Mystrium janovitzi 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 : 58-61

Mystrium janovitzi Yoshimura & Fisher sp. n. Figs 4D, 5D, 17A, 17C, 23A, 23C, 26D, 28D, 31B, 32B, 32D, 37D, 38D, 39D, 40D, 41D, 50B, 51B, 52B, 53B, 54B, 55B, 56B

Holotype.

Worker: CASENT0482698, BLF04508, MADAGASCAR, Mahajanga, Forêt de Tsimembo, 11.0 km 346° NNW Soatana (-18.99528°, 44.4435°), 50 m alt., 21-25.xi.2001, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team leg. [CASC].

Worker.

Description. Measurements: holotype. HL 1.74, HW 1.89, SL 1.13, ML 1.69, HD 1.25, WL 2.15, PnW 1.2, PpW 0.99, PtW 1.07, PtL 0.73, CI 108.5, SI 59.8, MI 89.5, PpI 82.5, PtI 146.

HL 1.40-2.27, HW 1.46-2.67, SL 0.90-1.61, ML 1.30-2.58, HD 1.01-1.79, WL 1.83-2.94, PnW 0.91-1.52, PpW 0.80-1.28, PtW 0.82-1.32, PtL 0.56-0.90, CI 101.6-117.5, SI 59.7-67.9, MI 67.0-103.1, PpI 84.3-94.6, PtI 138.7-160.3 (10 specimens measured).

Posterolateral corner of head moderately expanding posteriorly. Posterior face of vertex forming almost right angle with dorsal face on median line of head, so that declivity of vertex on median part even steeper than on lateral part. Ventral half of vertex sculptured. Eye usually large, but sometimes small. Anterior margin of clypeus straight with small, extremely low conical setae. Genal tooth of head undeveloped, anterolateral corner of head angled. Masticatory margin of mandible almost invisible in full-face view, and width of dorsal surface of mandible almost identical from mandibular shaft to distal portion. Second maxillary palpomere longer than third. First flagellomere (third antennal segment) about as long as pedicel (second antennal segment). Shallow, rough, and fragmented longitudinal reticulation irregularly impressed along the entire pronotal dorsum. Shallow, rough, and fragmented longitudinal reticulation irregularly impressed on lateral surface of pronotum. Mesonotum often not differentiated from propodeum in dorsal view, length as long as that of propodeum. Metanotal groove indistinct in lateral view. Metapleural gland bulla moderately developed, and propodeal declivity in lateral view almost straight though sometimes weakly rounded. Petiole relatively long (PtI 138.7-160.3), with slightly widened posterior 1/4 to 1/3 in dorsal view, anterior margin gently rounded or almost straight, and never edged by striae.

Body color black. Four distal segments of antennal club brighter.

Ergatoid queen.

Description. Measurements: HL 1.32-1.77, HW 1.37-2.04, SL 0.99-1.34, ML 1.31-1.80, HD 0.99-1.35, WL 1.86-2.43, PnW 0.88-1.92, PpW 0.83-1.08, PtW 0.81-1.19, PtL 0.58-0.69, CI 103.9-114.8, SI 65.7-74.5, MI 88.5-95.3, PpI 48.6-95.1, PtI 139.6-177.3 (10 specimens measured).

Wings vestigial and reduced to small appendages, which are sometimes indistinct. Wing sclerites undeveloped. Posterolateral corner of head moderately expanding posteriorly, expansion not differentiated from that of workers. Posterior face of vertex forming almost right or even slightly acute angle with dorsal face on median line of head, so that declivity of vertex on median part even steeper than on lateral part. Ventral half of vertex sculptured. Eye varied from well developed to small. Ocelli absent. Anterior margin of clypeus straight with extremely short and small conical setae. Genal tooth of head absent, corner usually unangled, sometimes angled into a small, short spine. 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 usually narrowing distally, or sometimes widened distally, with strongly sharpened apex. Metapleural gland bulla less developed, not expanding to either dorsum of propodeal spiracle or propodeal declivity margin in lateral view, so that posterior margin of propodeum in lateral view almost straight. Petiole relatively long in dorsal view, about 0.8-1.0 × length of abdominal segment III.

Body color black.

Male.

Description. Measurements: HL 1.10-1.22, HW 1.52-1.72, SL 0.36-0.42, EL 0.62-0.71, WL 2.45-2.96, MnW 1.57-1.76, CI 135.2-141.0, SI 21.2-25.2, EI 54.1-58.1, MnI 99.3-103.9 (5 specimens measured).

Eye moderately large, occupying 0.6 × head length. Ocelli reaching to dorsal margin of head in full-face view, or just failing to reach dorsal margin. Dorsal margin of head in full-face view rounded. Both anterior and lateral ocelli small. Lateral ocellus small and distant from eye: distance between these more than 2 × maximum diameter of lateral ocellus. Posterior face of vertex rising steeply from neck, dorsal face slightly shorter than posterior face. Palpal formula 4,3. First segment of maxillary palp flattened and distinctly wider than second segment. Second maxillary palpomere longer than third. Notauli deeply to shallowly impressed on mesoscutum, but often unclear. Petiole in dorsal view thin, length 0.8 –0.65× that of abdominal tergite III. Petiolar dorsum covered with shallow, sparse, irregular punctures, or almost smooth. Abdominal tergum VIII without deep punctures, almost smooth.

Distal portion of abdominal sternum IX smooth and not punctured. Basal ring long, distinctly extending basally. Telomere distinctly extending farther distally than digitus. Basoventral expansion of aedeagus moderately developed basoventrally, longer than dorsal extension. Ventral margin of aedeagus gently curved ventrally in lateral view. Aedeagus moderately narrowing distally on distal half, distal portion widely rounded.

On forewing, cu-a located far basal from junction of Media (M) and Cubitus (Cu).

Body color reddish brown to black.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is the patronym of Dr. Tyler Janovitz in recognition of his interest in myrmecology and his support for research on ants.

Distribution.

MADAGASCAR: as in Figure 56B.

Additional material examined.

In addition to the type material, specimens from the following localities were examined in this study: MADAGASCAR. Antsiranana. Ambohitra (Joffreville) (-12.53333°, 49.16667°), rainforest, 1100 m alt.; Parc National Montagne d’Ambre, 3.6 km 235° SW Joffreville (-12.53444°, 49.1795°), montane rainforest, 925 m alt.; Rés. Ankarana, 7 km SE Matsaborimanga (-12.9°, 49.11667°), rainforst, 150 m alt.; Forêt de Binara, 9.1 km 233° SW Daraina (-13.26333°, 49.60333°), rainforest, 800 m alt.; Nosy Be, Réserve Naturelle Intégrale de Lokobe, 6.3 km 112° ESE Hellville (-13.41933°, 48.33117°), rainforest, 30 m alt.; Forêt Ambato, 26.6 km 33° Ambanja (-13.4645°, 48.55167°), rainforest, 150 m alt.; Galoko chain, Mont Galoko (-13.58487°, 48.71818°), rainforest, 520 m alt.; (-13.58745°, 48.71419°), rainforest, 380 m alt.; Ampasindava, Forêt d’Ambilanivy, 3.9 km 181° S Ambaliha (-13.79861°, 48.16167°), rainforest, 600 m alt.; R.S. Manongarivo, 10.8 km 229° SW Antanambao (-13.96167°, 48.43333°), rainforest, 400 m alt.; Makirovana forest (-14.17066°, 49.95409°), rainforest, 225 m alt.; Forêt d’Anabohazo, 21.6 km 247° WSW Maromandia (-14.30889°, 47.91433°), tropical dry forest, 120 m alt.; 6.5 km SSW Befingotra, Rés. Anjanaharibe-Sud (-14.75°, 49.5°), rainforest, 875 m alt. Toamasina. Montagne d’Anjanaharibe, 18.0 km 21° NNE Ambinanitelo (-15.18833°, 49.615°), rainforest, 470 m alt.; Montagne d’Akirindro 7.6 km 341° NNW Ambinanitelo (-15.28833°, 49.54833°), rainforest, 600 m alt.; 6.3 km S Ambanizana, Andranobe (-15.6813°, 49.958°), rainforest, 5 m alt. Mahajanga. Forêt Ambohimanga, 26.1 km 314° Mampikony (-15.96267°, 47.43817°), tropical dry forest, 250 m alt.; Parc National de Namoroka, 17.8 km 329° WNW Vilanandro (-16.37667°, 45.32667°), tropical dry forest, 100 m alt.; Forêt de Tsimembo, 11.0 km 346° NNW Soatana (-18.99528°, 44.4435°), tropical dry forest, 50 m alt.; 8.7 km 336° NNW Soatana (-19.02139°, 44.44067°), tropical dry forest, 20 m alt. Toliara. 48 km ENE Morondava, Kirindy (-20.06667°, 44.65°), tropical dry forest, 30 m alt.; Forêt de Kirindy, 15.5 km 64° ENE Marofandilia (-20.06915°, 44.66041667°), tropical dry forest, 30 m alt.; Makay Mts. (-21.22284°, 45.32477°), gallery forest on sandy soil, 490 m alt.; (-21.25864°, 45.16412°), gallery forest with bamboo, 500 m alt.; Vohibasia Forest, 59 km NE Sakaraha (-22.46667°, 44.85°), tropical dry forest, 780 m alt.; Fianarantsoa. Forêt d’Analalava, 29.6 km 280° W Ranohira (-22.59167°, 45.12833°), tropical dry forest, 700 m alt.

Remarks.

The worker of Mystrium janovitzi is distinguished easily from that of the other Mystrium species by the combination of the following characters: the labrum lacking central longitudinal carina (as in Fig. 8B); low clypeal conical setae (Fig. 17C); the posterior face of the vertex forming a right angle with its dorsal face (as in Fig. 16A); wide pronotum covered with fine sculpture that is neither longitudinal nor reticulate (Fig. 17A). This combination of diagnostic characters for the worker is also useful for distinguishing ergatoid queens of Mystrium janovitzi . The ergatoid queen of Mystrium janovitzi is similar to conspecific workers in its sculpture and body color, but differs in having a narrower mandible with a straight apical tooth (as in Fig. 15B) and distinct vestigial wings (as in Fig. 25D). For the male, small ocelli not strongly protruding from posterior margin of head in full-face view (Fig. 31B), rounded posterior margin of head in full-face view, smooth abdominal tergum VIII (Fig. 28B), and vertex strongly rising from neck (Fig. 32B) separate Mystrium janovitzi from other known Mystrium males in the Malagasy region.