Echinopla melanarctos Smith, 1857

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 : 108

Taxon classification Animalia Hymenoptera Formicidae

Echinopla melanarctos Smith, 1857

Material examined.

1 worker (NHMW) from Indonesia, Sumatra, Aceh Province, Gunung Leuser National Park, Ketambe, 22.II.1990, leg. H. Schillhammer; 1 worker (NHMW) from West Malaysia, Kedah, Gunung Jerai, north of Sungai Petani, 700 m a.s.l., leg. M.A. Jäch; 15 workers, 2 dealate gynes (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; 1 gyne (MCB) from Sabah, Danum Valley, Western Trail, 04°58'N; 117°48'E, 4.VI.2004, leg. D. Mezger (C 00619); 1 worker (UKL) from Borneo, Sabah, Deramakot Forest Reserve, Plot H196, ca. 5°27'N; 117°25'E, ca. 85 m, disturbed logged-over forest, 1998, leg. M. Gossner; 1 gyne (UKL) from Borneo, Sarawak, Gunung Mulu National Park, 04°08'N; 114°54'E, leg. D. Mezger (KE91).

Notes.

Echinopla melanarctos is the type species of Echinopla . It can be easily recognized by its relatively large size (in workers TL ca. 6.5-8.2 mm, HW1 ca. 2.05-2.44 mm), very spiny appearance, long black hair, and entirely black colour (except palpi). The “spines” are slender, socket-shaped protuberances ( “pedestals”) of the integument, their apex is truncate and bears a long seta, surrounded by a subapical ring of short, horizontally projecting hairs (bearing resemblance to the pappus of a dandelion seed). They are typical for a group of species also containing Echinopla pallipes , Echinopla circulus sp. n., Echinopla tritschleri , and Echinopla cherapunjiensis . In Echinopla tritschleri , however, the ring of short setae is not horizontally projecting but oblique, therefore the pilosity is less obvious.

Due to the scarcity of specimens, hitherto little is known about the differences between workers and gynes in Echinopla . We were able to study both castes of Echinopla melanarctos and noted the following differences: body of gynes larger (TL 8.8-9.7 vs. 6.5-8.2; HW1 2.41-2.70 vs. 2.05-2.44); eyes slightly larger; ocelli present; pedestals lower than in worker, on scutum and scutellum reduced to low tubercles; these parts with coarse, irregular rugae, scutum anteriorly with distinct, long 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 (not with a sharp projection as in some congeners).

Echinopla melanarctos was described from Singapore ( Smith 1857) and recorded from Sumatra ( Mayr 1872, Emery 1900) and Sipora Island of the Mentawai group ( Emery 1900) in Indonesia. A worker from “Banka” deposited in the Zoological State Collection, Munich, and illustrated by Antbase (2015) originates probably from Bangka Island offshore Sumatra. Antweb (2015) records specimens from Borneo (Sabah and Kalimantan). Examined specimens from West Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak) fully agree with illustrations of a Sabah specimen in Antweb (2015).