Crematogaster pia Forel, 1911

Hosoishi, Shingo, 2015, Revision of the Crematogaster ranavalonae - group in Asia, with description of two new species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 42, pp. 63-92 : 80-82

Crematogaster pia Forel

Fig. 33

Crematogaster tumidula subsp. pia Forel, 1911: 384. Type locality: Malaysia, Berhentian Tingi, Nigri Sembilan, Malacca. Combination in C. (Acrocoelia) , and raised to species by Emery, 1922: 151; in C. (Crematogaster) by Blaimer, 2012b: 55.

Type material examined.

Crematogaster tumidula subsp. pia : lectotype worker (top specimen of three on one pin) by present designation and five paralectotype workers from Malaysia, Berhentian Tingi, Nigri Sembilan, Malacca (R. Matrin) (MHNG, examined); five syntype workers from Malaysia, Berhentian Tingi, Nigri Sembilan, Malacca (R. Matrin) (NHMB, examined).

Non-type material examined.

THAILAND: 4 workers, Maegar, Phayao, 21.iii.1990 (No collector’s name); 6 workers, Thachai Sukhothai, 1.iii.1991 (No collector’s name); 21 workers, Ban Krang Camp, Kaeng Krachan National Park, Phet Buri [N12°47', E99°27'] 23.xii.2012 (SH12-Tha-01) (S. Hosoishi); 14 workers, Evergreen For., Khlong Naka WS, Ranong Prov., S. Thailand, 12.viii.2009, (WJT09-TH2045) (W. Jaitrong).

Measurements and indices.

(workers, n = 11). HW 0.90-0.96; HL 0.88-0.92; CI 102-108; SL 0.79-0.87; SI 83-94; EL 0.18-0.21; PW 0.54-0.59; WL 1.05-1.13; PSL 0.14-0.17; PtL 0.25-0.27; PtW 0.25-0.30; PtH 0.16-0.18; PpL 0.15-0.19; PpW 0.28-0.31; PtHI 59-69; PtWI 96-115; PpWI 158-187; WI 103-115.

General description of worker.

Head appearing subquadratic in front view. Mandible weakly striate, with four teeth, apical and subapincal teeth large, basal two teeth smaller. Scape exceeding posterior corner of head, with appressed setae, each of which is as long as width of scape in length. Compound eye large and slightly projecting beyond lateral margin of head in full face view.

Ventrolateral katepisternal ridge indistinct posteriorly. Propodeal spine long and stout; length longer than spiracle, dorsum as high as anterior propodeum in lateral view; basal width larger than spiracle in diameter. Propodeal spiracle large, situated close to propodeal declivity in lateral view, directed laterally.

In dorsal view, shape of petiole scoop with convex side, as broad as long. Anterolateral corner of petiole angulate. Petiolar spiracle big, as wide as half of propodeal spiracle in diameter, directed laterally. In dorsal view, postpetiole broader than long, bilobed but without longitudinal median sulcus. Postpetiole slightly wider than petiole in dorsal view.

Integument essentially smooth and shiny. Clypeus smooth and shiny without rugulae. Malar region smooth and shiny. Dorsal surface of promesonotum smooth and shiny. Lateral surface of pronotum smooth and shiny. Mesopleuron and lateral propodeum generally shiny, but with feable rugulae. Dorsal surface of propodeum smooth and shiny; anterior dorsum with feable rugulae.

Erect pilosity almost absent. Dorsum of head, clypeus and mesosoma with short and appressed sparse setae. Clypeus with one pair of longer setae on anteriormost portion, directed medially. Anterior clypeal margin with two or three pairs of longer setae on median portion, mixed with some shorter setae on side. No erect setae on pronotal shoulder. Posterolateral tubercle with some decumbent to appressed shorter setae. Ventral surface of petiole with appressed setae. Postpetiole with some shorter setae posteriorly. Fourth abdominal tergite with appressed setae.

Body color reddish brown to brownish.

Distribution.

This species is distributed in Thailand and Malaysia (Peninsula).

Comments.

This species is similar to C. butteli and C. tumidula , but differs from C. butteli in having an anterolaterally developed petiole, and from C. tumidula in having long propodeal spines.

This species inhabits well-developed forests, make a carton nest and forage on trees.

Figures

Figure 33. Crematogaster pia [Ban Krang Camp, Kaeng Krachang National Park, Phet Buri, Thailand]. A Lateral view of body B Full face view C Dorsal view of petiole and postpetiole.