Lepisiota pusaensis, Harshana & Dey, 2022

Harshana, Anand & Dey, Debjani, 2022, Taxonomic studies on the ant genus <i> Lepisiota </ i> Santschi 1926 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) in India, with description of four new species, Oriental Insects 57 (3), pp. 785-818 : 9-12

Lepisiota pusaensis sp. nov. ( Fig. 2 )

Type material

Holotype worker. INDIA: Delhi: IARI ( Pusa campus ), 28°38 ʹ 18”N 77° 09 ʹ 07”E, 219 m, 13.XI.2021, Coll. A. Harshana ; Paratype workers. 11 workers with the same data as holotype ; 3 workers, 17.VII.2010, Coll. Mir Samim Akhatar. (type specimens deposited in NPC, New Delhi)

Measurements and indices

Workers (N = 5; holotype values within parentheses). EL: 0.19–0.20 (0.19); HL: 0.58–0.59 (0.58); HW: 0.54–0.55 (0.55); MML: 0.29 (0.29); PH: 0.29– 0.32 (0.32); PRW: 0.38–0.39 (0.38); SL: 0.60–0.62 (0.61); TL: 2.33–2.52 (2.52); WL: 0.83–0.85 (0.83); CI: 91–94 (94); OI: 35–37 (35); REL: 32–35 (33); SI: 111–114 (111).

Description (Worker): Head

Head slightly longer than broad, subquadrate, sides and posterior margin almost straight, posterolateral corners rounded and head sparsely covered with appressed pubescence ( Fig. 2C ); posterior margin of head with 4–5 erect setae (including a pair of erect setae between lateral ocelli) while three pairs on middle of head; palp formula 6,4 and third maxillary segment from base is the longest of all segments; mandible triangular with five teeth on masticatory margin and third tooth is smallest; mandible covered with decumbent to semi-erect hairs; antennae 11 segmented, scape extending to posterior margin of head about 1/3 rd of its length, third antennal segment is smaller than second and fourth segment, length of second segment is about equal to combined length of third and fourth segment; antennae densely covered with appressed to decumbent pubescence; clypeus dorsally convex, subcarinate medially, anterior clypeal margin convex, posterior clypeal margin having a pair of long erect setae while anterior margin with two pair of long erect setae with a downwardly directed long median seta; clypeus covered sparsely with decumbent pubescence; compound eyes large, broadly oval, convex and positioned at about midlength of head; ocelli three in number.

Mesosoma

Promesonotum convex in profile view, higher than metanotum while almost same height as propodeum ( Fig. 2A ); propodeum armed with posteriorly directed, blunt spines; propodeal declivity slanting; the distal end of foretibia with pectinate spur and basitarsus with hairy notch; pronotum with more than 10 erect yellowish setae, mesonotum with two pairs of erect yellowish setae while metanotum with one pair of erect yellowish setae and propodeum with 2–3 pairs of erect yellowish setae ( Fig. 2A ); mesosoma having sparse, appressed pubescence.

Metasoma

Petiole upright, dorsally bispinose, sides angular with the presence of petiolar spiracles at about mid-height of the petiole ( Fig. 2A ); gastral segments with abundant yellowish erect setae mostly on posterior half except first gastral segment which is entirely covered with sparse yellowish erect setae; acidopore well-developed with the fringe of hairs.

Sculpture and colour

Head microreticulate and shiny, the region between compound eyes and antennal insertions feebly striate; dorsum of pronotum microreticulate and subopaque, propleuron shiny, dorsum of mesonotum, metanotum, and propodeum reticulate ( Fig. 2B ); mesometapleuron rugose while pleuron of propodeum rugulose and subopaque; upper 1/3 rd part of propodeal declivity having reticulate sculpture while remaining 2/3 rd part transversely striate; mandible, clypeus smooth and shiny; gaster faintly microreticulate and shiny. Body bicoloured; head, mesosoma, and petiole brown while gaster black (although some specimens have most of the first gastral segment yellowish-brown).

Etymology

The species name refers to the type locality.

Comments

Lepisiota binghami differs from L. pusaensis based on the distribution of setae on body, size, and colouration. In L. pusaensis , the posterior margin of the head has 4–5 erect setae as compared to 2–3 erect setae in L. binghami . Mesosoma of L. pusaensis abundantly covered with erect setae while L. binghami have very less pilosity. L. pusaensis is a comparatively larger (HL 0.58–0.59, WL 0.83–0.85) species than L. binghami (HL 0.51–0.56, WL 0.69–0.76). The first gastral segment in L. binghami is yellowish-brown to brown while the remaining segments are black while L. pusaensis have completely dark gaster in most specimens. L. pusaensis distinctly differs from another similar species L. pulchella in the sculpture of the body. The head and pronotum of L. pulchella are reticulate-punctate whereas L. pusaensis has microreticulate sculpture. The gaster of L. pulchella is subopaque while shiny in L. pusaensis .

Lepisiota pusaensis was possibly misidentified as L. opaca in Wachkoo et al. (2021). Lepisiota pusaensis distinctly differs from L. opaca in the sculpture of the body. Lepisiota opaca is entirely dull with the reticulate-punctate sculpture on the head and mesosoma ( Forel 1892) whereas the head of L. pusaensis is microreticulate and shiny; the dorsum of pronotum is microreticulate and subopaque, propleuron shiny.

Ecological and biological notes

Lepisiota pusaensis has been found at the base of the Ficus religiosa L. tree where they made a nest in soil with small entrance holes. The workers were slowly foraging on the tree trunk and ground around their nest. Workers are seen to be collecting dead dry insects and taking them to nest. Workers were also observed tending aphids on the grass, Bothriochloa sp. at IARI, New Delhi. Distribution in India: Delhi.

Figures

Figure 2A–C. Lepisiota pusaensis sp. nov. (Holotype worker). A, body in profile view; B, body in dorsal view; C, head in full-face view.