, PPL/CS 0.46–0.46, PPW/CS 0.38–0.38, PW/CS 0.69– 0.69, SL/CS 0.63–063.

Remarks

Vollenhovia gastropunctata is the only species of the genus known from the northwest Shivalik region of India ( Bharti & Kumar 2013; Bharti et al. 2017). It is perhaps entirely arboreal, having been collected near a mango tree in a semi-arid type of environment ( Fig. 3D ). It can be distinguished by the punctured mandibles with seven teeth, sculptured promesonotum, larger subpetiolar process, indistinct metanotal groove, anteriorly divergent longitudinal carinae on clypeus, concave anterior clypeal margin, and unarmed propodeum ( Bharti & Kumar 2013). On the other hand, the punctate sculpture on the gaster its name refers to is a feature shared by many other species in the region.

Distribution

India (Himachal Pradesh) ( Bharti & Kumar 2013).

Figures

Fig. 3. Vollenhovia gastropunctata Bharti & Kumar, 2013, holotype worker from India (PUAC0045, photographer: Rakesh Kumar). A. Head, full face view. B. Habitus, lateral view. C. Habitus, dorsal view. D. Type locality of the species.