Platythyrea janyai Phengsi, Jaitrong, Ruangsittichai & Khachonpisitsak, 2018

Jaitrong, Weeyawat, Xu, Zhenghui & Khachonpisitsak, Salinee, 2022, A new species of the ant Platythyrea clypeata species group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Ponerinae) from continental Asia, ZooKeys 1115, pp. 151-168 : 151

Platythyrea janyai Phengsi, Jaitrong, Ruangsittichai & Khachonpisitsak, 2018

Figs 4 , 5C1-C3

Platythyrea janyai Phengsi et al. 2018: 89, figs 1, 5B1-B3; Khachonpisitsak et al. 2020: 154.

Types.

Holotype (THNHM-I-02392) and three paratypes (THNHM-I-02393 to THNHM-I-02395) workers, southern Thailand, Phatthalung Province, Si Banphot District, Riang Thong Waterfall, Khao Pu Khao Ya National Park, 28.IX.2007, W. Jaitrong leg., Colony no. WJT07-TH-2060 (THNHM-I-02392), deposited in THNHM (examined).

Non-type material examined.

Malaysia • 1 worker, western Malaysia, Selangor, Ulu Gombak, 22.III.2013, F. Ito leg. (THNHM-I-02465) - Thailand • 2 workers, southern Thailand, Trang Province, Na Yong District, Khao Chong Botanical Garden, 7.XI.2014, W. Jaitrong leg., Colony No WJT071114-2 (THNHM-I-02421 to THNHM-I-02422) • 5 workers, same locality and collector, 26.XII.2018, Colony no. WJT261218-1 (THNHM).

Measurements and indices

(n = 4). TL 6.63-6.96, HL 1.42-1.45, HW 1.06, SL 1.39-1.42, EL 0.20, ML 2.21-2.31, PL 0.73-0.79, PH 0.53, DPW 0.40, CI 72-74, EI 18, SI 131-134.

Description of workers

(holotype and paratypes). Head in full-face view subrectangular, clearly longer than broad, sides weakly convex, posterior margin almost straight, posterior corners narrowly rounded. Antenna relatively long, scapes extending beyond posterior corners of head by about 1/4 of their length. Clypeus roughly triangular, median portion distinctly convex, anterior margin broadly convex. Mandibles triangular, masticatory margin with a large apical tooth, followed by 9 or 10 smaller teeth, large and small teeth alternating, basal margin without denticle. Eye slightly convex, located anterior to mid-length of head, relatively large, with 11 ommatidia on the longest axis. Frontal lobes relatively close to each other, with roundly convex lateral margins. Space between frontal carinae distinctly narrowed posteriad.

Mesosoma elongate, in profile view pronotum weakly convex, promesonotal suture distinct, dorsal outline of mesonotum and propodeum almost straight, metanotal groove absent, propodeal junction narrowly rounded, declivity weakly convex in its upper half and obviously concave in the lower portion, propodeal spiracle opening elliptical. Legs very long.

Petiole cylindrical and sessile, in profile view clearly longer than high, dorsal outline almost straight, anterodorsal corner broadly rounded, posterodorsal corner extending into an acute angle, posterior margin oblique and weakly concave, ventral margin almost straight with narrowly protruding anteroventral corner; in dorsal view node of petiole rectangular, longer than broad, slightly widening posteriorly, sides almost straight, posterior margin weakly convex with a concavity in the middle.

Sculpture. Head, antennal scapes, mesosoma, petiole and gaster finely densely micropunctate.

Pilosity. The whole body surface and appendages covered with short thick pubescence. Standing hairs absent.

Coloration. Body color reddish brown; antennae, legs, and tip of gaster yellowish brown. Eyes grey. Pubescence white.

Distribution.

Thailand (Phatthalung and Trang provinces) and Malaysia (Ulu Gombak National Park) (Fig. 6).

Comparative notes.

Platythyrea janyai is similar to P. clypeata , P. homasawini and P. gracillima . However, P. janyai can be easily separated from P. gracillima by the following characteristics (characters of P. gracillima in parentheses unless otherwise stated): 1) body size smaller (TL = 6.63 mm in P. janyai ; 9 mm in P. gracillima ); 2) eye relatively smaller (EL = 0.2 mm in P. janyai ; 0.3 mm in P. gracillima ); 3) seen from back, propodeal declivity tapering above (propodeal declivity weakly concave above); 4) petiole laterally convex, seen from above longer than broad (petiole laterally compressed, seen from above a little more than twice as long as broad). For differentiation of P. janyai and P. clypeata , see "Comparative notes" under P. clypeata , and of P. janyai and P. homasawini , see under P. homasawini .

Figures

Figure 4. Platythyrea janyai (holotype worker, THNHM-I- 02392). A body in profile view B head in full-face view C body in dorsal view.

Figure 5. SEM images of Platythyrea clypeata (A 1 - A 3) P. homasawini sp. nov. (B 1 - B 3) and P. janyai (C 1 - C 3). A 1, B 1, C 1 sculpture on lateral face of head A 2, B 2, C 2 ommatidia of eye A 3, B 3, C 3 petiole in profile view.