Ooceraea decamera, Bharti & Rilta & Dhadwal, 2021

Bharti, Himender, Rilta, Joginder Singh & Dhadwal, Tarun, 2021, Two new species of Ooceraea (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Dorylinae) from India with ten-segmented antennae, ZooKeys 1010, pp. 165-183 : 165

Ooceraea decamera sp. nov. Figs 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9

Type locality.

India: Madras, Alagarkovil, 21 km. N Madurai, 10.02308°N, 77.833333°E, 250-350 m alt.

Type material.

Holotype worker, India, Madras, Alagarkovil, 21 km N Madurai, 10.02308°N, 77.833333°E, 250-350 m alt.; 2 November 1972; Besuchet Lobt Mussard leg. (Specimen number/barcode: MCZ-ENT00649398) [MCZC].

Holotype measurements.

HL 0.62; HW 0.46; SL 0.26; MW 0.38; ML 0.78; PL 0.26; PH 0.42; PW 0.30; PPL 0.34; PPH 0.41; PPW 0.40; CI 74; SI 57; PI1 62; PI2 93; PPI1 81; PPI2 118; WI 133.

Worker description.

Head in full-face view rectangular, distinctly longer than broad (CI 74), with lateral sides weakly convex, with posterior margin concave medially, with occipital lobes/corners angulate. Anterior clypeal margin slightly projecting forward. Eyes absent. Parafrontal ridge prominent and elevated. Mandibles edentate but weakly serrate. Antennae with 10 segments; scape short, clavate, slightly surpassing the mid-length of head. Frontal lobes reduced. Antennal sockets fully exposed from above.

Mesosoma in lateral view almost flat; promesonotal suture and metanotal groove absent. Pronotum in dorsal view with anterior margin weakly and roundly convex, with humeral corner rounded. Propodeum in dorsal view with posterior margin concave; propodeal declivity in lateral view almost straight, with lateral margin marginate; propodeal lobe roundly produced. Petiolar node in dorsal view subtrapezoidal, distinctly broader than long, in lateral view rectangular with anterior and posterior margins almost straight and dorsal margin weakly convex. Subpetiolar process well-developed, with anteroventral part forming a rectangular and semitransparent lobe. Postpetiole broader than long, anterior margin weakly concave and posterior margin weakly convex, in lateral view with anteroventral part broadly and roundly produced. Gastral segment I (abdominal segment IV) large occupying the most part of gaster, in lateral view with dorsal margin almost straight, base of cinctus of first gastral tergite cross-ribbed.

Sculpture. Head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole shallowly foveolate-reticulate; mandibles and dorsal surface of gaster sparsely foveolate, foveae somewhat smaller as compared to those present on head, mesosoma, petiole, and postpetiole.

Pilosity and pubescence. Whole body covered with pale yellow erect and sub-erect hairs; appressed pubescence abundant on antennae and legs.

Body coloration. Mandibles, antennae, legs, subpetiolar process and gaster light brown; head, mesosoma and gaster dark brown.

Queen. Unknown.

Male. Unknown.

Recognition.

The two species significantly differ from each other on the basis of dimensions of head capsule and shape of subpetiolar process.

Bionomics.

Unknown.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality. The place has been transformed into agricultural land and is prone to anthropogenic activities. Thus, this reinforces the concept that important biodiversity components, which are already rare, are imperiled due to local extinctions.

Etymology.

The species epithet Ooceraea decamera refers to the ten-segmented antennal count.

Figures

Figure 5. Ooceraea decamera sp. nov. Head in full-face view.

Figure 6. Ooceraea decamera sp. nov. Body in profile view.

Figure 7. Ooceraea decamera sp. nov. Body in dorsal view.

Figure 8. Ooceraea decamera sp. nov. Funicular segments.

Figure 9. Label of Ooceraea decamera sp. nov.