Malagidris galokoa Bolton & Fisher

Bolton, Barry & Fisher, Brian, 2014, The Madagascan endemic myrmicine ants related to Eutetramorium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): taxonomy of the genera Eutetramorium Emery, Malagidris nom. n., Myrmisaraka gen. n., Royidris gen. n., and Vitsika gen. n .., Zootaxa 3791 (1), pp. 1-99 : 26-27

Malagidris galokoa Bolton & Fisher sp. n.

(Figs 19-21, Map 129)

WORKER (holotype in parentheses). TL 4.8-5.3 (5.3), HL 1.05-1.15 (1.12), HW 0.72-0.78 (0.76), CI 67-70 (68), SL 1.20-1.30 (1.26), SI 163-170 (166), PW 0.58-0.64 (0.62), WL 1.40-1.62 (1.58) (10 measured).

Mandible with 10-12 teeth and denticles in total, finely longitudinally costulate. Scapes relatively long (SI 163-170), with minute pubescence but lacking standing setae. Club segments of funiculus long and slender, distinctly longer than broad. EL 0.20-0.22 (EL/HW 0.26-0.28). With head in profile the dorsal outline above and behind the eye is shallowly concave. With head in full-face view sides behind the eyes elongate, shallowly convex and distinctly convergent posteriorly; posterior margin very shallowly concave, with a sharp occipital carina that is not raised into a translucent cuticular flange. Dorsum of head predominantly longitudinally rugulose, anastomoses absent or very sparse; posteriorly the rugulae decrease in strength. Spaces between the rugae finely reticulate-punctulate everywhere. Ventral surface of head with very weak, oblique transverse sculpture. Dorsum of pronotum shallowly reticulate-rugose; spaces between the rugae with punctulate ground-sculpture. Propodeal dorsum predominantly reticulate-punctulate and with weak rugulae also present. Propodeal spines broad basally, strongly elevated and very conspicuously recurved, so strongly recurved that in profile their apices are directed anterodorsally. Propodeal declivity unsculptured. Side of mesosoma rugulose to reticulate-rugulose. Metafemur relatively short, MfL 1.42-1.54 (MfL/HW 1.95-1.99), moderately deep in posterior view, MfL/MfH 5.77-6.45. Peduncle of petiole slender, slightly downcurved in profile and with a small, dentiform anteroventral process. Subpetiolar process not followed by a cuticular crest along the mid-ventral surface of the peduncle. Petiole node in profile broad, bluntly rounded dorsally, not acute apically. Petiole node with very weak superficial punctulate to shagreenate sculpture, almost effaced in places. Postpetiole in profile shallowly convex dorsally, about 1.25-1.39 times longer than high; in dorsal view distinctly longer than broad; maximum dorsal width of postpetiole ca 0.34-0.36, about equal to its height. Dorsum of postpetiole node finely reticulate-punctulate. First gastral tergite unsculptured. Full adult colour yellow to yellow-brown.

Pilosity: with head in full-face view the side in front of the eye with 0-1 projecting setae, the side behind the eye with 0-1 projecting setae, never with setae that project outward from below the eye itself; with head in profile the dorsum behind the highest point with 3-5 pairs of setae that are inclined anteriorly, followed by a transverse row of 4 setae, or a widely separated pair, closest to the posterior margin; pronotal dorsum with 1-2 pairs of setae, when present the posterior pair close to the mesonotal margin; mesonotum with 1-2 pairs; without setae at the metanotal groove; propodeal dorsum without setae; ventral surface of metafemur with 1-2 setae, in the basal half; petiole node with a pair of setae on its posterior face; postpetiole with 1 pair of setae dorsally and with a row of 4 posteriorly; gaster with numerous simple setae.

QUEEN (gyne) and MALE: unknown.

Holotype worker, Madagascar: Galoko chain, Mont Galoko, 980 m., -13.5888, 48.72864 +/- 200 m., 18.ii.2013, montane forest, BLF 30793, CASENT0344994 (B.L Fisher et al.) (CASC).

Paratypes. 11 workers with same data as holotype, but CASENT0301097, CASENT0344985-CASENT0344993 inclusive, CASENT0344995 (CASC, BMNH).

Workers of galokoa are immediately recognisable by their incredibly recurved propodeal spines, which are so recurved that their apices point anterodorsally and are reminiscent of the condition seen in the Oriental and Malesian genus Recurvidris (Bolton, 1992). The only other species of Malagidris which may exhibit upcurved propodeal spines is dulcis , but here, even at its most pronounced, the curvature is slight, and the apices of the spines never point anterodorsally. Confusion of the two is unlikely, but for confirmation of identity dulcis is an obviously more densely setose species, with 1-2 setae projecting out from below the eye, 4-5 setae projecting from the side of the head behind the eye, a pair of setae present at the metanotal groove and a pair present on the propodeal dorsum.

Non-paratypic material examined. Madagascar: Galoko chain, Mont Galoko (B.L. Fisher et al.).