Myrmoteras moffetti, Bharti & Akbar, 2014

Bharti, Himender & Akbar, Shahid Ali, 2014, Taxonomic Studies on the Genus Myrmoteras Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with Description of Two New Species from India, J. Entomol. Res. Soc. 16 (2), pp. 71-80 : 74-75

Myrmoteras moffetti sp. n. ( Figs. 22-24 )

Type material. Holotype and 2 paratypes (worker): INDIA: KERALA: Periyar tiger reserve, Thanikkudy , 9 o.30`N, 77 o.16`E, 1003m a.m.s.l., 15.x.2011, hand picking method, Coll. Shahid A. Akbar. Holotype and paratype in PUAC, one paratype will be deposited in BMNH .

Measurements (Holotype in brackets). TL 4.90-5,03(5.03), HW 1.01-1.04(1.03), HL 0.92-0.94(0.94), CI 109-110(109), ML 1.50-1.52(1.52), MI 161-163(161), SL 1.03-1.05(1.04), SI 100-101(100), PTL 0.16-0.18(0.18), EL 0.27-0.29(0.29), HFL 1.10-1.13(1.13), TWI 18-19(19), WL 1.32-1.35 (1.35), EI 26-28(28), GL 1.00-1.04(1.04), PW 0.65-0.67(0.68) (n=3).

Description. Head 0.09× as broad as long; blunt ridge on temple separates flat anterior from slightly convex posterior face; medial frontal sulcus deeply impressed posteriorly reaching anterior ocellus and anteriorly up to margin of frons; clypeus with anterior margin concave and posteriomedially prominently elevated; mandibles long with 14 teeth consisting of 5 large and 9 small teeth (mandibular teeth count include the preapical and apical denticles); maxillary palp with 5- and labial palp 3-segmented. Antennal scrobes indistinct; antennae with slender funiculus, each segment about 2× as long as broad.

Mesosoma. Pronotum with summit gently convex, slightly higher than mesonotum; metanotum groove conspicuously impressed; propodeum feebly convex and with summit virtually level with mesothorax. Legs with middle and hind tibiae slender.

Metasoma. Petiole node moderately thick with anterior face straight and posterior face less steep and curving gently into summit; summit rounded and moderately wide. Gaster small and rounded.

Sculpture. Mandibles smooth. Head and occiput smooth and shiny, with the exception of three to four rugae originating posteriomedially of torulus. Frons, temples and vertex smooth and shiny. Pronotum smooth and shiny; mesonotum, metanotum and propodeum strongly granulo-rugose; gaster smooth and shiny.

Vestiture. Body pilosity reduced; moderate, short suberect hairs distributed evenly throughout the body. Head with the longest hair, ca. 0.15mm. Apical funicular segments, mandibles and legs with small standing hairs.

Colour. Body uniformly dark brown. Mandibles and antennae yellow with tint of

brown; palpi yellow. Legs largely yellow with trochanter brown.

Etymology. The species is named in honor of Mark Moffett, for his contributions to the genus Myrmoteras Forel.

Differential diagnosis. M. moffetti sp. n. is similar to M. bakeri Wheeler, 1919 in most of the characters but, differs from the later species mainly by following characters: body dark brown; mandibles with 14 teeth with two apical denticles, pronotum smooth and shiny without longitudinal rugae, dorsum of mesothorax granulo-rugose and relatively slender tibiae (TWI <21) whilst in M. bakeri , body light brown; mandibles with11-12 teeth with two apical denticles, pronotum with longitudinal rugae, dorsum of mesothorax loosely granulated and relatively dilated tibiae (TWI>23). The new species also shares some affinities with another Indian species M. indicum . However, the two species are easily separated by combination of characters provided in the key.

Figures

Figs. 22-23. M. moffetti sp.n., holotype. 22. body in profile. 23. body in dorsal view.

Figs. 3, 6, 15, 24, 27. Heads in frontal view, workers; 3. M. agostii sp.n., holotype; 6. M. brachygnathum; 15. M. indicum; 24. M. moffetti sp.n., holotype; 27. M. scabrum.