Tetheamyrma subspongia BOLTON, 1991

Genera, David Emmanuel M. & Buenavente, Perry Archival C., 2018, Revision and redefinition of the crematogastrine ant genus Tetheamyrma BOLTON, 1991, with the description of a new species and the first description of the dealate queen (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Myrmecological News 28, pp. 45-51 : 50

Tetheamyrma subspongia BOLTON, 1991

Figure 4a - c

Tetheamyrma subspongia BOLTON, 1991: 10 ; worker described; MALAYSIA (Sabah) [Holotype not seen].

Measurements (mm; from original description of holotype): CI 92, EL 0.0 8, HL 0.55, HW 0.51, ML 0.6 6, PW 0.36, SI 6 3, SL 0.32.

Worker: Monomorphic ants. In full-face view, head widest behind compound eyes. Posterior margin of head shallowly emarginate. Lateral head margin slightly con- verging anteriorly. Antennae with 11 segments, with very large 2-segmented apical club. Antennal scape short, just exceeding posterior margin of compound eye. Antennal scape shallowly reticulate, with short decumbent hairs. Antennomeres 3 - 9 much broader than long. Antennal scrobe absent. Compound eye small, composed of about 10 ommatidia, located laterally, just forward of midlength of head. Frontal carina short, barely reaching anterior margin of eye. Frontal lobes wide, completely concealing torulus, wider than median clypeus inserted between them. Median clypeus narrowly inserted between frontal lobes. Median clypeus narrowly bicarinate. Anterior clypeus medially with a pair of setae straddling midpoint. Anterior clypeal margin medially emarginate. Mandible triangular, mostly smooth. Mandibular dentition composed of six teeth without a diastema. Basal external margin of mandible smooth. Head densely rugo-reticulate dorsally, laterally, and ventrally, except for smooth genal bridge. Frontal lobes sculptured. Head pilosity composed of fine flexuous hairs of varying lengths.

In lateral view, palp formula 2,2. Occipital carina present. Mesosomal outline smoothly convex. Metanotal groove impressed. Mesosoma densely rugo-reticulate dorsally and laterally. Metapleuron and propodeal declivity rugo-reticulate. Mesosomal pilosity composed of erect hairs on dorsum of various lengths, except for glabrous propodeal declivity. Propodeum with short, acute, triangular spines. Infradental lamella between propodeal spine and metapleural lobe present. Metapleural lobe low and rounded. Propodeal spiracle conspicuous, more than one propodeal spiracle diameter from base of propodeal spine. Petiole microreticulate, nodiform. Anterodorsal corners of petiole node rounded. Anteroventral petiolar process present. Postpetiole microreticulate. Anterior face of postpetiole rounded smoothly into dorsal face. Anteroventral postpetiolar process absent. Spongiform tissue present on venter of petiole, postpetiole, and first gastral sternite. Sting simple and functional. Spine absent from mesotibia and metatibia.

Petiole node transverse, broader than long. Petiole and postpetiole microreticulate. Dorsum of gaster smooth between piliferous punctures. Gastral pilosity composed of dense flexuous hairs.

Non-type material [not examined]: 1 worker, MALAY- SIA: Borneo Island, Sabah, Danum Valley, West Trail, N 4.9656°, E 117.79 937° ± 50 m, 220 m a.s.l., 20.VIII.2010, leg. P.S. Ward, ex. Winkler extraction of leaf litter (collection code PSW 16 4 43 -8 3) CASENT0 10 6305 (https://www. antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0106305).

Figures

Fig.4: Tetheamyrma subspongia BOLTON, 1991. Holotype worker. (a) Full-face view; (b) lateral view; (c) dorsal view; (d) labels. Images courtesy of AntWeb (unidentified image creator).