Prenolepis fustinoda, Williams, Jason L., 2016

Williams, Jason L., 2016, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the ant genus Prenolepis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 4200 (2), pp. 201-258 : 222

Prenolepis fustinoda , sp. nov.

( Figs 69–71 )

Holotype worker. THAILAND: Chang Mai , Doi Inthanon N.P., 1200m, 18°32.657’N 98°31.482’E, 06–13.ix.2006, malaise trap (Y. Areeluck) ( USNM: CASENT0129291).

Worker diagnosis. Three small ocelli present; head subtriangular in shape; light brown head and mesosoma with a dark brown to black gaster; erect setae on scapes; petiole low in profile and very narrow and elongate (PetWI <55) with a rounded dorsal apex of the scale ( Fig 52 ); overall shape of petiole club-like.

Most similar species. P. darlena , P. fisheri

Morphology. Worker. Measurements (n=4): CMC: 30–34; EL: 0.24–0.27; EW: 0.19–0.22; HL: 0.72–0.88; HLA: 0.39–0.48; HLP: 0.12–0.24; HW: 0.72–0.86; IOD: 0.47–0.53; LF1: 0.17–0.19; LF2: 0.07–0.09; LHT: 0.78– 1.05; MMC: 2–5; MTW: 0.40–0.46; MW: 0.28–0.34; PDH: 0.32–0.38; PMC: 6–9; PrCL: 0.41–0.50; PrCW: 0.26– 0.32; PrFL: 0.66–0.85; PrFW: 0.21–0.24; PTH: 0.21–0.25; PTL: 0.34–0.45; PTW: 0.18–0.22; PW: 0.48–0.57; SL: 0.78–1.01; TL: 2.65–3.25; WF1: 0.06–0.07; WF2: 0.05–0.07; WL: 0.89–1.27; BLI: 124–153; CI: 98–100; EPI: 202–233; FLI: 200–232; HTI: 109–122; PetHI: 67–68; PetWI: 46–53; PrCI: 62–63; PrFI: 28–32; REL: 30–36; REL2: 30–36; REL3: 49–55; SI: 109–122.

Light brown head and mesosoma with a dark brown to black gaster; cuticle of head finely rugoreticulate; cuticle of pronotum smooth and shiny; cuticle of gaster reticulate; abundant long, erect setae on scapes, head, mesosoma, gaster, and legs; head as broad as long and subtriangular in shape with indistinct posterolateral corners; three small ocelli present; compound eyes moderately large and convex, but do not surpass the lateral margins of the head in full-face view; torulae do not touch the posterior border of the clypeus; clypeus without prominent anterolateral lobes ( Fig 41 ); mandibles with 5 teeth on the masticatory margin; ectal surface of mandibles smooth and shiny; in profile view, propodeum is domed with a rounded dorsal face ( Fig 18 ); petiole low in profile and very narrow and elongate (PetWI <55) with a rounded dorsal apex of the scale ( Fig 52 ); overall shape of petiole clublike.

Etymology. The specific epithet is Latin for “club knot”, which describes the shape of the petiole.

Notes. This species is similar to P. darlena and P. fisheri but can be identified by its distinct coloration, finely rugoreticulate cuticle of the head and unique club-shaped petiole. While P. fisheri is dark brown and uniform in color, P. fustinoda has a light brown head and mesosoma that contrasts with its dark brown to black gaster, similar to the color pattern seen in P. melanogaster .

Other material examined. THAILAND: Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon N.P., 1700m, 18°31.559’N 98°29.941’E, 02–08.vii.2006 (Y. Areeluck). In: USNM.

Figures

FIGURES 69 – 71. Prenolepis fustinoda holotype worker CASENT 0129291. Lateral, full-face, and dorsal view of the body.

FIGURES 51 – 56. Illustrations of petiole shapes (profile view) observed in Prenolepis species. 51, P. darlena; 52, P. fustinoda; 53, P. imparis (typical shape seen in most Prenolepis species); 54, P. jacobsoni; 55, P. jerdoni; 56, P. subopaca.

FIGURES 38 – 50. Illustrations of clypeus shapes (full-face view) observed in all Prenolepis species. Apparent differences in width of torulae are artifacts of specimen orientation. In some species the torulae are oriented more laterally. 38, P. angularis; 39, P. darlena; 40, P. fisheri; 41, P. fustinoda; 42, P. imparis; 43, P. jacobsoni; 44, P. jerdoni; 45, P. mediops; 46, P. melanogaster; 47, P. naoroji; 48, P. nitens; 49, P. shanialena; 50, P. subopaca.

FIGURES 15 – 27. Illustrations of mesosoma shapes (profile view) observed in all Prenolepis species. 15, P. angularis; 16, P. darlena; 17, P. fisheri; 18, P. fustinoda; 19, P. imparis; 20, P. jacobsoni; 21, P. jerdoni; 22, P. mediops; 23, P. melanogaster; 24, P. naoroji; 25, P. nitens; 26, P. shanialena; 27, P. subopaca.