Nylanderia taylori ( Forel, 1894 )

Guénard, Benoit, 2023, A checklist of Nylanderia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) from Hong Kong and Macao SARs, with an illustrated identification key for species in Southeast China and Taiwan, Zootaxa 5301 (5), pp. 501-539 : 529-530

Nylanderia taylori ( Forel, 1894)

( Figure 22 ; Figure 26.D )

Prenolepis (Nylanderia) taylori Forel, 1894: 410 , fig. 2. India.

In Prenolepis (Nylanderia) : Forel, 1913: 438; in Paratrechina (Nylanderia) : Emery, 1925: 220; in Nylanderia: LaPolla et al., 2010: 127 . Diagnosis in Wachkoo & Bharti, 2015 b: 116.

Diagnosis. Nylanderia taylori can be distinguished from other species of Nylanderia from Southeast China by the combination of mesonotum with abundant pubescence, eyes approximately 2.0x as long as malar distance (MaI 48.2–64.1), distance between outer margin of the eye and the lateral margin of the head, in dorsal view, less than half the width of the scape, posterior margin of head, in dorsal view, convex, pronotum with 6 to 8 erect macrosetae (PMC 3–4), and mesonotum with 6 to 8 erect macrosetae (MMC 3–4).

Measurements. MdL 0.286 –0.324; ClL 0.128–0.14; ClW 0.369 –0.386; HL 0.582 –0.612; HW 0.502 –0.533; EL 0.142 –0.166; MaD 0.079 –0.091; IoD 0.318 –0.335; SL 0.642–0.66; ML 0.729 –0.772; PrL 0.247 –0.282; PrW 0.353 –0.389; PrFL 0.517 –0.548; MeL 0.187 –0.212; MeW 0.217 –0.232; PrpL 0.153–0.16; PrpH 0.27–0.287; PrpW 0.281 –0.286; PL 0.217 –0.253; Ab3L 0.342 –0.381; TL 1.7–2.1; PMC 3–4; MMC 3–4; CI 86.3–87.1; DNI 55.8–65.8; IoI 62.9–63.4; OI 26.7–33.1; SI 121.6–131.5; REL 23.3–28.6; MaI 48.2–64.1.

Compare with: N. flavipes , N. indica , N. kraepelini , N. sharpii .

Morphology. Although sharing some similarities with other species in the region (most notably with N. indica ), N.taylori can be easily identified by the combination of relatively large eyes, oval head, and erect pronotal macrosetae count (PMC 3–4). One very similar species N. sharpii , can be differentiated from N. taylori by the shape of the posterior margin of the head in dorsal view (medially concave in N. sharpii , opposed to convex in N. taylori ), by the overall shape of the head (subrectangular in N. sharpii and oval in N. taylori ), and by the erect pronotal macrosetae count (PMC 5–7 in N. sharpii and PMC 3–4 in N. taylori ). We observed some variation in eye size among studied specimens (OI 26.7–33.1; REL 23.3–28.6), especially when compared to the malar distance (MaI 48.2–64.1).

Ecology. Nylanderia taylori was mostly found in disturbed areas, though it is infrequently sampled. Given its low numbers in samples, it is difficult to assess if this species could represent an invasive or potential globetrotting species; it is possible that the species is merely restricted to areas of low altitude.

Distribution. This species has a relatively wide distribution, with its western range limits in the Indian State of Rajasthan ( Bharti et al. 2016), southern in the Krakatau Islands ( Yamane 2013), eastern in the Chinese Province of Zhejiang ( Guénard & Dunn 2012), and northern in the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir ( Bharti et al. 2013) and the Chinese Province of Sichuan ( Guénard & Dunn 2012). Nonetheless, there are distribution gaps between those limits.

Examined material. Image of a syntype worker from Odisha , India (CASENT0911011) deposited in MHNG, Geneva , Switzerland. Image of a syntype worker of Nylanderia taylori levis from Peradeniya , Kandy , Sri Lanka (CASENT0911012) deposited in MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland. Hong Kong: (1 worker) Tsuen Wan Riviera Park, 22.36359 114.11260, elevation 12 m, 09.viii.2021, Winkler, M.T. Hamer col., TWR1T1W1-4; (1 worker) Yuen Long: Mai Po, 22.48794 114.04089 ±500 m, elevation 6 m, 13.vii.2016, M. Pierce col., #Ba-IAS-15-01-09; (1 worker) Chek Lap Kok, 22.3131, 113.9396, 29.viii.2016, AT6B5; (1 worker) Yuen Long: Mai Po, 22.48794 114.04089 ±500 m, elevation 6 m, 13.vii.2016, M. Pierce col., #Ba-IAS-15-01-03; (1 worker) Yuen Long: Tin Shui Wai, 22.46902, 114.00877 ±500 m, elevation 4 m, 31.v.2016, Y. Luo col., #Ba-IAS-15-01-03; (1 worker) Yuen Long: Lok Ma Chau, 22.50925102 114.061694 ±45 m, elevation 5 m, 11–14.viii.2017, M. Pierce col., ANTWEB1009775; (1 worker) same data as preceding, ANTWEB1016952; (1 worker) same data as preceding, ANTWEB1017063 .

Figures

FIGURE 22. Nylanderia taylori. A: Lateral view of the whole body; B: Dorsal view of the head; C: Dorsal view of the whole body.

FIGURE 26. Distribution maps for seven of the thirteen Nylanderia species recorded for Hong Kong.A: Nylanderia indica; B: Nylanderia picta; C: Nylanderia sharpii; D: Nylanderia taylori; E: Nylanderia yaeyamensis; F: Nylanderia yerburyi.