Lioponera neocaledonica Jouault, Ramage & Perrichot, 2019

Ramage, Thibault, Jouault, Corentin, Schmidt, Alexander R., Seyfullah, Leyla J. & Perrichot, Vincent, 2019, Two new ant species (Formicidae: Dorylinae, Ponerinae) from New Caledonia, European Journal of Taxonomy 589, pp. 1-14 : 7-8

Lioponera neocaledonica Jouault, Ramage & Perrichot sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7612551C-6C0A-4931-9D06-8FC8062DB5E3

Figs 4 , 5B

Diagnosis

Lioponera neocaledonica Jouault, Ramage & Perrichot sp. nov. is mostly characterized by the combination of the following features: mesosoma dorsolaterally conspicuously marginate, propodeal declivity without dorsal margin; posterolateral corners of petiole not projected into spines. The two latter features easily serve to distinguish L. neocaledonica Jouault, Ramage & Perrichot sp. nov. from the other New Caledonian species L. cohici ( Wilson, 1957) ( Fig. 5A ) and L. dumbletoni ( Wilson, 1957) ( Fig. 5C ).

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to New Caledonia where the species was discovered.

Type material

Holotype

NEW CALEDONIA • wingless ♀; Grande Terre, Province Sud, Sarraméa, Plateau de Dogny trail; 21°37′31″ S, 165°52′5″ E; 441 m; 16 Nov. 2011; V. Perrichot leg. [VP188]; mixed mountain forest, hand picking on ground; MNHN.

Paratypes

NEW CALEDONIA • 2 wingless ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; MNHN • 1 wingless ♀; Grande Terre, Province Sud, Montagne des Sources ; 22°09′35.1″ S, 166°35′42.4″ E; 394 m; 23 Oct. 2010; M. Berman leg. [CSIRONC0055]; ANIC 32-146088 .

Description (holotype)

MEASUREMENTS (in mm; holotype in brackets). TL 4.12–4.15 (4.15); HL 0.8–0.85 (0.85); HW 0.7–0.77 (0.77); SL 0.45–0.52 (0.52); ED 0.2–0.25 (0.2); PW 0.65–0.72 (0.7); MH 0.52–0.62 (0.62); MSL 1.025– 1.12 (1.12); PL 0.45–0.55 (0.55); PH 0.4–0.42 (0.42); DPW 0.67–0.7 (0.7); T1W 0.65–0.77 (0.77);

T1L 0.5–0.62 (0.62); T2W 0.75–0.82 (0.82); T2L 0.6–0.65 (0.65). Indices: CI 84–91 (91); SI 64–69 (67); LPI 76–94 (77); DPI 127–150 (127).

HEAD ( Fig. 4C ). Sub-rectangular, slightly longer than broad, widest above midline of head; lateral sides slightly convex; vertexal margin slightly concave, posterior lateral corners slightly rounded. Parafrontal ridges angular. Compound eyes of medium size, situated below midline of head. Mandible elongate, triangular, masticatory margin with 10 small teeth. Antennae with scape short and clavate, reaching up to two fifth of posterior margin of head.

MESOSOMA ( Fig. 4 A–B, D). Stout, roughly rectangular in dorsal view, with conspicuous dorsolateral margins, the margins notched around promesonotal junction; mesosomal dorsal surface convex, propodeal declivity without dorsal margin.

METASOMA. Petiole ( Fig. 4 A–B, E) broader than long, slightly trapezoidal, widest at two thirds of length; anterior petiolar surface concave; dorsal petiolar surface convex, with dorsolateral margins well developed and convex, without anterodorsal and posterodorsal margins; posterior petiolar surface slightly convex; anterodorsal and posterodorsal corners angular. Subpetiolar process small, triangular, with stout acute somewhat hooked apex; fenestra absent. Gaster elongate ( Fig. 4 A–B), with distinct girdling constriction (cinctus) between abdominal segments III and IV.Abdominal segment II trapezoidal, slightly broader than long, widest at one third of length; dorsal surface slightly convex; dorsolateral margins well developed and strongly convex; anterodorsal margin sinuate; anterodorsal corner broadly rounded; posterolateral corner angular. Sting exerted, upcurved.

INTEGUMENT. Mostly black except last two funicular articles, tarsomeres, and posterior margins of abdominal segments IV to V brown. Body finely and sparsely punctate; reticulation present on sides of the mesosoma, becoming shallower from propleura to propodeum; cinctus, abdominal segment IV, base of abdominal segments V, VI and pygidium transversally, finely and shallowly striate. Body covered with suberect hairs; scape with abundant appressed hairs; tibiae with scattered decumbent hairs; tarsi with abundant decumbent to appressed hairs; declivous face of propodeum with short, dense and appressed hairs.

Remarks

The potential presence of ergatogynes in Lioponera ( Wilson 1957; Borowiec 2016) prevents assignment of the present specimens to workers or ergatogynes.

Key to the species of Lioponera of New Caledonia (modified from Wilson 1957)

1. Large species (HW> 1.1 mm), with long scapes reaching nearly to posterior corners of head; mesosomal dorsolateral margins absent ................................ Lioponera dumbletoni ( Wilson, 1957)

– Small species (HW <1.1 mm), scapes barely surpassing eyes; mesosomal dorsolateral margins present ( Fig. 4A, D ) .......................................................................................................................... 2

2. Mesosomal posterodorsal margin present; posterolateral corners of petiole projected into spines ( Fig. 5A ) ........................................................................................ Lioponera cohici ( Wilson, 1957)

– Mesosomal posterodorsal margin absent ( Fig. 4D ); posterolateral corners of petiole not projected into spines ( Fig. 5B ) ..................... Lioponera neocaledonica Jouault, Ramage & Perrichot sp. nov.

Figures

Fig. 4. Lioponera neocaledonica Jouault, Ramage & Perrichot sp. nov., holotype, ♀ (MNHN). A. Body in profile view. B. Body in dorsal view. C. Head in full-face view. D. Reconstruction of mesosoma in left profile view. E. Reconstruction of petiole in left profile view.

Fig. 5. Comparison of petioles in Lioponera species of New Caledonia. A. L. cohici (Wilson, 1957) (CASENT0249291). B. L. neocaledonica Jouault, Ramage & Perrichot sp. nov. (MNHN). C. Lioponera dumbletoni (Wilson, 1957) (CASENT0249292).