Paraparatrechina umbranatis LaPolla and Cheng

Lapolla, John S., Cheng, Chiu H. & Fisher, Brian L., 2010, Taxonomic revision of the ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) genus Paraparatrechina in the Afrotropical and Malagasy Regions, Zootaxa 2387, pp. 1-27 : 15-16

Paraparatrechina umbranatis LaPolla and Cheng , sp. nov.

( Fig. 9 , 16 , 17 )

Holotype worker, GABON: Prov. Ogooue-Martime; Res. Monts Doudou; 24.5 km 303° WNW Doussala; 2°14.0’S, 10°23.9’E; 18.iii.2000; elev. 630 m (B.L. Fisher #2276) ( CASC); 8 paratype workers, same locality as holotype ( CASC, USNM)

Worker diagnosis: body distinctly bicolored, with gaster much darker than head and mesosoma.

Compare with: P. oreias and P. subtilis

WORKER. Measurements (n=12): TL: 1.19–1.57; HW: 0.34–0.36; HL: 0.38–0.41; EL: 0.098–0.112; SL: 0.38–0.43; PW: 0.21–0.27; WL: 0.42–0.49; PDH: 0.18–0.23; PrFL: 0.31–0.34; PrFW: 0.098–0.112; GL: 0.39–0.7. Indices: CI: 87–92; REL: 25–29; SI: 108–120; FI: 30–36

Head yellowish-brown to light brown, with antennae mandibles, and medial area between antennae slightly lighter; head slightly longer than broad. A dense layer of fine, short, slightly decumbent pubescence covers head. Scapes surpass posterior margin by about the length of the first funicular segment; scape with a dense, slightly decumbent pubescence. Mesosoma yellowish-brown to light brown; fine pubescence covers entire mesosomal dorsum; lateral portions of the mesosoma are distinctly shinier than the dorsum. Pronotum rises steeply from anterior margin to dorsum. Propodeum possesses a short, angular dorsal face, with a long declivitous face. Legs generally lighter colored than mesosoma, becoming whitish towards last tarsal segments. Procoxae usually darker brown than meso/metacoxae; gaster conspicuously darker than head and mesosoma and is covered in a dense layer of pubescence.

Etymology. The species epithet is a Latin noun in apposition, a compound of umbra (=shade) and natis (=rump), in reference to the fact that the gaster is much darker in color than the head and mesosoma.

Non-type material examined: ANGOLA: Salazar, 9–15.iii.1972 (P.M. Hammond); GABON: Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Res. Monts Doudou, 25.2 km 304° NW Doussala, 10° 23.7’ E, 2° 13.6’ S, 14.iii.2000, elev. 640 m (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Res. Monts Doudou, 24.5 km 303° WNW Doussala, 10° 23.9’ E, 2° 14.0’ S, 18.iii.2000, elev. 630 m (B.L. Fisher); Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Reserve de la Moukalaba- Dougoua, 7km NW Doussala, 10° 32.65’ E, 2 19.84’ S, 21.iii.2000, elev. 110 m (S. van Noort); KENYA: Buyangu Nature Reserve, 0.37° N, 34.87° E (R. Snelling & A. Espira).

Notes. This species is easily recognizable by the distinctly darker gaster (brown) contrasting with the yellow-brown head and mesosoma. While many Paraparatrechina species display various coloration patterns between the different tagmata this is the only species that could be considered truly bicolored.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Paraparatrechina umbranatis worker holotype CASENT 0178764. A, profile; B, dorsum; C, full face.

FIGURE 16. Various measurements of Paraparatrechina workers.

FIGURE 17. Distribution of Paraparatrechina species. NOTE: The specimens of brunnella and umbranatis from Kenya were received after the proofing stage of this paper and are not included on the maps above. Instead, the Kenya locality records can be found under the non-type materials examined section of each species.