Nylanderia flaviabdominis (Wang, 1997)

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 : 517-519

Nylanderia flaviabdominis (Wang, 1997)

( Figure 15 ; Figure 25.D )

Prenolepis flaviabdominis Wang, 1997: 88 . China (Hubei).

In Nylanderia: Williams & LaPolla, 2016: 246 ; redescription in Williams & LaPolla, 2016: 246; senior synonym of Nylanderia sphingthoraxa in Williams & LaPolla, 2016: 246.

Diagnosis. Nylanderia flaviabdominis can be distinguished from other species of Nylanderia from Southeast China by the combination of a rectangular head, dark orange-brown coloration, dark macrosetae, malar area with rugoreticulation, mesopleuron without pubescence, promesonotal suture and metanotal groove complete, and mesopleuron and lateral area of propodeum with rugoreticulation.

Measurements (n = 1 worker). MdL 0.422; ClL 0.207; ClW 0.503; HL 0.846; HW 0.688; EL 0.2; MaD 0.141; IoD 0.439; SL 1.215; ML 1.339; PrL 0.466; PrW 0.535; PrFL 0.988; MeL 0.305; MeW 0.263; PrpL 0.303; PrpH 0.409; PrpW 0.419; PL 0.38; Ab3L 0.637; TL 3.202; PMC 2; MMC 3; CI 81.3; DNI 49.1; IoI 63.8; OI 29.1; SI 176.6; REL 23.6; MaI 70.5.

Compare with: N. birmana , N. emmae , N. IBBL-01, N. yaeyamensis .

Morphology. Although being easily recognized among the South Chinese Nylanderia fauna, this species is infrequently collected and, sometimes, erroneously identified (e.g., Liu et al. 2015). Nonetheless, considering color variation found in N. emmae —which appears to overlap on some occasions with the coloration observed in N. flaviabdominis —misidentifications may be common (see N. emmae Morphology). The specimen studied here, however, had less erect macrosetae distributed throughout the body when compared to the specimen imaged at Williams & LaPolla (2016). Lastly, the studied specimen had abundant pubescence distributed throughout the body (especially mesosoma and gaster), greatly differing from Williams’s & LaPolla’s (2016) description from the species. Apart from that, all other features are consistent with the diagnosis for the species.

Ecology. According to Zhu & Wang (2014), this species is an important disperser of Corydalis wilfordii Regel and Corydalis racemosa (Thunb.) Pers. seeds in the subtropical evergreen forests of Jiugongshan, in Hubei.

Distribution. Nylanderia flaviabdominis appears to be widely distributed in China, although being locally rare.

Examined material. Hong Kong: (1 worker) Tai Po , Tai Po Kau, 22.43245 114.18593 ±500 m, elevation 77 m, 17.v.2016, Y. Luo col., #ISP0057 [ IBBL] .

Figures

FIGURE 15. Nylanderia flaviabdominis. 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.