Paraparatrechina, LaPolla, J. S., Brady, S. G. & Shattuck, S. O., 2010

LaPolla, J. S., Brady, S. G. & Shattuck, S. O., 2010, Phylogeny and taxonomy of the Prenolepis genus-group of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., Systematic Entomology 35, pp. 118-131 : 128

Paraparatrechina , gen. rev. & stat. nov.

Figures of worker. Head: Fig. 5E; mesosoma: Fig. 6E; mandible: Fig. 7D.

Synopsis of taxonomic history (for full description see Bolton et al., 2006): Paraparatrechina Donisthorpe, 1947: 192 . Described as a subgenus of Paratrechina . As provisional junior synonym of Paratrechina, Brown, 1973: 183 ; as junior synonym of Paratrechina, Trager, 1984 . Type species: Paratrechina(Paraparatrechina) pallida , by monotypy.

Diagnosis. Mandible with 5 teeth; maxillary palps 6- segmented; labial palps 4-segmented; erect setae on dorsum of head distinctly paired; erect setae on head form a pattern of four setae along posterior margin and six to seven rows of paired setae from posterior margin to clypeal margin; scapes and legs lack erect setae; head (excluding clypeal surface) and mesonotal dorsum covered in dense pubesence. Eyes typically well developed and placed midlength towards midline and laterally on head. Erect mesosomal setae distinctly paired, with two pairs on pronotum, one pair on mesonotum and one pair on propodeum; propodeum typically with short dorsal face compared to longer posterior face; generally overall mesosoma shape compact, although in a few species the mesosoma is elongated.

Distribution. (Fig. 8C). This genus appears to be restricted to the Paleotropics of Africa, Asia and Australia.

Notes. The mesosomal setal pattern of these ants (two pairs of pronotal erect setae; one pair of mesonotal erect setae and one pair of propodeal erect setae) is remarkably uniform across the genus. These are generally small ants (the majority of species are just over 1 mm to just under 2 mm in total length) that, except for a few known species, have a compact mesosoma. In at least three species a more elongated, slender mesosoma is noted: P. pallida and two undescribed Afrotropical species (LaPolla et al., in preparation). In these species the general form of the mesosoma roughly resembles that of Pa. longicornis : elongate and slender with a propodeum not angular with a short dorsal face, but instead with a dorsal face that is rounded and broad. In every other diagnostic morphological character, however, the species conform to the morphology listed above for Paraparatrechina .

Two polymorphic species from the Afrotropics, weissi and bufonus , superficially resemble Pseudolasius (until this study they were in that genus). A major worker caste is clearly expressed in these species and they possess many morphological features that suggest a hypogaeic lifestyle. Presently, they represent the only known cases of worker polymorphism within Paraparatrechina .

New combinations in Paraparatrechina . The following names are all comb. nov. in Paraparatrechina . They are listed under their previous combinations as catalogued in Bolton et al. (2006). From Paratrechina : albipes , butteli , butteli bryanti , butteli malaccana , caledonica , dichroa , emarginata , foreli , foreli nigriventris , glabra , iridescens , koningsbergeri , lecamopteridis , minutula , minutula buxtoni , nana , nettae , oceanica , opaca , opaca metallescens , pallida , pusillima , sauteri , subtilis , subtilis termitophila , tapinomoides . From Pseudolasius : bufonus , weissi .