Mystrium labyrinth Yoshimura & Fisher

Yoshimura, Masashi & Fisher, Brian L., 2014, A revision of the ant genus Mystrium in the Malagasy region with description of six new species and remarks on Amblyopone and Stigmatomma (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Amblyoponinae), ZooKeys 394, pp. 1-99 : 32-34

Mystrium labyrinth Yoshimura & Fisher sp. n. Figs 10B, 10D, 14B, 33E, 34E, 35C, 36B, 36D, 36F, 42B

Holotype.

Worker: CASENT0003281, BLF00976, MADAGASCAR, Toliara, 5 km N Isaka-Invondro (-24.75°, 46.8°), 350 m alt., 12.xi.1992, B.L.Fisher leg. [CASC].

Worker.

Description. Measurements: holotype. HL 1.73, HW 1.76, SL 1.08, ML 1.77, HD 1.03, WL 1.96, PnW 1.01, PpW 0.84, PtW 0.90, PtL 0.51, CI 101.7, SI 61.2, MI 100.5, PpI 83.0, PtI 176.1.

HL 1.67-1.79, HW 1.72-1.84, SL 1.05-1.09, ML 1.70-1.76, HD 1.03-1.09, WL 1.90-2.02, PnW 1.02-1.08, PpW 0.81-0.87, PtW 0.82-0.95, PtL 0.45-0.52, CI 102.0-102.8, SI 58.0-61.1, MI 92.2-99.4, PpI 79.0-82.7, PtI 180.4-183.8 (3 specimens measured).

Posterolateral corner of head moderately expanding posteriorly. Posterior face of vertex forming almost right angle with its dorsal face on median line of head, so that declivity of vertex on lateral part as steep as that on median part. Ventral half of vertex sculptured. Eye relatively larger than that of Mystrium barrybressleri . Anterior margin of clypeus convex with long conical setae, of which median pair larger than adjacent pair. Genal tooth of head relatively long, as long as lateral lobe of clypeus. Masticatory margin of mandible in full-face view slightly visible on its basal half, invisible on its distal half. Width of dorsal surface of mandible almost identical from mandibular shaft to distal portion. Second maxillary palpomere shorter than third. First flagellomere (third antennal segment) as long as pedicel (second antennal segment). Central part of pronotal dorsum and lateral surface of pronotum strongly and regularly reticulate. Mesonotum often not differentiated and indistinct from propodeum in dorsal view, its length as long as that of propodeum. Metanotal groove indistinct in lateral view, but mesonotum slightly higher than pronotum. Short, but distinct ridge present on dorsal edge of metapleural gland bulla. Petiole wide in dorsal view, but narrower than that of Mystrium barrybressleri (PtI<185).

Body color reddish brown to black.

Queen.

Description. Measurements: HL 1.65, HW 1.69, SL 0.99, ML 1.48, HD 1.10, WL 2.33, MnW 1.27, PtW 1.08, PtL 0.51, CI 102.5, SI 58.5, MI 87.6, MnI 74.8, PtI 212.2 (one specimens measured).

Wings present, well developed. Wing sclerites fully developed even if wings have dropped off. Posterolateral corner of head moderately expanding posteriorly; expansion weaker than that of workers. Posterior face of vertex forming almost right angle with its dorsal face on median line of head, so that declivity of vertex on lateral part as steep as that on median part. Ventral half of vertex sculptured. Eye well developed. Both anterior and lateral ocelli clearly present, median portion of lateral ocelli and posterior portion of anterior ocellus edged by blackish pigment. Anterior margin of clypeus convex, with long conical setae, of which median pair larger than adjacent pair. Genal tooth of head distinctly developed, reaching slightly posterior of lateral lobe of clypeus. Masticatory margin of mandible almost invisible in full-face view, and dorsal surface on distal portion as wide as that on mandibular shaft. Spatulate seta present on basal side of each basal denticle on masticatory margin of mandible. First flagellar segment on antenna as long as pedicel. Setae on pronotum distinctly spatulate, widened distally. Propodeal declivity in lateral view slightly convex on dorsal part of metanotal gland bulla, making blunt angle with its dorsal margin. Petiole relatively long in dorsal view, 0.5 × length of abdominal segment III.

Body color blackish brown.

Male unknown.

Etymology.

This species name is the English word labyrinth, inspired by the strong reticulation covering the body surface of the new species. The species epithet is a noun, and thus invariant.

Distribution.

MADAGASCAR: as in Figure 42B.

Additional material examined.

In addition to the type material, specimens from the following localities were examined in this study: MADAGASCAR. Diego-Suarez. Parc National Montagne d’Ambre (-12.51444°, 49.18139°), rainforest, 960 m alt.; Antsiranana. 6.5 km SSW Befingotra, Rés. Anjanaharibe-Sud (-14.75°, 49.5°), rainforest, 875 m alt.; Toamasina. 6.9 km NE Ambanizana, Ambohitsitondroina (-15.56667°, 50°), rainforest, 825 m alt.; Toliara. 5 km N Isaka-Invondro (-24.75°, 46.8°), rainforest, 350 m alt.

Remarks.

Mystrium labyrinth females can be distinguished easily from the other Mystrium females in the Malagasy region by a combination of the following characters: the pronotal dorsum covered with strong regular reticulation (as in Fig. 13A); the second maxillary palpomere shorter than the third (as in Fig. 13C); the long genal tooth of head nearly reaching anterior end of the lateral lobe of the clypeus (Fig. 14B); and the first flagellomere (third antennal segment) as long as the pedicel (second antennal segment) (Fig. 10D). The worker of Mystrium labyrinth is similar to that of Mystrium silvestrii ; however, Mystrium labyrinth can be distinguished from Mystrium silvestrii by an anterior clypeal margin with long, well-developed conical setae (weak in Mystrium silvestrii and Mystrium mz01), and a moderately long petiole (Fig. 35C) (short and wide in Mystrium silvestrii as in Mystrium barrybressleri ).

The queen described here is not associated with workers from the same colony (collected alone from -12.51444°, 49.18139°); however, the similarities between workers and queens are sufficient to determine their relationship. The male of this species is unknown.