Prenolepis subopaca Emery, 1900

Williams, Jason L., 2016, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the ant genus Prenolepis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 4200 (2), pp. 201-258 : 242-244

Prenolepis subopaca Emery, 1900 , stat. nov.

( Figs 118–120 )

Prenolepis jerdoni subopaca Emery, 1900: 699 (w.). Holotype worker, INDONESIA: Sumatra, Si-Rambé , 01.xii.1890 (E. Modigliani) ( MSNG: CASENT0905792) [examined].

Worker diagnosis. Gracile with elongate legs (HTI> 185), antennae (SI> 185), and mesosoma (BLI> 175); in profile view, the mesosoma is especially slender and has a distinct shape, with the propodeum much taller than the pronotum ( Fig 27 ); no erect macrosetae on the propodeum; petiole is narrow and elongate (PetWI <55); dorsal surface of pronotum, propodeum, and gaster covered in fine, dense pubescence; scale of petiole is rounded at its apex ( Fig 56 ).

Most similar species. P. jacobsoni , P. jerdoni , P. naoroji

Morphology. Worker. Measurements (n=17): CMC: 7–18; EL: 0.24–0.31; EW: 0.18–0.26; HL: 0.71–0.98; HLA: 0.38–0.50; HLP: 0.25–0.33; HW: 0.58–0.85; IOD: 0.42–0.53; LF1: 0.21–0.28; LF2: 0.15–0.20; LHT: 1.17–1.80; MMC: 0–1; MTW: 0.40–0.51; MW: 0.24–0.38; PDH: 0.29–0.43; PMC: 2–4; PrCL: 0.50–0.69; PrCW: 0.24–0.35; PrFL: 0.92–1.35; PrFW: 0.18–0.25; PTH: 0.29–0.43; PTL: 0.44–0.56; PTW: 0.21–0.30; PW: 0.48–0.60; SL: 1.23– 1.67; TL: 2.74–4.29; WF1: 0.06–0.09; WF2: 0.06–0.08; WL: 1.04–1.59; BLI: 176–206; CI: 80–87; EPI: 150–160; FLI: 135–146; HTI: 202–222; PetHI: 95–102; PetWI: 49–53; PrCI: 48–53; PrFI: 17–21; REL: 30–34; REL2: 35–41; REL3: 54–62; SI: 188–214.

Medium to dark brown; entire cuticle finely reticulate and dull; abundant decumbent setae on scapes and legs; very long, erect macrosetae on head, mesosoma, and gaster; no erect macrosetae on propodeum; fine and dense pubescence covering the dorsal surface of the pronotum, propodeum, and gaster; head slightly longer than broad and oval in shape with indistinct posterolateral corners and a convex posterior margin; eyes large and strongly convex, surpassing the lateral margins of the head in full-face view; torulae do not touch the posterior border of the clypeus; clypeus strongly medially convex and without prominent anterolateral lobes ( Fig 50 ); mandibles with 5–7 teeth (usually 6) on the masticatory margin; ectal surface of mandibles smooth and shiny; metatibia relatively elongate (HTI> 185); in profile view, propodeum is much taller than pronotum and domed with a rounded dorsal face ( Fig 27 ); petiole is narrow and elongate (PetWI <55) with a rounded dorsal apex of the scale ( Fig 56 ).

Notes. This species is most similar to P. jerdoni , but can be distinguished by its finely reticulate and dull cuticle and thick patches of pubescence on the dorsal surface of the pronotum, propodeum, and gaster. Prenolepis subopaca has very large compound eyes that are similar to those of P. naoroji , but P. naoroji has a distinct light blue cuticular iridescence and a shorter petiole than P. subopaca .

Other material examined. INDONESIA: Teluk Kabah Kutai N.P., 17.ix.1993 (S. Yamane) ; MALAYSIA: Sabah, Mt. Kinabalu N.P., 6.03N 116.32E, 17.x.1978 (B.B. Lowery) ; Sabah, Mt. Kinabalu N.P., Poring Hot Springs , 560m, 13.vii.1995 (C.A. Brühl) ; Sabah, Mt. Kinabalu N.P., 1500m, 09.x.1997 (T. Kikuta) ; Sabah, Crocker Range N.P., Mahua Waterfall , 1000m, 05.xi.2000 (S. Yamane) ; Sarawak, Sedong, Kampong Tapuh , 300–450m, 10.vii.1958 (T.C. Maa) ; Sarawak, Semengoh Forest Reserve, 1–4.vi.1968 (R.W. Taylor) ; Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Universiti Malaya, 10–12.vi.1996 (S.L. Heydon); Tenompok, 13.ii.1959 (T.C. Maa) SINGAPORE: Bukit Timah , 50m, 1°21'N 103°47'E, 7.iv.1989 (P.S. Ward); nr. Sambawang, 18.vi.1967 (D.H. Murphy). In: ANIC, MCZC, USNM.

Figures

FIGURES 118 – 120. Prenolepis subopaca worker USNMENT 00755090. Lateral, full-face, and dorsal view of the body.

FIGURES 15 – 27. Illustrations of mesosoma shapes (profile view) observed in all Prenolepis species. 15, P. angularis; 16, P. darlena; 17, P. fisheri; 18, P. fustinoda; 19, P. imparis; 20, P. jacobsoni; 21, P. jerdoni; 22, P. mediops; 23, P. melanogaster; 24, P. naoroji; 25, P. nitens; 26, P. shanialena; 27, P. subopaca.

FIGURES 51 – 56. Illustrations of petiole shapes (profile view) observed in Prenolepis species. 51, P. darlena; 52, P. fustinoda; 53, P. imparis (typical shape seen in most Prenolepis species); 54, P. jacobsoni; 55, P. jerdoni; 56, P. subopaca.

FIGURES 38 – 50. Illustrations of clypeus shapes (full-face view) observed in all Prenolepis species. Apparent differences in width of torulae are artifacts of specimen orientation. In some species the torulae are oriented more laterally. 38, P. angularis; 39, P. darlena; 40, P. fisheri; 41, P. fustinoda; 42, P. imparis; 43, P. jacobsoni; 44, P. jerdoni; 45, P. mediops; 46, P. melanogaster; 47, P. naoroji; 48, P. nitens; 49, P. shanialena; 50, P. subopaca.