Lepisiota integra ( Forel, 1894 )

Harshana, Anand & Dey, Debjani, 2022, Taxonomic studies on the ant genus <i> Lepisiota </ i> Santschi 1926 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) in India, with description of four new species, Oriental Insects 57 (3), pp. 785-818 : 25-27

Lepisiota integra ( Forel, 1894) ( Fig. 7A–C )

Acantholepis frauenfeldi var. integra Forel 1894: 411 . Syntype workers, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India.

Acantholepis frauenfeldi integra Forel ; Forel 1906: 86; Santschi 1917: 44; race/stirps of A. frauenfeldi .

Lepisiota frauenfeldi var. integra (Forel) ; Bolton 1995: 227. Combination in Lepisiota .

Lepisiota integra (Forel) , Wachkoo et al. 2021: 231. Status as species.

Material examined

INDIA: Madhya Pradesh: Pachmarhi, 22°28 ʹ 50”N 78°26 ʹ 29”E, 1050 m, 2 workers, 07.IX.2020, Coll. A. Harshana. Delhi: IARI, 1 worker, VIII.2021, Coll. Suby S.B .

Measurements and indices

Workers (N = 2). EL: 0.21–0.22; HL: 0.69–0.70; HW: 0.53–0.59; MML: 0.39; PH: 0.32–0.36; PRW: 0.42–0.46; SL: 0.85–0.95; TL: 3.04–3.08; WL: 1.08– 1.15; CI: 76–86; OI: 37–40; REL: 30–32; SI: 144–178.

Description (Worker): Head

Head longer than broad, sides are slightly convex, posterior margin almost straight with rounded posterolateral corners, head covered with sparse appressed pubescence ( Fig. 7C ); palp formula 6,4 and the third segment of maxillary palp from base longest of all, fifth segment smaller than the sixth segment; mandible with five teeth on masticatory margin, the third tooth is smallest; antennae 11 segmented, scape extending to posterior margin of head about half its length, antennal insertions touching the posterior margin of clypeus; a pair of erect setae present little behind antennal insertions, and a pair at about mid-length of the head; clypeus dorsally convex, anterior clypeal margin convex with two pair of erect setae with a downwardly directed median seta, posterior margin with a pair of erect setae; compound eyes broadly oval, convex and placed at about mid-length of the head; three ocelli present with a pair of erect setae between lateral ocelli.

Mesosoma

Pronotum and about half of the mesonotum forming an arch in profile view ( Fig. 7A ); pronotum with two standing setae; mesometanotum strongly constricted ( Fig. 7B ) and lower than rest of mesosoma; propodeum armed with a pair of short spines; propodeal declivity slanting.

Metasoma

Petiole upright, dorsally with teeth-like apical corners ( Fig. 7A ) and emarginated, sides angular; gastral segment with erect setae on their distal margin and basal part of first gastral sternite with 2 erect setae; acidopore welldeveloped with the fringe of hairs.

Sculpture and colour

Body sculpture microreticulate to effaced and subopaque; mandible smooth and shiny. Body about uniformly dark brown; mandible, antennae, and tarsi brown.

Comments

This species is comparatively less shiny than L. bipartita and about uniformly dark brown while L. bipartita is bicoloured. Lepisiota integra was first time collected in Central India by Forel (1894) from Pachmarhi, and after 126 years we also collected this species in the same locality but not from any other place which we explored in Central India.

Distribution in India: Delhi*, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Punjab, Uttarakhand.

Figures

Figure 7A–F. Workers of Lepisiota integra (A–C), Lepisiota layla (D–F). A, D, body in profile view; B, E, body in dorsal view; C, F, head in full-face view.