Vollenhovia taylori Rilta, Dhadwal & Bharti, 2023

Akbar, Shahid Ali, Bharti, Himender, Schifani, Enrico & Wachkoo, Aijaz Ahmad, 2023, Overview of the ant genus Vollenhovia (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in India and Sri Lanka, with an illustrated key and the description of a new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 908, pp. 77-107 : 92

Vollenhovia taylori Rilta, Dhadwal & Bharti, 2023

Fig. 10

Vollenhovia taylori Rilta, Dhadwal & Bharti in Dhadwal et al., 2023: 5.

Type locality: West Bengal, Chapramari Wild Life Sanctuary [Holotype: PUAC, holotype examined in Dhadwal et al. 2023].

Worker measurements & indices (1 specimen, 1 colony, 1 locality)

CL 0.50, CW 0.42, CS 0.46, EL 0.10, ML 0.54, PEH 0.22, PEL 0.20, PEW 0.16, PPH 0.18, PPL 0.14, PPW 0.2, PW 0.34, SL 0.30. Indices: CL/CW 1.19, EL/CS 0.22, ML/CS 1.17, PEH/CS 0.48, PEL/ CS 0.44, PEW/CS 0.35, PPH/CS 0.39, PPL/CS 0.30, PPW/CS 0.43, PW/CS 0.74, SL/CS 0.65.

Remarks

This Eastern Indian species was unfortunately described from a single specimen ( Dhadwal et al. 2023), and the discovery of further material appears crucial to define its intraspecific variation. However, the holotype specimen of V. taylori bears some unique characteristics, including the relatively enlarged nodes (PEW/CS: 0.35; PPW/CS: 0.43) and coarse sculpture and large punctuations over the dorsal surface of the body. The most similar taxon is V. mawrapensis , the two being both from Eastern India and very small in size, but V. mawrapensis is distinguishable based on the number of mandibular teeth, head shape, sculpture and pilosity (see Remarks under V. mawrapensis ).

Figures

Fig. 10. Vollenhovia taylori Rilta, Dhadwal & Bharti, 2023, holotype worker from India (PUAC T728, photographer: Himender Bharti). A. Head, full face view. B. Habitus, lateral view. C. Habitus, dorsal view. D. Type locality.