Prenolepis melanogaster Emery, 1893b

Williams, Jason L., 2016, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the ant genus Prenolepis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 4200 (2), pp. 201-258 : 234

Prenolepis melanogaster Emery, 1893b

( Figs 98–100 )

Prenolepis melanogaster Emery, 1893b: 223 (w.). Holotype worker, MYANMAR: Carin , Asciuii Cheba, 1100m, 01.xii.1887 ( MSNG: CASENT0905675) [examined].

Prenolepis melanogaster carinifrons Santschi, 1920: 173 (w.). Holotype worker, VIETNAM : Tonkin ( NHMB: CASENT0912316) [examined]. syn. nov.

Prenolepis nigriflagella Xu, 1995: 338 (w.). Holotype worker, CHINA: Yunnan, 1550m, 23.8°N 100.0°E, 13.x.1991 ( SWFU: A91–1103) [examined]. syn. nov.

Worker diagnosis. Relatively large in overall size (TL> 4.25mm; Fig 23 ); yellow-brown head and mesosoma with a dark brown to black gaster; head as broad as or broader than long (CI> 97) with round compound eyes that are spaced far apart (REL3 <35); setae on scapes are erect.

Most similar species. This species is unique in its appearance.

Morphology. Worker. Measurements (n=3): CMC: 46–50; EL: 0.24–0.29; EW: 0.23–0.26; HL: 1.06–1.24; HLA: 0.53–0.66; HLP: 0.41–0.47; HW: 1.03–1.30; IOD: 0.70–0.90; LF1: 0.29–0.35; LF2: 0.20–0.25; LHT: 1.92–2.29; MMC: 4–8; MTW: 0.55–0.70; MW: 0.37–0.45; PDH: 0.42–0.47; PMC: 11–16; PrCL: 0.65–0.77; PrCW: 0.39–0.45; PrFL: 1.26–1.49; PrFW: 0.22–0.26; PTH: 0.42–0.47; PTL: 0.43–0.55; PTW: 0.33–0.42; PW: 0.64–0.77; SL: 1.47– 1.70; TL: 4.28–4.93; WF1: 0.09; WF2: 0.08–0.09; WL: 1.55–1.92; BLI: 143–151; CI: 97–105; EPI: 128–139; FLI: 135–144; HTI: 171–187; PetHI: 100–101; PetWI: 75–77; PrCI: 58–60; PrFI: 17–18; REL: 21–23; REL2: 21–23; REL3: 31–33; SI: 129–144.

Relatively large in overall size (TL> 4.25mm; Fig 23 ); yellow-brown head and mesosoma with a dark brown to black gaster; cuticle of head, pronotum, mesopleuron, propodeum, and gaster smooth and shiny; abundant very long, erect setae on scapes, head, mesosoma, gaster, and legs; head slightly broader than long and round in shape with indistinct posterolateral corners and a weakly convex posterior margin; eyes moderately sized, convex, and placed far apart (REL3 <35); compound eyes do not surpass the lateral margins of the head in full-face view; torulae overlap with the posterior border of the clypeus; anterior border of clypeus with a pair of prominent anterolateral lobes ( Fig 46 ); mandibles with 6 teeth on the masticatory margin; ectal surface of mandibles smooth and shiny; in profile view, propodeum is domed with a rounded dorsal face; dorsal apex of petiole scale is sharply angled and forward-inclined ( Fig 53 ).

Notes. This species is much larger and more hirsute than all other Prenolepis species and has a distinctly broad head (CI: 97–105). Prenolepis melanogaster also has a yellow-brown head and mesosoma with a dark brown to black gaster, similar to the coloration seen in P. fustinoda .

Figures

FIGURES 98 – 100. Prenolepis melanogaster worker USNMENT 00755078. Lateral, full-face, and dorsal view of the body.

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 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 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.