Echinopla tritschleri Forel, 1901

Zettel, Herbert & Laciny, Alice, 2015, Contributions to the taxonomy of the ant genus Echinopla Smith, 1857 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 62 (1), pp. 101-121 : 111

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Formicidae

Echinopla tritschleri Forel, 1901

Material examined.

9 workers and 1 dealate gyne (ZCW, NHMW) from West Malaysia, Kelantan, 30 km NW Gua Musang, Ulu Lalat, Kampong Sungai Om, 800-1000 m a.s.l., 21.VI.-14.VII.2010, leg. Petr Čechovský; 2 dealate gynes (NHMW) from Borneo, Sabah, Crocker Range National Park, Gunung Emas Highland Resort, 1500-1700 m a.s.l., 6-18.VI.1998, unknown collector (2a); 3 workers (CAS, CASENT0202195-97) from Borneo, Sabah, Danum Valley, nature trail, 180 m a.s.l., 4.96072°N; 117.80014°E, 25.VIII.2010, rainforest, leg. B.L. Fisher; 1 worker (CAS) from the same locality, 16-26.VIII.2010, Ant Course 2010, unknown collector.

Notes.

Echinopla tritschleri differs from the previous three species by the position of the eyes that are close to the mid-length of the head. The short hair of the mesosoma is less conspicuous than in Echinopla pallipes and Echinopla circulus sp. n. The sculpture of gaster tergite 1 is very characteristic: anteriorly with a few tubercles, sides and disc with punctures that flow together to form longitudinal lines, and posteriorly with punctures that flow together into transverse lines.

Gynes similar to workers but differing by the following characters: body much larger (TL 8.4-8.7 vs. 6.1-6.8; HW1 2.12-2.19 vs. 1.58-1.86); eyes slightly larger; ocelli present; scape wider; pedestals comparatively low and restricted to posterior of head, pronotum, propodeum, and base of gaster tergite 1; scutum and scutellum with coarse, irregular rugae, scutum anteriorly with short median carina; short pilosity of dorsum less obvious; thoracic structures as typical for winged ant gynes (all examined specimens with wings broken off); scutellum laterally with a short lobe.

Forel (1901) described the worker of Echinopla tritschleri from Sumatra and added a gyne from southeastern Borneo. From Sabah, northern Borneo, we have studied the worker specimens listed by Antweb (2015) and deposited in CAS, and two gynes in NHMW. The specimens from West Malaysia represent the first record from the Asian mainland.