Lordomyrma lakshmi, Taylor, Robert W., 2012

Taylor, Robert W., 2012, six new species from India, Viet Nam and the Philippines (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae), Zootaxa 3282, pp. 45-60 : 51-52

Lordomyrma lakshmi sp. n.

( Figs 9–12 )

Type locality: INDIA: KERALA: Silent Valley Reserve, 16km W of Mukkali (Coordinates for Mukkali: 11°26ʹN, 77°41ʹE.).

Type deposition: Holotype: MCZC. 2 Paratypes (Palghat Hills): ANIC. Remaining paratypes MCZC.

Material examined: INDIA: KERALA: Cardamon H(ills). Valara Falls, 46km SW Munnar (Besuchet, Löbl, Mussard #49, 450+m, 20 xi 1972) 4 paratype workers. Palghat (= Palakkad) Hills, 10km N Malampuzha Dam (Besuchet, Löbl, Mussard # 54, 150m, 20 xi 1972) 3 paratype workers. Silent Valley Reserve, 16km W of Mukkali (A.B. Soans & W.L. Brown, 9 April 1969) Holotype worker. Coordinates for Malampuzha Dam: 10°50'N, 76°41'E. Silent Valley Reserve is now designated “The Indira Ghandi National Park”. It may be reasonably assumed that these specimens were collected in rain forest.

Worker: General features and color as illustrated. Conformation of head, petiole, postpetiole and gaster as in L. azumai , the petiole a little more bulky. Mesosomal profile lacking a metanotal indentation; the promesonotal section more-or-less evenly arched, with a slight, very obtuse angle at the junction with the essentially straight posterodorsal propodeal profile—that angle marks a very faintly raised transverse posterior border to the promesonotum, which is barely more pronounced than the adjacent sculptural elements and lacks an accompanying incised suture. Pronotal humeri broadly rounded in dorsal view, lacking nodules equivalent to those of L. azumai . Propodeal spines longer than in L. azumai , slightly curved posteriad in lateral view and very acute; straight in dorsal view and divergent - the degree of divergence variable, from almost parallel to enclosing an angle of ca. 80 degrees. Antennal club of 3 segments very weekly differentiated. Scapes moderately shining, somewhat roughly micropunctate. Mandibles smooth, shining, with a few scattered small punctures and faint vestiges of longitudinal striation. Clypeus moderately shining, generally smooth. Frons moderately coarsely longitudinally striate- rugose, the striae diverging from the midline laterally to parallel the antennal scrobes. Sides of head sculptured like frons. Head ventrally smooth and shining. Antennal foveae densely, finely shagreened, with no trace of longitudinal elements. Occipital collar shining medially with a very finely shagreened margin. Mesosomal dorsum with rugosity like frons, but lacking longitudinal elements. Sides of mesosoma similar to promesonotal dorsum, the rugosity slightly stronger and more shining. Sculpture of propodeal dorsum like promesonotum. Declivity generally smooth, shining, dorsal section shagreened like anterior coxae. Petiole and postpetiole sculptured similarly to propodeal dorsum. Gaster somewhat irregularly punctate rugose; the punctural elements extended longitudinally, the narrow ridges separating them forming an obscure reticulum, posterior section of first tergite and exposed sections of those behind with dense, minute point-puncturation. First gastral sternite sculptured similarly to its tergite but less-strongly so. Anterior coxae subopaque, more finely shagreened than antennal foveae. Second and third coxae moderately shining, with traces of effaced shagreening. Legs otherwise very finely, irregularly shagreened. Pilosity as described for L. azumai . Color overall dull medium-dark reddish-brown; antennae and legs lighter orange-brown. Dimensions (Holotype, smallest paratype, largest paratype): TL 3.6, 3.5, 3.9; HW 0.82, 0.83, 0.92; HL 0.83, 0.84, 0.95; CI 99, 99, 97; EL 0.15, 0.15, 0.16; OI 18, 18, 17; SL 0.57, 0.59, 0.62; SI 69, 71, 67; PW 0.62, 0.61, 0.70; WL 1.06, 1.04, 1.13; DPW 0.25, 0.24, 0.30; DPpW 0.32, 0.30, 0.38; GW 1.00, 0.90, 1.04.

Etymology: Named for the Hindu goddess Lakshmi , the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm.

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 12. Lordomyrma lakshmi, holotype worker, HW 0.82 mm, PW 0.62 mm, WL 1.06 mm, GW 1.00 mm.