Cerapachys sexspinus ( Xu, 2000 )

Borowiec, Marek L., 2009, New ant species related to Cerapachys sexspinus and discussion of the status of Yunodorylus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 2069, pp. 43-58 : 53-56

Cerapachys sexspinus ( Xu, 2000)

Figs. 9–11

Yunodorylus sexspinus Xu, 2000: 298 –299. Figs 1–6 . Holotype and paratype workers, CHINA: Yunnan province, Mengla county, Bubang village, 730 m, No. A97-2064, 17 VIII 1997, nest in soil, seasonal rainforest (G. Z e n g); further paratype workers, Yunnan province, Mengla county, Longlin village, 1040 m, No. A98-775, 14 III 1998 (G. Zeng) [ISAS, MCZC] (MCZC paratypes examined).

Cerapachys sexspinus : Bolton 2003: 269. First combination in Cerapachys .

Cerapachys sexspenus: Jaitrong & Nabhitabhata 2005: 18 . Incorrect subsequent spelling. Record in Thailand.

Worker measurements: HW 0.53–0.68, HL 0.63–0.74, SL 0.30–0.36, MH 0.38–0.44, ML. 0.75–0.94, PrW 0.36–0.49, PW 0.29–0.36, PL 0.24–0.29, IIIAW 0.40–0.49, IIIAL 0.29–0.33, IVAW 0.53–0.64, IVAL 0.30–0.37, FFeL 0.38–0.46, HFel 0.36–0.45, FTiL 0.31–0.38, HTiL 0.38–0.48, FBaL 0.19–0.23, HBaL 0.28–0.35, CI 109–119, MI 197–214, PI 81–83 [2 measured]

Head slightly longer than wide and widest at about midlength; sides parallel, convex. Vertexal margin concave. Parafrontal ridges completely absent. Mandibles triangular; when closed, basal margin not separated from anterior clypeal region by gap. Basal margin meeting masticatory at right angle; masicatory margin with fine crenulation. Laterolypeal teeth small, blunt, and projecting forwards. Antennae 12-segmented. Palp formula 2,2 (after Xu 2000).

Mesosoma moderately stout, rectangular in dorsal view; dorsal surface flattened, bordered at lateral sides by distinct angle but not marginate. Openings of propodeal spiracles irregularly circular, directed sideways. Declivous face of propodeum immarginate above propodeal lobes. Propodeal lobes well developed, broadly rounded. Front femur moderately short and broad, laterally compressed.

Petiole wider than long, with well developed dorsal and posterior faces. Subpetiolar process relatively narrow and short, simple with ventral margin straight, evenly sloping towards posterior end; semi-translucent narrowing present along posterior two thirds of ventral margin.

Abdominal tergite III wide relative to following segment, in side view the whole segment is smaller than following, but with developed anterior, perpendicular face ( Fig. 10 ).

Pygidial field small, with five to nine modified, peg-like setae on each side, arranged in one or two rows. Number and arrangement of setae varying with worker size.

Hypopygidium unarmed.

Mandibles densely sculptured with large, deep punctures and interspaces smooth and shining. Head with large but shallow, regular punctures, spaced from about half to more than once their diameter. Similar sculpture on dorsal surface of mesosoma, with punctures more shallow. All interspaces smooth and shining. Lateral sides of promesonotum with small punctures in upper part and extremely finely microreticulate, appearing matt; remaining mesosoma and sides of petiole similarly microreticulate.

Body pilosity composed of (1) dense, decumbent or subdecumbent hairs present on head, mesosoma, and abdominal segments and (2) moderately abundant, twice to more than three times longer than preceding, mostly suberect hairs present on head, mesosomal dorsum, petiole and posterior margins of gastral segments. Outer surface of middle tibiae without modified setae.

Color: body unicolored, yellowish.

Gyne and male unknown.

Diagnosis and discussion. This species can be distinguished from C. eguchii by differences in color, sculpture and shape of subpetiolar process. See diagnosis and discussion under eguchii for more details.

Xu (2000) reports that this species constructs nests in soil with colonies ranging from 20 to 385 individuals, foraging probably in soil and under leaf litter. The habitats where this species has been found include seasonal rainforest, mountain rainforest, deciduous monsoon forest, and warm deciduous broad–leaved forest, ranging from 730 to 1280 m in elevation.

In addition to material examined by the author from Mengla county, Xu (2000) reports this species from two other localities in Yunnan: Menghai and Jinghong counties. It is unknown whether specimens mentioned from Thailand ( Jaitrong & Nabhitabhata 2005) represent this species.

Material examined. Paratypes. 2 workers, CHINA: Yunnan province, Mengla county, Bubang village, 730 m, A97-2064, 17 VIII 1997 (G. Z e n g) [ MCZC]

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 10. Cerapachys sexspinus (Xu, 2000), paratype worker; 9: dorsal view; 10: side view.

FIGURES 11 – 14. Heads in frontal view, workers; 11: Cerapachys sexspinus (Xu, 2000), paratype; 12: Cerapachys eguchii n. sp., paratype; 13: Cerapachys doryloides n. sp., holotype; 14: Cerapachys paradoxus n. sp., holotype.

FIGURES 1 – 2. Cerapachys doryloides n. sp., holotype worker; 1: dorsal view; 2: side view.

FIGURES 3 – 4. Cerapachys eguchii n. sp., paratype, large worker; 3: dorsal view; 4: side view.

FIGURE 5. Cerapachys eguchii n. sp., paratype, small worker; side view.

FIGURES 6 – 7. Cerapachys paradoxus n. sp., holotype, large worker; 6: dorsal view; 7: side view.