Prenolepis jerdoni Emery, 1893b

Williams, Jason L., 2016, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the ant genus Prenolepis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 4200 (2), pp. 201-258 : 230-231

Prenolepis jerdoni Emery, 1893b

( Figs 86–94 )

Prenolepis jerdoni Emery, 1893b: 222 (w.). Holotype worker, MALAYSIA: Perak (MSNG: CASENT0905674) [examined]. Imai, Brown, et al. 1984: 68 (karyotype).

Worker diagnosis. Gracile with elongate legs (HTI> 185), antennae (SI> 185), and mesosoma (BLI> 175); in profile view, the mesosoma is especially slender and has a distinct shape, with the propodeum much taller than the pronotum ( Fig 21 ); no erect macrosetae on the propodeum; petiole is narrow and elongate (PetWI <55); scale of petiole is rounded at its apex ( Fig 55 ).

Most similar species. P. jacobsoni , P. naoroji , P. subopaca

Morphology. Worker. Measurements (n=24): CMC: 7–12; EL: 0.21–0.29; EW: 0.19–0.24; HL: 0.59–0.92; HLA: 0.30–0.48; HLP: 0.21–0.31; HW: 0.50–0.78; IOD: 0.38–0.50; LF1: 0.18–0.26; LF2: 0.10–0.20; LHT: 1.15– 1.57; MMC: 0–1; MTW: 0.31–0.51; MW: 0.19–0.35; PDH: 0.23–0.45; PMC: 0–3; PrCL: 0.42–0.62; PrCW: 0.19– 0.31; PrFL: 0.73–1.24; PrFW: 0.14–0.24; PTH: 0.22–0.35; PTL: 0.33–0.53; PTW: 0.15–0.27; PW: 0.39–0.56; SL: 0.98–1.52; TL: 2.44–4.86; WF1: 0.06–0.08; WF2: 0.05–0.07; WL: 0.93–1.52; BLI: 174–199; CI: 82–87; EPI: 142–179; FLI: 125–178; HTI: 186–212; PetHI: 94–98; PetWI: 48–51; PrCI: 44–52; PrFI: 17–21; REL: 30–42; REL2: 35–49; REL3: 52–63; SI: 186–213.

Medium to dark brown; overall cuticle lightly reticulate and shiny; abundant decumbent setae on scapes and legs; very long, erect macrosetae on head, pronotum, and gaster; no erect macrosetae on the propodeum; head slightly longer than broad and oval in shape with indistinct posterolateral corners and a convex posterior margin; compound eyes very large (REL> 30; REL2> 35) and strongly convex, barely surpassing the lateral margins of the head in full-face view; torulae do not touch the posterior border of the clypeus; clypeus strongly medially convex and without prominent anterolateral lobes ( Fig 44 ); mandibles with 5–7 teeth (usually 6) on the masticatory margin; gracile with elongate legs (HTI> 185), antennae (SI> 195), and mesosoma (BLI> 175); ectal surface of mandibles smooth and shiny; metatibia relatively elongate (HTI> 185); in profile view, propodeum is much taller than pronotum and domed with a rounded dorsal face ( Fig 21 ); petiole is narrow and elongate (PetWI <55) with a rounded dorsal apex of the scale ( Fig 55 ).

Male. Measurements (n=3): EL: 0.39–0.41; HL: 0.71–0.73; HW: 0.73–0.74; SL: 0.48; TL: 3.45–3.69; WL: 1.44–1.61; BLI: 195–222; CI: 101–102; REL: 54–57; REL2: 53–56; SI: 64–66.

Dark brown; abundant long, erect macrosetae on head, mesosoma, and gaster; entire cuticle covered in dense pubescence; head broader than long and oval in shape; three large ocelli present; compound eyes very large and convex, surpassing the lateral margins of the head in full-face view; antennae with 13 segments; scapes very short, barely surpassing the posterior margin of the head; mandibles especially narrow and curved with a single apical tooth on the masticatory margin; ectal surface of mandibles smooth and shiny; mesosoma large to accommodate flight muscles and without a constriction; small collar-like pronotum; large and strongly convex shelf-like mesonotum; petiole is triangular and elongate with the dorsal apex of the scale rounded, as seen in worker; genitalia oriented posteriorly; parameres elongate and roughly triangular; ental surface of parameres flattened; digiti are long and slender; cuspi are broad, triangular, and very short relative to the rest of the genitalia; parameres are covered in very long, erect macrosetae; edges of cuspi are covered in short, erect macrosetae; 9th sternite is large, broad and long.

Notes. This species can most easily be distinguished from P. subopaca by its shiny cuticle and lack of pubescence on the dorsal surface of the mesosoma and gaster. By contrast, P. subopaca has thick patches of pubescence on the mesosoma, propodeum, and gaster and a very dull and finely sculpted cuticle. Prenolepis jerdoni has very large compound eyes that are similar to those of P. naoroji , but P. naoroji has a distinct light blue cuticular iridescence and a shorter petiole than P. jerdoni .

Other material examined. INDIA: Calcutta, 1958 (N.L. Krauss) ; INDONESIA: N Celebes, SW Slope Mt. Klabat , 400–600m, 13–19.vi.1972 (W.L. Brown); SE Celebes, 1–2km E of Wolasi , 42km S Kendari , 350m 13– 14.vii.1972 (W.L. Brown); MALAYSIA : Sarawak, Mt. Poi (E. Mjoberg) ; Pahang, Tana Rata, Cameron Highlands, 16.vi.1996 (S.L. Heydon) ; Pahang, Genting Highlands, 1640m, 31.iii.1981 (W.L. Brown); Mt. Makeling ; PHILIPPINES: Camarines Sur, Panicuason Village, 18km E of Naga City, 13°40'11"N, 123°19'47"E, 500–550m, 20.iii.2003 (D. General, G. Alpert et al.); Mt. Banahaw (F.X. Williams). In: MCZC, USNM.

Figures

FIGURES 86 – 88. Prenolepis jerdoni worker USNMENT 00755050. Lateral, full-face, and dorsal view of the body.

FIGURES 89 – 94. Prenolepis jerdoni male. 89 – 90, in frontal and lateral views; 91 – 94, genitalia (dorsal, ventral, ventral closeup of digitus and cuspus, and lateral parameres).

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.

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.