Paraparatrechina albipes ( Emery, 1899 )

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 : 4-7

Paraparatrechina albipes ( Emery, 1899)

( Figs. 1 , 2, 15A–E, 16, 17)

Prenolepis albipes Emery, 1899: 497 (worker described). 2 syntype workers? (see below), CAMEROON, IX-XI 1895, L. Conradt (MCSN) [examined]. The description mentions two specimens, which are assumed to have been workers since only workers were described by Emery, but of the two specimens labeled types for this species in MSNG, one of them is a queen. It remains unclear if this specimen is one of the syntypes or not, although a queen was not mentioned in the original description. Emery, 1914: 422, combination in Prenolepis (Nylanderia) ; Emery, 1925: 218, combination in Paratrechina (Nylanderia) ; LaPolla et al., 2010: 128, combination in Paraparatrechina .

Worker diagnosis: mesosomal dorsum (primarily pronotum and mesonotum) much lighter (almost white in some specimens) than remainder of mesosoma, head and gaster; white pubescence covering body.

Paraparatrechina albipes queen CASENT0088326. A, profile; B, dorsum; C, full face; D, forewing.

Compare with: P. brunnella .

WORKER. Measurements (n=20): TL: 1.41–1.89; HW: 0.35–0.42; HL: 0.39–0.47; EL: 0.11–0.13; SL: 0.48–0.53; PW: 0.24–0.31; WL: 0.48–0.55; PDH: 0.20–0.25; PrFL: 0.38–0.42; PrFW: 0.11–0.15; GL: 0.52– 0.9 Indices: CI: 81–93; REL: 26–29; SI: 119–140; FI: 27–37

Head brown, with contrasting yellowish-brown antennae and mandibles; head slightly longer than broad. White colored pubescence covers head in neat longitudinal rows. Scapes surpass posterior margin by about the length of the first 2–3 funicular segments. Lateral parts of mesosoma brown, and typically a distinctly white to whitish-yellow patch covers the dorsum of the pronotum and mesonotum, with the dorsum of the propodeum whitish to lighter brown. Fine, white pubescence covers entire mesosomal dorsum. Pronotum rises slightly more than 45° from anterior margin to dorsum; mesosoma compact; propodeum dorsum gently rounded. Procoxae brown, meso/metacoxae and trochanters white. Femurs brown posteriorly becoming white towards anterior ends; tibiae and tarsi white; gaster brown, sometimes slightly lighter colored around segmental margins.

QUEEN. Measurements (n=1): TL: 4.28; HW: 0.744; HL: 0.74; EL: 0.29; SL: 0.84; PW: 0.91; WL: 1.30; PDH: 0.52; PrFL: 0.73; PrFW: 0.19; GL: 2.24. Indices: CI: 100; REL: 39; SI: 113; FI: 27

As in worker, with modifications expected for caste. The queen examined does not display the lighter colored mesosomal dorsum observed in workers of this species and is darker brown overall in coloration.

MALE. Measurements (n=1): TL: 1.63; HW (including eyes): 0.41; HL: 0.37; EL: 0.17; SL: 0.33; PW: 0.34; WL: 0.63; PrFL: 0.44; PrFW: 0.08; GL (including parameres): 0.67. Indices: CI: 112; REL: 46; SI: 80; FI: 19

Head brown, with bulging large eyes that occupy most of the lateral region of the head; head slightly broader than long. Palps distinctly lighter than head in color. A dense layer of pubescence covers head, with scattered erect setae along mid-region, posterior margin and clypeus. Scapes surpass posterior margin by about length of the first 2 funicular segments; antennae 13-segmented. Mandible with apical tooth and an indistinct basal angle. Mesosoma same color as head; pronotum short and collar-like; mesonotum large, rounded anteriorly, overarching pronotum; mesosoma dorsum flat, with suberect setae. Gaster slightly darker brown than head and mesosoma, covered with pubescence and scattered erect setae. Parameres elongate, with scattered erect setae, especially towards apices.

Non-type material examined: CAMEROON: Nkoemvon, 1980 (D. Jackson); Prov. Sud-Quest, Bimbia Forest, 7.4 km 119° ESE Limbe, 9° 15.8’ E, 3° 58.9’ N, 14.iv.2000, elev. 40 m (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Sud. Res. Campo, Massif des Mamelles, 15.1 km 18° E Ebodje, 9° 57.6’ E, 2° 35.7’ N, 4.iv.2000, elev. 180 m (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Sud, PN Campo, 43.3 km 108° ESE Campo, 10° 12.4’ E, 2° 17.0’ N, 7.iv.2000, elev. 290 m (B.L. Fisher); CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: PN Dzanga-Ndoki, Mabea Bai, 21.4 km 53 0 NE Bayanga, 16° 24.36’ E, 3° 2.0’ N, 4.v.2001, elev. 510 m (S. van Noort); PN Dzanga-Ndoki, 21.4 km 53° NE Bayanga, 16° 24.57’ E, 3° 2.1’ N, 5.v.2001, elev. 510 m (S. van Noort); PN Dzanga-Ndoki, Mabea Bai, 21.4 km 53° NE Bayanga, 16° 25’ E, 3° 2’ N, 1–7.v.2001, elev. 510 m (B.L. Fisher); PN Dzanga-Ndoki, 38.6 km 173° S Lidjombo, 16° 3.20’ E, 2° 21.60’ N, 25.v.2001, elev. 350 m (S. van Noort); Res. Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7 km 326° NW Bayanga, 16° 11.55’ E, 3° 0.27’ N, 13.v.2001, elev. 420 m (S. van Noort); Res. Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7 km 326° NW Bayanga, 16° 12’ E, 3° 0’ N, 10–17.v.2001, elev. 470 m (B.L. Fisher); Res. Dzanga- Sangha, 12.7 km 326° NW Bayanga, 16° 12’ E, 3° 0’ N, 10–17.v.2001, elev. 370 m (B.L. Fisher); GABON: La Makande, Forêt des Abeilles, i.–ii.1999 (S. Lewis); Prov. Estuaire Pointe Ngombe, Ekwata, 16 km 240° WSW Libreville, 9° 18.7’ E, 0° 19.5’ N, 27.iii.2000, elev. 5 m (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Res. Moukalaba, 12.2 km 305° NW Doussala, 10° 29.8’ E, 2° 17.0’ S, 24.ii.2000, elev. 110 m (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Res. Moukalaba, 10.8 km 214° SW Doussala, 10° 32.7’ E, 2° 25.4’ S, 29.ii.2000, elev. 110 m (B.L. Fisher); 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, Reserve des Monts Doudou, 24.3 km 307° NW Doussala, 10° 24.35’ E, 2° 13.35’ S, 8.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); Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Reserve des Monts Doudou, 25.2 km 304° NW Doussala, 10° 23.67’ E, 2° 13.63’ S, 16.iii.2000, elev. 600 m (S. van Noort); Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Reserve de la Moukalaba- Dougoua, 12.2 km 305° NW Doussala, 10° 29.83’ E, 2° 17.0’ S, 2.iii.2000, elev. 110 m (S. van Noort); Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Reserve de la Moukalaba-Dougoua, 7 km NW Doussala, 10° 32.65’ E, 2° 19.84’ S, 21.iii.2000, elev. 110 m (S. van Noort); Prov. Woleu-Ntem, 31.3 km 108° ESE Minovoul, 12° 24.4’ E, 2° 4.8’ N, 7.ii.1998, elev. 600 m (B.L. Fisher); GHANA: Bunso nr. Tafo, 17.iv.1992 (R. Belshaw); Bunso, 22.vii.1969 (D. Leston); Bunso, 18.vii.1969 (D. Leston); Afwerase, 8.v.1969 (P. Room); Asamankese, 5.ix.1969 (D. Leston); Asamankese, 28.iv.1970, (P. Room); Mampong, 26.i.1970 (P. Room); Tafo, 7.vii.1970 (B. Bolton); NIGERIA: Gambari, 10.vi.1969 (B. Bolton); Gambari, 18.vi.1969 (B. Bolton); Gambari, 15.vii.1969 (B. Bolton); Ibadan, 18.v.1981 (A. Russell-Smith); TOGO: Palime, Klouto For, 20–25.vi.1974 (Vit)

Notes. This species has an unusual coloration pattern and is usually easily identifiable, with most specimens exhibiting a striking white patch on the mesosomal dorsum that contrast strongly with the darker body. There is variation in the degree of how large and white the patch is, with some specimens barely exhibiting a white patch at all. Sometimes the patch can also be of a more yellowish color rather than white.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Paraparatrechina albipes worker CASENT 0178759. A, profile; B, dorsum; C, full face.