Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Formicidae

Paratrechina antsingy sp. n. Figs 4-6

Holotype worker.

MADAGASCAR: Province Antsiranna, Montagne Français, 7.2 km 142° SE Diego Suarezi, 180m, 12°19'S, 49°20'E, 22-28.ii.2001, Fisher et al. CASENT 0906916 (CASC). 12 paratype workers with same locality information as holotype (BMNH, CASC, USNM).

Worker diagnosis.

Cuticle smooth and very shiny; brown with patches of lighter cuticle across body, giving species a mottled appearance; SI less than 195.

Worker. Measurements (n=6) TL: 2.07-2.69; HW: 0.58-0.60; HL: 0.67-0.70; EL: 0.17-0.19; SL: 1.02-1.08; PW: 0.40-0.44; WL: 0.97-1.02; GL: 0.76-1.05; PFL: 0.74-0.78 CI: 84-89; REL: 26-28; REL2: 29-32; SI: 177-180; SMC: 24-30; PMC: 4-5; MMC: 3-4.

Brown with lighter areas on mandibles, antennae, lateral portions of head, mesonotum, pronotum, mesonotum, trochanters and joints of femora; first gastral tergite with mottled lighter and darker areas; cuticle smooth and very shiny, except for mesonotum, metanotal area and propodeum being slightly rugolose; scapes, head, pronotum, mesonotum and gaster with abundant macrosetae; scapes with short, appressed pubescence. Head ovate; posterolateral corners rounded with complete posterior margin; midpoint of eyes at approximately midline of head; eyes convex; 3 small ocelli present; mandibles with 5 teeth; apical tooth the longest, 3rd tooth from apical shortest, remainder about the same size; outer mandibular surface with slight striations across surface. In lateral view, pronotum convex; pronotal/mesonotal margin with mesonotum raised slightly above margin; propodeum convex with dorsal face rising steeply to a rounded peak with steep declivitous face; metanotal suture with distinct impression that extends down along the mesopleural/metapleural margin.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is derived from the name of the province where the species was found.