Nylanderia

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 : 520-521

Nylanderia IBBL-01

( Figure 17 ; Figure 25.F )

Diagnosis. Nylanderia IBBL-01 can be distinguished from other species of Nylanderia from Southeast China by the combination of dorsum of propodeum convex in lateral view, head and mesosoma yellow, dark macrosetae on whole body, eye length 4.5x times the lateral margin of the head (REL 22.7), third to fifth gastral segments yellow to light brown, pronotum with 8 to 12 erect macrosetae (PMC 4–6), mesonotum with 4 to 8 erect macrosetae (MMC 2–4), head oval in dorsal view, and posterior margin of head without a median incision.

Measurements (n = 4 workers). ClL 0.124 –0.144; ClW 0.281 –0.324; HL 0.487–0.52; HW 0.423 –0.439; EL 0.107 –0.118; MaD 0.1–0.119; IoD 0.288 –0.292; SL 0.63–0.672; ML 0.687 –0.736; PrL 0.199 –0.242; PrW 0.314 – 0.328; PrpW 0.243 –0.263; PrFL 0.48–0.515; MeL 0.142 –0.152; MeW 0.156 –0.168; PrpL 0.151 –0.167; PrpH 0.219 –0.244; PL 0.165 –0.179; Ab3L 0.271 –0.335; TL 1.661 –1.716; PMC 4–6; MMC 2–4; CI 83.7–87.3; DNI 49.2–51.2; IoI 65.8–68.7; OI 25.1–27.4; SI 148.2–153.1; REL 21.2–23.2; MaI 85.6–102.6.

Compare with: N. birmana , N. emmae , N. flaviabdominis , N. picta , N. yaeyamensis .

Morphology. Macrosetae count on the pronotum are nearly always 8 (PMC 4), however, some individuals were noted to have a PMC count of 6 due to the presence of shorter macrosetae adjacent to the anteriormost macrosetae. In specimens with PMC 4, these shorter macrosetae may have been abraded or were never present judging from the lack of setae insertions. Macrosetae on the anteriormost section of the mesonotum are always smaller than those on the posterior portion. In some cases, the smaller macrosetae were clearly abraded, but the setae insertions were still present.

Ecology. The specimens for this morphospecies were collected in both country parks and urban parks, with varying degrees of disturbance, which could be indicative of a plasticity in terms of habitat preferences.

Distribution. So far, this species is recorded for Hong Kong and Macao, with possible distribution in Guangdong.

Examined material. Hong Kong: (1 worker) Islands , Lung Fu Shan Country Park, 22.2766 114.1351, elevation 248 m, 20.ix.2019, S. Nooten & P. Schultheiss cols.; (1 worker) same data as preceding, 27.ix.2019, S. Nooten & P. Schultheiss cols.; (2 workers) Islands, Lung Fu Shan Country Park, 22.2754 114.1349, elevation 250 m, 27.ix.2019, S. Nooten & P. Schultheiss cols.; (2 workers) same data as preceding, 10.x.2019, S. Nooten & T. Bogar cols.; (1 worker) Islands, Lung Fu Shan Country Park, 22.2782 114.1349, elevation 244 m, 11.ix.2019, S. Nooten & K. Chan cols.; (1 worker) Islands, Lung Fu Shan Country Park, 22.2766 114.135, elevation 248 m, 28.vii.2020, P. Schultheiss col.; (1 worker) Tung Tsz Scout Centre, 22.4733 114.1966, elevation 32 m, 13.ix.2021, Winkler, A. Ibañez & M. T. Hamer cols.; (1 worker) Ma On Shan Country Park, Gilwell Campsite, 22.359575 114.222456, elevation 444 m, 17.ix.2021, Winkler, M. T. Hamer col. (GS1T2W3-2); (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.360024 114.221947, elevation 436 m, 17.ix.2021, Winkler, M. T. Hamer col. (GS1T2W5-7); (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.360084 114.221857, elevation 438 m, 17.ix.2021, Winkler, M. T. Hamer col. (GS1T1W2-3); (1 worker) same data as preceding, 22.359554 114.222506, elevation 446 m, 17.ix.2021, Winkler, M. T. Hamer col. (GS1T2W1-3) [ IBBL] ; Macao: (18 workers) Coloane Park , 22º7’17.10”N 113º33’53.46”E, 18.iii.2019, F. Brassard col. [ IBBL] .

Figures

FIGURE 17. Nylanderia IBBL-01.A: Lateral view of the whole body; B: Dorsal view of the head; C: Dorsal view of the whole body.

FIGURE 25. Distribution maps for seven of the thirteen Nylanderia species recorded for Hong Kong. A: Nylanderia amia; B: Nylanderia birmana; C: Nylanderia emmae; D: Nylanderia flaviabdominis; E: Nylanderia flavipes; F: Nylanderia IBBL-01; G: Nylanderia IBBL-02.