Crematogaster ebenina Forel, 1902

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 : 74-76

Crematogaster ebenina Forel

Fig. 30

Crematogaster (Oxygyne) ebenina Forel, 1902: 199. Type locality: India, Thana, Kanara, Poona, Belgaum. Combination in C. (Crematogaster) by Blaimer, 2012b: 55.

Crematogaster ebenina var. corax Forel, 1902: 200. Type locality: Myanmar, Moulmain. syn. n.

Type material examined.

Crematogaster (Oxygyne) ebenina : lectotype worker (bottom specimen of three on one pin) by present designation and five paralectotype workers from India, Kanara (Wroughton) (MHNG, examined); one syntype worker from India, Poona (Wroughton) (NHMW, examined). Crematogaster ebenina var. corax : six syntype workers from Myanmar, Moulmain (Hodgson) (MHNG, examined).

Non-type material examined.

INDIA: 4 workers, Mumbai, 16.x.2007 (S. Hosoishi).

Measurements and indices.

(workers, n = 4) HW 0.85-0.94; HL 0.81-0.86; CI 105-109; SL 0.69-0.76; SI 78-82; EL 0.18-0.19; PW 0.51-0.56; WL 0.98-1.05; PSL 0.11-0.13; PtL 0.24-0.26; PtW 0.24-0.27; PtH 0.16-0.17; PpL 0.14-0.16; PpW 0.24-0.26; PtHI 64-67; PtWI 100-113; PpWI 162-173; WI 96-100.

General description of worker.

Head appearing subquadratic in front view. Mandible weakly striate, with four teeth, apical and subapical teeth large, basal two teeth smaller. Scape exceeding posterior corner of head, with appressed setae, each of which is less than or 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. Propodeal spine long and stout; length equal to slightly greater than diameter of propodeal spiracle, directed upward, dorsum as high as anterior propodeum. Propodeal spiracle large and situated close to propodeal declivity in lateral view, directed posterolaterally.

In dorsal view, shape of petiole scoop with convex side, longer than broad. Anterolateral corner of petiole undeveloped, tapering anteriorly. Petiolar spiracle big, as large as half of propodeal spiracle in diameter. Postpetiole weakly bilobed but without longitudinal median sulcus. Petiole slightly wider than, or as wide as postpetiole in dorsal view.

Integument essentially smooth and shiny. Clypeus generally smooth and shiny, but with feable rugulae. Malar region smooth and shiny without rugulae. 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.

Erect pilosity almost absent. Dorsum of head, clypeus and mesosoma with short and appressed sparse setae. Clypeus without longer setae on anteriormost portion. Anterior clypeal margin with one single longer setae and two pairs of longer setae, mixed with some shorter setae on the 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.

Distribution.

This species is distributed in India and Myanmar.

Comments.

This species is unique in Asian C. ranavalonae -group in having a slender petiole. This species is similar to C. tumidula , but distinguished in having the petiole without anterolateral corners.

The syntype workers of C. ebenina corax agree well with syntype workers of C. ebenina . Thus I treated C. ebenina corax as a junior synonym of C. ebenina .

Figures

Figure 30. Crematogaster ebenina [Gandhi National Park, India]. A Lateral view of body B Full face view C Dorsal view of petiole and postpetiole.