Paraparatrechina splendida LaPolla and Cheng

Lapolla, John S., Cheng, Chiu H. & Fisher, Brian L., 2010, Taxonomic revision of the ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) genus Paraparatrechina in the Afrotropical and Malagasy Regions, Zootaxa 2387, pp. 1-27 : 12-13

Paraparatrechina splendida LaPolla and Cheng , sp. nov.

( Fig. 7 , 16 , 17 )

Holotype worker, GABON: Prov. Ogooué-Maritime; Res. Monts Doudou; 24.3 km 307° NW Doussala; 2°13.4’, 10°24.4’E; 6.iii.2000; elev. 375 m (B.L. Fisher #2170) ( CASC); 6 paratype workers, same locality as holotype ( CASC, USNM).

Worker diagnosis: body dark brown; mesosoma elongate (WL: 0.71–0.83); head distinctly longer than broad with long scapes; antennae and mandibles typically as dark brown as the head.

Compare with: P. concinnata

WORKER. Measurements (n=8): TL: 1.41–2.6; HW: 0.48–0.50; HL: 0.54–0.64; EL: 0.15–0.18; SL: 0.73–0.83; PW: 0.30–.35; WL: 0.71–0.83; PDH: 0.30–0.34; PrFL: 0.58–0.63; PrFW: 0.14–0.19; GL: 0.74– 1.26. Indices: CI: 76–86; REL: 25–30; SI: 157–172; FI: 24–31

Head dark brown (the darkest brown of any described Afrotropical Paraparatrechina ); cuticular surface shining; head distinctly longer than broad. White and short pubescence covering head, with longer pubescence on clypeus althought not as dense as on head. Mandibles dark brown to slightly lighter brown color than head. Scapes, dark brown to slightly lighter brown color than head, surpass the posterior margin by about the length of first 5 funicular segments; scapes with distinctly short pubescence. Pubescence covers entire mesosomal dorsum. Pronotum rise about 45° from anterior margin to dorsum; mesosoma elongate; dorsal face of propodeum gently rounded, with declivitous face of about the same length. Legs dark brown, but tarsi typically much lighter; tarsi typically become whiter towards the last tarsal segment in many specimens. Trochanters typically lighter brown than mesosoma; gaster dark brown as in the head and mesosoma, with white pubescence.

Etymology. The species epithet is a Latin adjective for splendid or gleaming, in reference to brilliant bluish-purple iridescence reflected on the cuticle of this species.

Non-type material examined: GABON: Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Res. Monts Doudou, 24.3 km 307° NW Doussala, 10° 24.4’ E, 2° 13.4’ S, 6.iii.2000, elev. 375 m (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Res. Monts Doudou, 24.3 km 307° NW Doussala, 10° 24.35’ E, 2° 13.35’ S, 5–12.iii.2000, elev. 370 m (S. van Noort); Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Res. Monts Doudou, 25.2 km 304° NW Doussala, 10° 23.7’ E, 2° 13.6’ S, 14.iii.2000, elev. 640 m (B.L. Fisher); UGANDA: Ruwenzori Expedition, 10 ml. E.N.E. Bundibugyo, 26.viii.1952 (G. O. Evans)

Notes. This is the largest and darkest colored Afrotropical Paraparatrechina . This species may be confused with P. concinnata , but can be separated from that species based on the following differences: 1) color ( P. splendida is a darker brown and the antennae, mandibles and coxae are the same color as the body, unlike in P. concinnata ), 2) the length of the scape ( P. splendida scape length is greater than 0.72 mm), and 3) longer profemora. The similarly shaped mesosomas of in P. splendida and P. concinnata , as well as their distinctly long heads, scapes, and femurs suggests that these two species are close relatives.

Figures

FIGURE 7. Paraparatrechina splendida worker holotype CASENT 0178763. A, profile; B, dorsum; C, full face.

FIGURE 16. Various measurements of Paraparatrechina workers.

FIGURE 17. Distribution of Paraparatrechina species. NOTE: The specimens of brunnella and umbranatis from Kenya were received after the proofing stage of this paper and are not included on the maps above. Instead, the Kenya locality records can be found under the non-type materials examined section of each species.