Odontomachus pangantihoni, Zettel & M & I, 2023

Zettel, Herbert, M, D. & I, Philippines., 2023, Another new trap-jaw ant (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Odontomachus LATREILLE, 1804) from the Philippines, Linzer biologische Beiträge 55 (1), pp. 381-385 : 382-384

Odontomachus pangantihoni nov.sp. ( Figs 1-4 )

T y p e m a t e r i a l: Holotype (worker) and paratypes (6 workers) from Philippines, Panay Island, Aklan Province, Northwest Panay Peninsula Natural Park, Buruanga River area , N 11°46.9′, E 121°58.4′, 420 m a.s.l., Feb. 25, leg. C. V. Pangantihon ; paratypes (3 workers), nearby locality, Sibaliw Station , N 11°49.3′, E 121°57.9′, 430 m a.s.l., same date and collector.The holotype will be deposited in the Philippine National Museum, paratypes in the first author’s collection.

E t y m o l o g y. Named in honour of Clister V. Pangantihon who discovered this species.

D e s c r i p t i o n o f w o r k e r. Measurements: holotype: TL 14.4, HW 2.32, HL 3.35, CI 69, MdL 2.10, MdI 63, SL 3.41, SI 147, MsL 4.57, PnW 1.32, PtH 1.52, PtL 1.60, PtW 0.50. Paratypes (n = 9): TL ca. 13.8–16.4, HW 2.23–2.54, HL 3.33–3,68, CI 65–69, MdL 1.96–2.25, MdI 57–62, SL 3.31–3.68, SI 142–152, MsL 4.65–5.18, PnW 1.32–1.55.

Structures. Large and slender species with long antennae and legs ( Fig. 3 ). Head ( Fig. 1 ) long, comparatively slender, with distinct temporal prominences. Mandibles long, with long and sharp apical and subapical teeth, and a short intercalary tooth between them; the two most distal denticles slightly larger than the basal ones. Four maxillary and four labial palp segments. Striation on head extending from frontal lobes to ocular ridge, posterior of head smooth and shiny. Pronotum ( Fig. 2 ) with fine, fingerprint-like striation, closed circles and elongated loops clearly visible in dorsal view; posterolateral parts transversely striate. Mesosoma depressed. Mesopleuron ( Fig. 4 ) completely striate; in some specimens a small shiny area in middle, but striation still recognizable. Petiole ( Fig. 3 ) high, without false peduncle anteriorly, with long apical spine; ventral process long and rather slender, its apex narrowly rounded; petiolar spine long, its anterior face straight, its posterior face slightly convex.

Pilosity ( Fig. 3 ). Pubescence sparse, short.

Colour ( Fig. 3 ). Body uniformly pale brownish orange. Legs and antennae light yellow. D i s t r i b u t i o n. Endemic to the Philippines and only known from the island of Panay (Aklan Province).

N o t e s. Odontomachus pangantihoni nov.sp. is a member of the O. infandus species group based on the diagnostic characters listed by SORGER & ZETTEL (2011). It is most similar to O. ferminae GENERAL, 2018 from Sibuyan Island by light body colour and smooth posterior part of the head (compare GENERAL 2018), but differs strongly in an elongate-ovate, fingerprint-like striation of the pronotum (transversely striate in O. ferminae) and a completely striate mesopleuron (almost completely smooth and shiny in O. ferminae). Odontomachus banksi FOREL, 1910 from Luzon Island, which also possesses a yellowish, posteriorly smooth head, can be easily distinguished by larger size, dark mesosoma, petiole and gaster, and by the relatively long and dense pilosity of the mesosoma. An unnamed species from Mindanao (sp. 2 in SORGER & ZETTEL 2011) differs by short scape (SI = 1.2).

The Philippine species of the O. infandus species group are endemic in the country, and most species have a parapatric distribution; only South Luzon (Bicol Region) is probably inhabited by three species (species rank of sp. 1 of SORGER & ZETTEL 2011 unconfirmed). From Panay, Odontomachus philippinus EMERY, 1893 has been recorded from the more eastern province of Capiz (SORGER & ZETTEL 2011). This species, which also occurs on the islands of Negros and Siquijor, differs clearly from O. pangantihoni nov.sp. by a brown mesosoma (although slightly variable between populations of the three islands), a transverse to slightly curved striation of the pronotum, a predominantly shiny and smooth mesopleuron, and a slightly stouter ventral process of the petiole. It is presently unknown whether the two species have an overlapping distribution on Panay.

Figures

Figs 1–2. Odontomachus pangantihoni nov.sp., paratype: (1) head, frontal view; (2) mesosoma and petiole, dorsal view.

Figs 3–4. Odontomachus pangantihoni nov.sp., paratype: (3) body, lateral view; (4) mesopleuron.