Vollenhovia mawrapensis Dhadwal, Rilta & 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 : 87

Vollenhovia mawrapensis Dhadwal, Rilta & Bharti, 2023

Fig. 6

Vollenhovia mawrapensis Dhadwal, Rilta & Bharti, 2023: 3 .

Type locality: India, Meghalaya, Mawrap [Holotype: PUAC, type series examined].

Worker measurements & indices (3 specimens, 1 colony, 1 locality)

CL 0.44–0.48, CW 0.40–0.44, CS 0.42–0.46, EL 0.11–0.12, ML 0.56–0.60, PEH 0.19–0.20, PEL 0.15– 0.17, PEW 0.14–0.16, PPH 0.15–0.18, PPL 0.14–0.16, PPW 0.16–0.19, PW 0.32–0.34, SL 0.28–0.30. Indices: CL/CW 1.09–1.12, EL/CS 0.24–0.26, ML/CS 1.22–1.33, PEH/CS 0.43–0.45, PEL/CS 0.33– 0.37, PEW/CS 0.33–0.35, PPH/CS 0.36–0.39, PPL/CS 0.30–0.35, PPW/CS 0.38–0.42, PW/CS 0.69– 0.76, SL/CS 0.65–067.

Remarks

This species is the only one so far known from the Meghalaya region of Eastern India. According to Dhadwal et al. (2023), it is most similar to the Eastern Indian V. taylori , which is also similarly very small; however, it can be distinguished by having a shorter head (CL/CW: 1.09–1.12), mandibles with seven teeth instead of six, an elongate and rectangular subpetiolar process, mesopleuron and metapleuron transversely striate instead of coarsely punctate, petiole and postpetiole reticulate rugose instead of finely punctate, the dorsal surface of first gastral tergite more densely punctate and remaining gastral tergites with piligerous punctures instead of smooth and shiny, and the body less pilose, covered with fewer erect and suberect short hairs.

Distribution

India (Meghalaya) ( Dhadwal et al. 2023).

Figures

Fig. 6. Vollenhovia mawrapensis Dhadwal, Rilta & Bharti, 2023, holotype worker from India (PUAC T710, photographer: Himender Bharti). A. Head, full face view. B. Habitus, lateral view. C. Habitus, dorsal view. D. Forest trail to Mawrap, Meghalaya.