Pseudolasius

LaPolla, J. S., Brady, S. G. & Shattuck, S. O., 2010, Phylogeny and taxonomy of the Prenolepis genus-group of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., Systematic Entomology 35, pp. 118-131 : 129

Pseudolasius

Figures of worker. Head: Fig. 5G ( major ), Fig. 5H ( minor ); mesosoma: Fig. 6G ( major ), 6H ( minor ); mandible: Fig. 7F.

Synopsis of taxonomic history (for full description see Bolton et al., 2006): Pseudolasius Emery, 1887: 244 . Type species: Formica familiaris , by subsequent designation of Bingham (1903: 337),: 244.

= Nesolasius Wheeler, W.M., 1935 : 50. As subgenus of Pseudolasius . As provisional junior synonym of Pseudolasius, Brown, 1973: 183 ; as junior synonym of Pseudolasius, Bolton, 1994: 50 (here confirmed). Type species: Pseudolasius (Nesolasius) typhlops , by original description.

Diagnosis. Mandible with 4 to 7 teeth; maxillary palps 2- to 5-segmented; labial palps 2- to 4-segmented; mandalus small and inconspicuous. Setae on dorsum of head randomly placed; with erect setae on scapes, legs and dorsum of mesosoma, including propodeum; body often covered in dense pubescence. Eyes often poorly developed, typically placed below midlength. Workers strongly polymorphic, with a major caste present; posterior margin of head in majors typically emarginate. Propodeum with a low- to high-domed dorsal face; overall mesosoma shape compact.

Distribution. (Fig. 9C). This genus is restricted to southern Asia, from India to China, stretching southwards to northern Australia. It appears to be restricted to tropical localities.

Notes. The polymorphic nature of this genus is well known, but overall this is a fairly heterogeneous group that is in need of taxonomic revision. There are clearly some lineages that have taken a hypogaeic evolutionary route and look quite different from the larger, presumably epigaeic species. A polymorphic species placed in Pseudolasius until the current study ( Paraparatrechina weissi ) did not group with the few other polymorphic Pseudolasius sampled in our molecular phylogeny. Additional study is required to determine if other species currently placed within Pseudolasius need to be transferred to other genera.