Research Article |
Corresponding author: Himender Bharti ( himenderbharti@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Marek Borowiec
© 2015 Himender Bharti, Joginder Singh Rita.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Bharti H, Rilta JS (2015) Taxonomic studies on the ant genus Ponera Latreille, 1804 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), with the description of a new species from India. ZooKeys 526: 9-18. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.526.5971
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Four species of the ant genus Ponera Latreille, 1804, are recorded from India. The present study reports one new species P. sikkimensis sp. n., a divergent population of P. indica Bharti & Wachkoo, 2012 and one new record, P. paedericera Zhou, 2001 from India. An identification key and distributions for the four known Indian species of Ponera based on the worker caste are provided.
Ponerinae , new record, new species, north-eastern Himalaya
The ant genus Ponera belongs in subfamily Ponerinae, and is currently represented by 56 extant and five fossil-based species (
Ponera is currently represented by two species described from India: P. indica Bharti & Wachkoo, 2012 and P. taylori Bharti & Wachkoo, 2012. The present study reports one new species (P. sikkimensis sp. n.), a divergent population of P. indica Bharti & Wachkoo, 2012 and one new record (P. paedericera Zhou, 2001) from India. With the addition of these species, the genus is now represented by four species in India, which are distributed in Himalayan regions. A revised key is provided herewith. Two further species, P. affinis Jerdon, 1851 and P. pumila Jerdon, 1851 were described earlier from Malabar, India. Due to inadequate original descriptions and a lack of type material these have already been considered incertae sedis in the genus (
The specimens were collected using the Winkler extractor method. Taxonomic analysis was conducted on a Nikon SMZ 1500 stereo zoom microscope with maximum magnification of 112.5×. For digital images, an MP (Micro Publisher) digital camera was used on the same microscope with Auto-Montage software (Syncroscopy, Division of Synoptics, Ltd.). Later, images were cleaned with Adobe Photoshop CS5 and Helicon Filter 5. Holotype of new species has been deposited in PUAC (Punjabi University Patiala Ant Collection at Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India). Measurements were recorded in millimeters on a Nikon SMZ 1500 stereo zoom microscope. The comparative morphometric data of the species are listed in Table
Head Length (HL) Maximum length of head in dorsal view, measured in as a straight line from the anterior most point of the median clypeal margin to the midpoint of the occipital margin.
Head Width (HW) Maximum width of head in dorsal view.
Head Size (HS) Head size, arithmetic mean of HL and HW.
Scape Length (SL) Maximum length of the scape excluding the basal neck and condyle.
Pronotal Width (PrW) Maximum width of pronotum in dorsal view.
Weber’s Length (WL) Mesosoma measured in lateral view from the anterior surface of the pronotum (excluding the collar) to the posterior margin of the propodeal lobes.
Petiole Height (PH) Maximum height of the petiole in profile from the apex of subpetiolar process to dorsal most point.
Petiole Width (PW) Maximum width of the petiole in dorsal view.
Petiole Length (PL) In profile, the distance from the midpoints of the curves where the anterior and posterior faces of the node meet the anterior and posterior peduncles.
Cephalic Index (CI) Cephalic index: HW × 100/HL.
Scape Index (SI) Scape index: SL × 100/HW.
Petiole Node Index (PNI) Petiolar node index: PW × 100/PrW.
Lateral Petiole Index (LPI) Lateral petiolar index: PL × 100/PH.
Dorsal Petiole Index (DPI) Dorsal petiole index: PW × 100/PL.
Ocular Index (OI) (sexuals only) Maximum diameter of eye divided by head width.
Average worker measurements with standard deviation and minimum and maximum values in brackets.
Species | HL | HW | HS | SL | PrW | WL | PH | PW | PL | CI | SI | PNI | LPI | DPI |
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P. indica (type material) (n=12) | 0.445±0.009 [0.430,0.460] | 0.418±0.0058 [0.410,0.430] | 0.432±0.006 [0.420,0.440] | 0.315±0.015 [0.280,0.330] | 0.302±0.0096 [0.280,0.310] | 0.585±0.0018 [0.560,0.610] | 0.289±0.008 [0.270,0.300] | 0.229±0.001 [0.210,0.240] | 0.104±0.009 [0.90,0.120] |
94.4±2.24 [91.3,97.8] | 74.1±5.2 [65.1,80.5] | 74.5±5.12 [67.7,79.3] | 36.7±21.37 [34.5,40] | 221.4±21.44 [200,266.7] |
P. indica (divergent population from North-east Himalaya) (n=13) | 0.448±0.0016 [0.43,0.49] | 0.396±0.013 [0.37,0.43] | 0.421±0.014 [0.41,0.46] | 0.289±0.016 [0.27,0.33] | 0.248±0.016 [0.22,0.28] | 0.55±0.06 [0.51,0.66] | 0.246±0.015 [0.22,0.28] | 0.216±0.029 [0.18,0.25] | 0.166±0.016 [0.15,0.21] | 88.35±1.653 [86.67,90.69] | 73±3.068 [69.23,76.74] | 87.21±9.709 [72,96] | 68.11±5.906 [59.25,75] | 130.69±19.755 [104.76,160] |
P. taylori (n=12) | 0.650±0.0219 [0.600,0.670] | 0.585±0.019 [0.550,0.610] | 0.620±0.0150 [0.595,0.640] | 0.440±0.001 [0.430,0.460] | 0.390±0.008 [0.380,0.400] | 0.843±0.042 [0.740,0.890] | 0.372±0.016 [0.350,0.390] | 0.241±0.011 [0.200,0.260] | 0.183±0.015 [0.160,0.200] | 89.3±2.81 [83.3,93.8] | 75.5±2.56 [71.7,81.8] | 62.8±2.11 [60.5, 65] | 47.8±2.99 [44.7,52.6] | 113.2±9.02 [120,144.4] |
P. paedericera (n=4) | 0.735±0.020 [0.71,0.76] | 0.602±0.015 [0.59,0.62] | 0.667±0.015 [0.65,0.68] | 0.485±0.019 [0.47,0.51] | 0.41±0.033 [0.37,0.45] | 0.802±0.022 [0.78,0.83] | 0.38±0.033 [0.34,0.42] | 0.395±0.005 [0.39,0.40] | 0.267±0.012 [0.25,0.28] | 81.98±1.710 [80.26,83.78] | 80.55±4.400 [75.80,86.44] | 96.75±6.818 [88.89,105.40] | 70.85±7.934 [64.28,82.35] | 147.89±6.66 [139.28,156] |
P. sikkimensis sp.n. (n=3) | 0.433±0.011 [0.42,0.44] | 0.396±0.005 [0.39,0.40] | 0.415±0.008 [0.40,0.42] | 0.286±0.011 [0.28,0.30] | 0.243±0.011 [0.23,0.25] | 0.516±0.005 [0.51,0.52] | 0.236±0.011 [0.23,0.25] | 0.18±0 [0.18] | 0.17±0 [0.17] | 91.55±1.120 [90.91,92.85] | 72.30±3.995 [70,76.92] | 74.08±3.614 [72,78.26] | 80.75±11.853 [73.91,94.44] | 105.89±0 [105.89] |
PUAC “Punjabi University Patiala Ant Collection” at Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India.
India, Sikkim: Phadamchen, 27°12.75'N, 88°37.22'E, 1040 m, leaf litter, Winkler, 30 May 2012, Joginder Singh leg.
Holotype worker and two paratype workers with same data as of holotype [PUAC].
HL 0.42; HW 0.39; HS 0.40; SL 0.30; PrW 0.25; WL 0.52; PH 0.23; PL 0.17; PW 0.18; CI 92.85; SI 76.92; PNI 72; LPI 74; DPI 105.89.
Head: roughly oval in shape, distinctly longer than broad, sides convex, occipital margin concave, occipital corners rounded. Mandibles each with five well-developed teeth, Eyes small, composed of 3-4 indistinct facets. Anterior margin of clypeus concave. Apex of scape does not reach the midpoint of the occipital margin when laid straight back from its insertion in full-face view; funiculus incrassate toward apex; antennal club with four segments.
Mesosoma and petiole: In lateral view dorsum of mesosoma weakly convex, in dorsal view promesonotal suture distinct; metanotal groove indistinct. Dorsum of propodeum about as long as declivity, declivity flat, posterodorsal corner rounded. Petiole broader than long in dorsal view, dorsal face convex, in profile view, anterior and posterior faces straight, in dorsal view node roughly semicircular, anterior and lateral borders forming a single arc, posterior border weakly concave. Subpetiolar process with oval fenestra, anteroventral corner blunt, posteroventrally with enlarged teeth.
Gaster: Cinctus of second gastral tergite with cross ribs.
Sculpture: Head, mesosoma and gaster sparsely punctate, Petiolar dorsum more strongly punctate; propodeal declivity, posterior face of petiole and gastral apex smooth and shining. Mandibles shining with scattered punctures.
Pilosity: Dorsum of head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster with dense decument pubescence. Erect hairs present on anterior portion of head and posterior half of gaster.
Colour: Head brownish and dull; rest of body light brown and shining; mandibles, antennae and legs yellow.
The species is named after the state of Sikkim.
P. sikkimensis sp. n. is somewhat similar to P. longlina Xu, 2001, described from China. It can be distinguished from the latter by the following combination of characters: head roughly oval in shape; mandible with five well-developed teeth, eyes with 3-4 indistinct facets; fenestra in subpetiolar process oval in shape; propodeum and petiole with stronger punctures; petiolar node relatively low and narrow. In P. longlina the head is roughly square in shape; mandibles each with three well-developed teeth at the apical margin followed by small denticles; eyes with single facet; fenestra in subpetiolar process circular in shape; propodeum and petiole smooth; petiolar node higher and relatively broad.
India, Sikkim: Phadamchen, 27°12.75'N, 88°37.22'E, 1040 m, leaf litter, Winkler, 1 June 2012, 13 workers and 1 queen, Joginder Singh leg. Holotype worker with labels, “India, Himachal Pradesh, Terrace, 31.9234°N, 75.9294°E, 430 m, 12 October, 2008, Winkler”. Paratypes: 5 workers with same data as of Holotype, 1 worker and 1 gyne, India, Himachal Pradesh, Andretta, 32.0744°N, 76.5856°E, 940 m, 11 June, 2010, hand picking; 5 workers, India, Himachal Pradesh, Mandi, 31.7080°N 76.9318°E?, 800 m, 27 June, 2010, soil core (PUAC).
The P. indica material collected from Sikkim (north-eastern Himalaya) possibly represents a divergent population, as the species was originally described from north-western part of Himalaya. At present, the morphological differences outlined do not substantiate its status as a distinct species. The intraspecific variation includes: head rectangular in shape, occipital margin concave; mandibles each with three well- developed teeth followed by small denticles; fenestra in subpetiolar process circular; standing pilosity sparse; eyes composed of 1-2 indistinct facets; apex of scape does not reach the midpoint of posterior cephalic margin, CI 86.67–90.69; LPI 59.25–75; DPI 104.76–160. However, in the population representing type material of P. indica, the head is more oval in shape, the occipital margin straight; and the mandibles each with three well-developed teeth and without small denticles; the subpetiolar fenestra is oval in shape, and pilosity is abundant, eyes composed of 3-4 indistinct facets; apex of scape reaches the posterior cephalic margin, CI 91.3–97.8; LPI 34.5–40; DPI 200–266.7.
The Chinese P. paedericera Zhou, 2001 is reported here for the first time from India. This species is remarkably different from the other known Indian species with following combination of characters: anterior margin of clypeus with a distinct blunt median tooth; antennal club with 3 segments; posterodorsal corners of propodeum rounded, declivity depressed, lateral sides of propodeum distinctly marginate; anterior face of petiole straight, dorsal and posterior faces form a single arched surface, anterodorsal corner blunt, dorsal surface smooth and shining, subpetiolar process with relatively large posteroventral teeth; head, mesosoma and the two basal segments of gaster densly and finely punctate; blackish in colour.
1 | Eyes absent; metanotal groove distinct (Fig. A); posteroventral teeth of subpetiolar process absent (Fig. C) | P. taylori Bharti & Wachkoo, 2012 |
– | Eyes present; metanotal groove indistinct (Fig. B); posteroventral teeth of subpetiolar process present (Fig. D) | 2 |
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2 | A blunt tooth on clypeal margin present (Fig. E), lateral sides of propodeum distinctly marginate (Fig. G), body blackish in colour | P. paedericera Zhou, 2001 |
– | A blunt tooth on clypeus margin absent (Fig. F), lateral sides of propodeum not marginate (Fig. H), body reddish brown to dark brown in colour | 3 |
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3 | Mandible with 5 well-developed teeth; mesosoma, petiole, and gaster sparsely punctate (Fig. I), teeth on subpetiolar process directed downward; (Fig. K), DPI=106 | P. sikkimensis sp. n. |
– | Mandible with 3 well-developed teeth; mesosoma, petiole, and gaster densely punctate (Fig. J), teeth on subpetiolar process directed backward (Fig. L), DPI: >131–221 | P. indica Bharti & Wachkoo, 2012 |
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We sincerely thank Dr. Steve Shattuck and Dr. Zhenghui Xu for their valuable suggestions. Financial assistance rendered by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Grant No. 14/35/2011-ERS/RE), Govt. of India, New Delhi is gratefully acknowledged. The authors also thank Dr. Adam Cronin for language correction and Dr. Benoit Guénard for generating distributional map for different species listed in the manuscript. Finally, we are grateful to Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh and Govt. of Sikkim, Department of Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management for granting permission to collect the material, and for other assistance supporting this research.