Prenolepis naoroji Forel, 1902

Williams, Jason L., 2016, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the ant genus Prenolepis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 4200 (2), pp. 201-258 : 234-236

Prenolepis naoroji Forel, 1902

( Figs 101–103 )

Prenolepis naoroji Forel, 1902: 290 (w.). Holotype worker, INDIA (MHNG: CASENT0911042) [examined]. Bharti & Wachkoo, 2012: 122 –124 (w. q. m.).

Prenolepis longiventris Zhou, 2001: 173 , 241 (w.). Holotype worker, CHINA: Guangxi Province, Huaping Nature Reserve , 25°10.10’N 109°48.54’°E, 534m, 8.viii.1995 ( GNUC) [examined]. syn. nov.

Prenolepis magnocula Xu, 1995: 339 (w.). Holotype worker, CHINA: Yunnan Province, Wenshan County, 23°24.04’N 104°12.28’E, 1286m, 16.xi.1994 ( SWFU: A91-445) [not examined] . Paratype worker, same data as holotype ( SWFU: A91- 435) [examined]. syn. nov.

Worker diagnosis. Compound eyes very large (REL> 30, REL2> 34) and strongly convex, extending well beyond the lateral margins of the head; covered in very long, erect macrosetae; faint blue cuticular iridescence.

Most similar species. P. angularis , P. jerdoni , P. subopaca

Morphology. Worker. Measurements (n=38): CMC: 12–17; EL: 0.22–0.29; EW: 0.21–0.24; HL: 0.62–0.81; HLA: 0.32–0.39; HLP: 0.19–0.24; HW: 0.54–0.70; IOD: 0.40–0.48; LF1: 0.22–0.26; LF2: 0.11–0.14; LHT: 1.01– 1.22; MMC: 1–2; MTW: 0.35–0.47; MW: 0.21–0.29; PDH: 0.26–0.35; PMC: 2–4; PrCL: 0.40–0.50; PrCW: 0.21– 0.26; PrFL: 0.73–1.00; PrFW: 0.14–0.24; PTH: 0.35–0.37; PTL: 0.32–0.38; PTW: 0.19–0.28; PW: 0.42–0.53; SL: 0.95–1.29; TL: 2.53–3.97; WF1: 0.06–0.07; WF2: 0.04–0.06; WL: 0.87–1.27; BLI: 146–187; CI: 83–94; EPI: 155– 188; FLI: 184–223; HTI: 153–184; PetHI: 128–132; PetWI: 68–75; PrCI: 46–53; PrFI: 17–24; REL: 31–38; REL2: 34–45; REL3: 50–61; SI: 153–194.

Light to dark brown with head and gaster sometimes darker than mesosoma and cuticle having a faint blue iridescence; cuticle of head and mesosoma smooth and shiny; cuticle of mesopleuron smooth or very lightly reticulate; cuticle of gaster lightly reticulate; abundant decumbent setae on scapes and legs; abundant long, erect macrosetae on head, mesosoma, and gaster; head slightly longer than broad and oval in shape with indistinct posterolateral corners and a convex posterior margin; compound eyes very large (REL> 30; REL2> 34) and strongly convex, surpassing the lateral margin in full-face view; torulae overlap with the posterior border of the clypeus; clypeus strongly medially convex and without prominent anterolateral lobes ( Fig 47 ); mandibles with 6–7 teeth (usually 6) on the masticatory margin; ectal surface of mandibles with light longitudinal striations; in profile view, propodeum is domed with a rounded dorsal face ( Fig 24 ); dorsal apex of petiole scale is sharply angled and forwardinclined ( Fig 53 ).

Notes. This species and P. angularis are the only two Prenolepis species to have a light blue cuticular iridescence. Prenolepis naoroji has very large compound eyes (REL> 30; REL2> 34) similar to those of P. jerdoni and P. subopaca , but the latter two have elongate petioles ( Figs 55, 56 ) and do not have a cuticular iridescence.

Much like P. imparis , this species also has a wide distribution, appears relatively often in collections, and shows great variation in color. Its range extends from India and China and down to Malaysia and Indonesia ( Fig 141 ). Bharti and Wachkoo (2012) make note that workers collected in India are most often collected from trees and vegetation and that this species is probably arboreal.

Other material examined. CHINA: Hong Kong, N.T., Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden , 335m, 22.43075N 114.12120E ± 6m, 4.vii.2011 (P.S. Ward) ; Guangxi, Huaping , 8.vii.1995 (S.Y. Zhou) ; Yunnan, Xishuang-banna, near Menglun Town , 630m, 21.890N 101.267E, 14.vi.2013 (C. Liu) ; Zhejiang, Gutianshan (M. Staab); INDIA : Kerala, W. Ghats, 150–900m, 04–05.iv.1969 (A.B. Soans & W.L. Brown) ; Himachal Pradesh, Andretta , 940m, 32°02.331’N 76°34.158’E, 11.vi.2014 (H. Bharti) ; INDONESIA: N. Sumatra, Pulau Nias (Lotu) Lowland , 22.viii.2002 (S. Yamane) ; MALAYSIA: Sabah, Poring Hot Spring , 18.i.1996 (A. Malsch) ; Sabah, Crocker Range N.P., Mahua Waterfall area , 1000m, 05.vi.2000 (S. Yamane) ; Sabah, Sayap Kinabalu , 1000m, 14.vii.1996 (S. Yamane) ; THAILAND: Nakhonratchasima , Khao Yai N.P., 31.v.2000 (S. Yamane) ; VIETNAM: Vin Phuc, Tam Dao , 1000– 1240m, 08.viii.1998 (S. Yamane) ; Dong Nai, S. Cat Tien N.P. (K. Eguchi). In: ANIC, MCZC, USNM.

Figures

FIGURE 141. Point-based map of Prenolepis species found mostly in mainland Asia (India, southern China, and Indochina).

FIGURES 101 – 103. Prenolepis naoroji worker USNMENT 00755077. Lateral, full-face, and dorsal view of the body.

FIGURES 38 – 50. Illustrations of clypeus shapes (full-face view) observed in all Prenolepis species. Apparent differences in width of torulae are artifacts of specimen orientation. In some species the torulae are oriented more laterally. 38, P. angularis; 39, P. darlena; 40, P. fisheri; 41, P. fustinoda; 42, P. imparis; 43, P. jacobsoni; 44, P. jerdoni; 45, P. mediops; 46, P. melanogaster; 47, P. naoroji; 48, P. nitens; 49, P. shanialena; 50, P. subopaca.

FIGURES 15 – 27. Illustrations of mesosoma shapes (profile view) observed in all Prenolepis species. 15, P. angularis; 16, P. darlena; 17, P. fisheri; 18, P. fustinoda; 19, P. imparis; 20, P. jacobsoni; 21, P. jerdoni; 22, P. mediops; 23, P. melanogaster; 24, P. naoroji; 25, P. nitens; 26, P. shanialena; 27, P. subopaca.

FIGURES 51 – 56. Illustrations of petiole shapes (profile view) observed in Prenolepis species. 51, P. darlena; 52, P. fustinoda; 53, P. imparis (typical shape seen in most Prenolepis species); 54, P. jacobsoni; 55, P. jerdoni; 56, P. subopaca.