Vollenhovia terayamai Rilta, Dhadwal & Bharti, 2023

Akbar, Shahid Ali, Bharti, Himender, Schifani, Enrico & Wachkoo, Aijaz Ahmad, 2023, Overview of the ant genus Vollenhovia (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in India and Sri Lanka, with an illustrated key and the description of a new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 908, pp. 77-107 : 92-96

Vollenhovia terayamai Rilta, Dhadwal & Bharti, 2023

Fig. 11

Vollenhovia terayamai Rilta, Dhadwal & Bharti in Dhadwal et al., 2023: 5.

Type locality: West Bengal, Chapramari Wild Life Sanctuary [Holotype: PUAC, type series examined in Dhadwal et al. 2023] .

Worker measurements & indices (2 specimens, 1 colony, 1 locality)

CL 0.54–0.58, CW 0.46–0.50, CS 0.50–0.54, EL 0.12–0.14, ML 0.66–0.68, PEH 0.28–0.30, PEL 0.24– 0.26, PEW 0.16–0.18, PPH 0.28–0.30, PPL 0.18–0.20, PPW 0.20–0.22, PW 0.36–0.40, SL 0.35–0.36. Indices: CL/CW 1.16–1.17, EL/CS 0.24–0.26, ML/CS 1.26–1.32, PEH/CS 0.55–0.56, PEL/CS 0.48– 0.48, PEW/CS 0.32–0.33, PPH/CS 0.55–0.56, PPL/CS 0.36–0.37, PPW/CS 0.40–0.41, PW/CS 0.72– 0.74, SL/CS 0.67–071.

Remarks

This last Eastern Indian species was unfortunately described based on two specimens only ( Dhadwal et al. 2023) so the discovery of further material once again appears crucial to appreciate its intraspecific variation. Vollenhovia terayamai differs from the other Eastern Indian taxa by having a wide smooth band in the front and on the promesonotum, as well as a largely smooth postpetiole dorsum, in addition to larger body size. It shares some affinities with V. yasmeenae sp. nov. but differs by having a broad smooth median band on the head and a finer punctate sculpture on the sides of the petiole.

Figures

Fig. 11. Vollenhovia terayamai Rilta, Dhadwal & Bharti, 2023, holotype worker from India (PUAC T731, photographer: Himender Bharti). A. Head, full face view. B. Habitus, lateral view. C. Habitus, dorsal view. D. Entrance to Chapramari Wild Life Sanctuary, West Bengal.