Carebara hainteny Azorsa & Fisher

Azorsa, Frank & Fisher, Brian L., 2018, Taxonomy of the ant genus Carebara Westwood (Formicidae, Myrmicinae) in the Malagasy Region, ZooKeys 767, pp. 1-149 : 1

Carebara hainteny Azorsa & Fisher sp. n.

Holotype.

(major worker), MADAGASCAR, Antananarivo , 3 km 41° NE Andranomay, 11.5 km 147° SSE Anjozorobe, -18.47333, 47.96, 1300 m, montane rainforest, 5-13.xii.2000, (Fisher, Griswold et al.). Collection code BLF02378, (CASC: CASENT0410494). Paratypes: (7 major workers, and 26 minor workers), with same data as holotype. 21 minor workers (BMNH: CASENT0410551, CASC: CASENT0410541, CASENT0410542, CASENT0410553, CASENT0410561, CASENT0410557, CASENT0410540, CASENT0410546, CASENT0410560, CASENT0410568, CASENT0410567, CASENT0410566, CASENT0410507, CASENT0410508, CASENT0410509, CASENT0410510, CASENT0410511, CASENT0410515, MCZ: CASENT0410512, MHNG: CASENT0410513, NHMB: CASENT0410555). 2 major workers and 3 minor workers with same data as holotype but with collection code BLF02464, 2 major workers (CASC: CASENT0410495, CASENT0410496), and 3 minor workers (CASC: CASENT0410516, CASENT0410524, CASENT0410518). 3 major workers and 2 minor workers with same data as holotype but with collection code BLF02506, 3 major workers (BMNH: CASENT0410498, CASC: CASENT0410497, MCZ: CASENT0410499), and 2 minor workers (CASC: CASENT0410529, CASENT0410530). 1 major worker from: Madagascar, Fianarantsoa , Parc National de Ranomafana, Vatoharanana River, 4.1 km 231° SW Ranomafana, -21.29, 47.43333, 1100 m, montane rainforest, 27-31.iii.2003, (Fisher, Griswold et al.) and collection code BLF08400 (CASC: CASENT0039833. 1 major worker from: Madagascar, Fianarantsoa , 2 km W Andrambovato, along river Tatamaly, -21.51167, 47.41, 1075 m, montane rainforest, 3-5.vi.2005, (B.L. Fisher et al.) and collection code BLF12164, (CASC: CASENT0061535).

Diagnosis.

Antennae ten-segmented. Major: Head subrectangular, posterior margin of head concave, lateral margins nearly straight and parallel; propodeum with a pair of small triangular teeth, dorsum of propodeum nearly flat; head with longitudinal and parallel rugose-reticulate and with longitudinal rugae laterally; posterolateral corners of head with a small, dentiform horn; gaster with abundant, suberect hairs. Minor: Head slightly longer than wide, nearly subquadrate; posterodorsal corner of propodeum with a pair of triangular teeth, dorsum nearly flat; combined outline of dorsal surface of peduncle and anterior face of node nearly straight, posterior margin vertical and slightly convex, anterodorsal corner convex; gaster with abundant suberect hairs.

Description of major workers.

Measurements (n=10): HL 0.56-0.68 (0.63); HW 0.43-0.53 (0.50); SL 0.24-0.27 (0.26); ML 0.10-0.14 (0.12); EL 0.02-0.04 (0.02); EM 0.16-0.19 (0.18); HD 0.31-0.38 (0.35); WL 0.50-0.57 (0.56); PSL 0.06-0.07 (0.06); PW 0.28-0.35 (0.32); MFL 0.28-0.36 (0.31); MFW 0.07-0.10 (0.08); MTL 0.22-0.25 (0.25); PTL 0.20-0.23 (0.23); PNL 0.08-0.10 (0.09); PTH 0.16-0.19 (0.17); PTW 0.12-0.16 (0.15); PPL 0.11-0.15 (0.14); PPNL 0.10-0.13 (0.11); PPH 0.12-0.14 (0.14); PPW 0.18-0.21 (0.20); GL 0.45-0.65 (0.48); GW 0.36-0.45 (0.42); CI 75-82 (79); MI 17-23 (19); SI 38-44 (41), MLI 60-73 (62); PPLI 55-75 (61); PPI 127-150 (133); PSI 11-14 (12).

Head longer than wide (CI 75-82), in full-face view subrectangular, about 1.3 times longer than wide. Posterior margin of head concave, posterolateral corners rounded, lateral margins slightly convex. Mandibles with five teeth. Anterior margin of clypeus medially concave and laterally angulate. Antennae with ten segments. Scapes short (HL 0.56-0.68, SL 0.24-0.27, SI 38-44). Ocelli are absent. Eyes present, consisting of one ommatidium (EL 0.02-0.04). Supraclypeal area acutely triangular, extending forward beyond the antennal insertions.

In profile view, posterolateral corner of head with a short triangular tooth resembling a horn. Promesonotum high and convex, metanotal groove deep. Propodeum about 1.65 times higher than long, dorsal face of propodeum nearly flat and declining posteriorly, posterodorsal corners of propodeum each armed with a triangular tooth, declivity of propodeum vertical, flat with thin lateral laminae. Propodeal lobes triangular. Propodeal spiracle rounded and situated above mid-height of sclerite by about half the diameter of the spiracle, and beyond mid-length of sclerite by about the diameter of the spiracle; distance from propodeal spiracle to posterodorsal corner of propodeum about 2.5 times the diameter of the spiracle (PSL 0.06-0.07), and distance to declivity same as the diameter of the spiracle. In dorsal view, promesonotum almost as long as wide (about 1.02 times longer than wide), anterior margin and sides of promesonotum rounded, narrowed posteriorly; sides of propodeum weakly convex.

Petiole slightly longer than high (PTL 0.20-0.23, PTH 0.16-0.19) and with a short peduncle, ventral face weakly convex in the middle. Combined outline of dorsal surface of peduncle and anterior face of node slightly concave, nearly straight, posterior face of node vertical, nearly straight, anterodorsal corner convex, posterodorsal corner rounded, dorsum convex. Subpetiolar process produced as denticle, slightly larger than the diameter of the propodeal spiracle. Postpetiolar node rounded and lower than petiolar node. In dorsal view, petiolar node not as broad as postpetiolar node (PTW 0.12-0.16, PPW 0.18-0.21), petiolar node wider than long (PTW 0.12-0.16, PNL 0.08-0.10), anterior and posterior margin of petiole and postpetiole nearly straight, sides rounded in petiole and postpetiole.

Dorsal surface of mandibles, clypeus and supraclypeal area smooth and shiny, with piligerous punctae on head and mandibles. Head with longitudinal irregular and parallel rugose-reticulate, transverse irregular rugae near posterior margin of head, gena with longitudinal rugae extending to posterolateral lobes, reticulate close to posterolateral corners. In profile, posterolateral portion of cephalic dorsum smooth and shiny. Mesosoma smooth and shiny, except for katepisternum (areolate) and metapleuron (areolate and with longitudinal and parallel rugae). Petiole and ventral face of postpetiole areolate. In dorsal view mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole and gaster, smooth and shiny, except for anterior and posterior faces of petiole which are areolate.

Lateral margins of head with short subdecumbent hairs, posterior margin of head with suberect hairs. Scapes with abundant appressed hairs. Outer margin of mandibles with decumbent hairs. Mesosoma with long and short erect and suberect hairs. Petiole and postpetiole with short decumbent hairs and longer subdecumbent hairs. Tibia with abundant decumbent hairs. Gaster with sparse, suberect hairs and abundant subdecumbent hairs. Color yellowish ferrugineus.

Description of minor workers.

Measurements (n=7): HL 0.35-0.39; HW 0.31-0.35; SL 0.21-0.24; ML 0.08-0.11; EL 0.01-0.02; EM 0.10-0.12; HD 0.21-0.24; WL 0.35-0.42; PSL 0.02-0.05; PW 0.18-0.21; MFL 0.21-0.25, MFW 0.05-0.06; MTL 0.15-0.18; PTL 0.12-0.15; PNL 0.06-0.07; PTH 0.10-0.12; PTW 0.08-0.10; PPL 0.07-0.10; PPNL 0.07-0.08; PPH 0.07-0.10; PPW 0.11-0.13; GL 0.35-0.39; GW 0.23-0.30; CI 87-92; MI 23-29; SI 60-64, MLI 66-75; PPLI 54-71; PPI 122-150; PSI 7-15.

Head slightly longer than wide (CI 87-92), in full-face view nearly subquadrate, about 1.1 times longer than wide. Posterior margin of head shallowly straight, posterolateral corners rounded, lateral margins weakly convex. Mandibles with five teeth. Anterior margin of clypeus almost straight and laterally angulate. Antennae with ten segments. Scape fails to reach the posterior margin of head (HL 0.35-0.39, SL 0.21-0.24, SI 60-64). Eyes present, consisting of one ommatidium (EL 0.01-0.02). Supraclypeal area triangular but poorly defined.

In profile view, promesonotum weakly convex, metanotal groove deeply impressed. Propodeum about 1.3 times higher than long, dorsal face of propodeum slightly concave and declining posteriorly, anterodorsal corner rounded, posterodorsal corners each armed with a triangular tooth, declivity slightly concave with thin lateral laminae. Propodeal lobes convex. Propodeal spiracle weakly oval and situated above mid-height of sclerite by about half the diameter of the spiracle, and beyond mid-length of sclerite by about the diameter of the spiracle, distance from propodeal spiracle to posterodorsal corner of propodeum about two times the diameter of the spiracle (PSL 0.02-0.05), and distance to declivity about 1.5 times the diameter of the spiracle. In dorsal view, promesonotum almost as long as wide (about 1.03 times longer than wide), anterior margin of promesonotum weakly convex, sides rounded and narrowed posteriorly; sides of propodeum convex.

Petiole slightly longer than high (PTL 0.12-0.15, PTH 0.10-0.12) and with a short peduncle, ventral face medially convex. Combined outline of dorsal surface of peduncle and anterior face of node straight, posterior face of node vertical and weakly concave, anterodorsal corner convex, posterodorsal corner rounded, dorsum convex. Subpetiolar process produced as denticle, slightly larger than the diameter of the propodeal spiracle. Postpetiolar node nearly rounded and lower than petiolar node. In dorsal view, postpetiolar node wider than petiolar node (PPW 0.11-0.13, PTW 0.08-0.10), petiolar node wider than long (PTW 0.0.8-0.10, PNL 0.06-0.0.7), anterior and posterior margin of petiole and postpetiole convex, sides of petiole and postpetiole rounded.

Dorsal surface of head, mandibles, clypeus and supraclypeal area smooth and shiny, with scattered piligerous punctae on head and mandibles. Gena and frontal lobes with longitudinal rugae. Mesosoma smooth and shiny, except for katepisternum (areolate) and metapleuron (areolate and with longitudinal and parallel rugae). Petiole and ventral face of postpetiole areolate. In dorsal view, mesosoma, postpetiole and gaster smooth and shiny, except for petiole which is areolate.

Lateral margins and posterior margin of head with suberect hairs. Scapes with abundant subdecumbent hairs. Outer margin of mandibles with decumbent hairs. Mesosoma with short and long suberect hairs. Petiole, and postpetiole with short subdecumbent hairs and long suberect hairs. Tibia with appressed hairs. Gaster with abundant subdecumbent hairs. Color yellowish.

Distribution and biology.

Carebara hainteny is known only from the center of Madagascar (Figure 68) from grassland, montane rainforest and rainforest and was collected once in montane grassland. The species was sampled at different elevations from 785 m to 1300 m. C. hainteny was collected using Winkler traps, and found in rotten logs, leaf mold and rotten wood.

Comments.

Carebara hainteny is endemic to Madagascar. This species can be easily distinguished from other species by the presence of well-defined, irregular and longitudinal rugoreticulate sculpture on the head; short, triangular, horn-like teeth on the posterolateral corners of the head; workers with a pair of triangular teeth on the propodeum, a thick petiolar node and the gaster with abundant suberect to subdecumbent hairs. Other five species, C. betsi , C. jajoby , C. kabosy , C. mahafaly , and C. nosindambo , were recorded at the same area, but can be separated from the others by the characters mentioned above.

C. hainteny does not have intermediates in the major worker subcaste.

Additional material examined.

MADAGASCAR: Fianarantsoa : Parc National de Ranomafana, Vatoharanana River, 4.1 km 231° SW Ranomafana, -21.29, 47.43333, 1100 m, montane rainforest, 27-31.iii.2003, (Fisher, Griswold et al.); Fianarantsoa , Vohiparara Kidonavo 2, -21.22603, 47.36963, 1100 m, stomach contents of Mantella madagascariensis , 13.iii.2003, (V.C.Clark); Fianarantsoa , 2 km W Andrambovato, along river Tatamaly, -21.51167, 47.41, 1075 m, montane rainforest, 3-5.vi.2005, (B.L. Fisher et al.); Fianarantsoa , 43 km S Ambalavao, Réserve Andringitra, -22.23333, 47, 825 m, rainforest, 5.x.1993, (B.L. Fisher); Fianarantsoa , 28 km. SSW Ambositra, Ankazomivady, -20.775, 47.16833, 1670 m, grassland, 11.i.1998, (B.L. Fisher); Fianarantsoa , 45 km S. Ambalavao, -22.21667, 47.01667, 785 m, rainforest, 25.ix.1993, (B.L. Fisher); Toamasina: Parc National Mantadia, -18.79167, 48.42667, 895 m, rainforest, 25-28.xi.1998, (H.J.Ratsirarson); Toamasina, Parc National Mantadia, -18.79167, 48.42667, 895 m, rainforest, 28.xi.-1.xii.1998, (H.J.Ratsirarson); Toamasina, Forêt classée Didy, -18.19833, 48.57833, 960 m, rainforest, 16.xii.-23.xii.1998, (H.J.Ratsirarson); Toamasina, Analamay, -18.80623, 48.33707, 1068 m, montane rainforest, 21.iii.2004, (Malagasy ant team).