Crematogaster brevispina, Hosoishi & Ogata, 2016

Hosoishi, Shingo & Ogata, Kazuo, 2016, Systematics and biogeography of the ant genus Crematogaster Lund subgenus Orthocrema Santschi in Asia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 176 (3), pp. 547-606 : 579

CREMATOGASTER BREVISPINA SP. NOV.

( FIG. 101 )

Holotype worker. Tabuc-Tubig , Oriental Dumaguete, Negros, PHILIPPINES, 27.v.1983 (707) (C. K. Stall & F. P. Godoy) ( BMNH).

Paratypes. Eight workers, same data as holotype ( BMNH, CASC, KUEC, MHNG, MPMP, THNHM) .

Worker measurements (n = 9): HW 0.51–0.62; HL 0.54– 0.65; CI 93–98; SL 0.50–0.55; SI 92–96; EL 0.15– 0.17; PW 0.34–0.41; WL 0.61–0.72; PSL 0.04–0.07; PtL 0.19–0.25; PtW 0.17–0.21; PtH 0.13–0.17; PpL 0.13– 0.15; PpW 0.17–0.21; PtHI 65–70; PtWI 74–90; PpWI 120–140; WI 95–106.

General description of worker: Workers monomorphic.

Head subquadratic in full-face view. Mandibles with four teeth arranged at an equal distance, apical and subapical teeth large, basal two teeth smaller. Anterior clypeal margin convex in medial portion. Compound eyes distinctly projecting beyond lateral margins of head in full-face view. Scapes reaching posterolateral corners of head.

Pronotal collar with concave anterior margin in dorsal view, distinctly lower than pronotum in lateral view. Pronotal dorsum without distinct ridges laterally. Mesonotal dorsum with lateral ridges; the ridges forming pair of small triangular processes (angles) between dorsal and declivity faces of mesonotum (this condition is more easily seen with mesosoma in lateral view). Pronotum and mesonotum in lateral view not clearly forming continuous dorsal outline. Metanotal groove in dorsal view transverse, almost straight in median portion, forming deep concavity that is laterally margined by lamellate ridges. Propodeal spiracles oval, situated at posterolateral corners of propodeum, apart from metapleural gland bullae. Propodeal spines weakly developed, shorter than diameter of propodeal spiracles, in dorsal view directed posteriad.

Petiole in dorsal view with subparallel sides and narrow anteriorly, longer than wide. Posterior portion of petiole without distinct process in lateral view. Subpetiolar process weakly developed as blunt process. Postpetiole in lateral view with weakly convex dorsum, as high as petiole, in dorsal view as wide as petiole, globular, not bilobed. Subpostpetiolar process undeveloped, but venter of postpetiole weakly convex.

Integument essentially smooth and shining. Dorsal surface of head smooth and shining, but with rugulae on surrounding region of antennal sockets. Mandibles with feeble rugulae and smooth interspaces. Clypeus generally smooth and shining, but with one to two dis- tinct pairs of longitudinal rugulae; longer rugulae not extending to posterior clypeal margin. Costulate rugulae weakly developed on malar region. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of pronotum smooth and shining; anterolateral shoulders of pronotum without rugulae. Mesopleura generally smooth and shining. Rugula on higher portion of mesopleura extending to small pit of mesothoracic spiracles. Dorsal surface of propodeum generally smooth and shining. Dorsal surface of petiole smooth and shining. Lateral surface of petiole generally smooth, but with one longitudinal rugula running from spiracles to posterior margin. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of postpetiole smooth and shining.

Standing pilosity abundant. Dorsal face of head with erect to suberect setae abundantly. Clypeus with three pairs of long setae on anterior portion, one directed upward, one downward, the other laterally below antennal sockets. Anterior clypeal margin with single long setae medially and one pair of long setae laterally, and short setae laterally. Gena (malar space) with some suberect setae near mandibular insertion. Scapes with suberect to decumbent setae; short setae basally and long setae distally. Mesosoma with seven to eight distinct pairs of long erect and stout setae (ps1PN, ps2PN, psaMN, pspMN, psPR, ps1PS, and one to two ps2PS) that are much longer than other erect setae. Posterolateral tubercles of petiole posteriorly with three pairs of long setae. Postpetiole with four pairs of long setae on disc anterodorsally, anterolaterally, posteromedially and posteriorly. Fourth abdominal tergite with erect to suberect setae abundantly, but no decumbent to appressed setae.

Body yellow. All flagellar segments yellow.

Comments: In the worker this species can be distinguished from all other members of the C. binghamii group by the weakly developed propodeal spines. This species is similar to C. binghamii , but can be distinguished from it by the propodeal spines (PSL 0.04– 0.07 vs. 0–0.03 in the latter); the length as large as the diameter of propodeal spiracles.

Distribution: This species is known from the type locality of the Philippines ( Fig. 50 ).

Etymology: The specific name refers to the short propodeal spines.

Figures

Figure 50. Geographical distribution of the species of the C. binghamii group.

Figures 96–103. Body in lateral view. 96, Crematogaster baduvi, worker [Endau Rompin National Park, W. Malaysia]; 97, Crematogaster bandarensis, worker [Tai Rom Yen National Park, Surat Thani Prov., S. Thailand]; 98, Crematogaster binghamii, worker [Dry evergreen forest, Lumchangwat Stn., Khao Ang Reu Nai WS, Chacheongsap Prov., E. Thailand]; 99, Crematogaster biroi, worker [Punjavi Univ. Campus, Patiala, Punjab Prov., India]; 100, Crematogaster biroi, intermediate worker [Punjavi Univ. Campus, Patiala, Punjab Prov., India]; 101, Crematogaster brevispina, worker [Tabuc- Tubig, Oriental Dumaguete, Negros, Philippines]; 102, Crematogaster brunensis, worker [Bukit Sulang, nr. Lamunin, Brunei]; 103, Crematogaster celebensis, worker [Kadokaan, P. Batudaka, Togian Island, Sulawesi, Indonesia].