Corresponding author: Salinee Khachonpisitsak (
Academic editor: B. Fisher
A new species of the rarely collected ant genus
Phengsi N, Jaitrong W, Ruangsittichai J, Khachonpisitsak S (2018) A sibling species of
At present, 38 extant species have been described within the genus with 9, 17, 6, and 8 species from the Neotropical, Ethiopian, Australian and Oriental regions, respectively (
Holotype and paratypes of the new species are point-mounted and were examined along with other specimens of
Most morphological observations were made with a ZEISS Discovery.V12 stereomicroscope. Multi-focused montage images were produced using NIS element 3.7 from a series of source images taken by a Nikon MNB42100 digital camera attached to a Nikon ECLIPSE E600 microscope. The holotype and paratypes were measured using a micrometre. All measurements are expressed in millimetres to the hundredths place.
Abbreviations used for the measurements and indices are as follows:
Abbreviations of the type depositories and others are as follows:
The general terminology of the worker ants follows
In addition to morphometric measurements, Scanning Electron Microscope images of
Worker from Southern Thailand, Phatthalung Province, Si Banphot District, Riang Thong Waterfall, Khao Pu Khao Ya National Park, 28.IX.2007, W. Jaitrong leg., Colony no. WJT07-TH-2060 (
Three workers, same data as the holotype (
Two workers from Southern Thailand, Trang Province, Na Yong District, Khao Chong Botanical Garden, 7.XI.2014, W. Jaitrong leg., Colony No. WJT071114-2 (
The type series and all material examined of
The specific name is dedicated to Mr Janya Jareanrattawong of the Royal Forest Department, Thailand who kindly helped W. Jaitrong in ant collecting in southern Thailand.
Southern Thailand (Phatthalung and Trang Provinces) and western Malaysia.
The syntype alate queen from “Pays de Moïs”, Cochinchina française (S.E. Asia), deposited in
Nine workers, eastern Thailand, Chachoengsao Province, Tha Takiab District, Khao Ang Reu Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, 27.IX.2002, W. Jaitrong leg., Colony no. WJT270902-1 (
(n = 2).
Body size slightly larger than worker.
Sri Lanka, Vietnam, China (?) and Thailand (new record).
1 | Frontal carinae very widely spaced, not continuing beyond level of posterior margin of antennal insertions (Fig. |
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– | Frontal carinae relatively narrowly separated, extending far beyond level of posterior margin of antennal insertions where space between them is very narrow (Fig. |
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2 | In dorsal view, posterior margin of petiole with 2-3 distinct spines, teeth or blunt angles (Fig. |
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– | In dorsal view, posterior margin of petiole without distinct spines, teeth or sharp angles (Fig. |
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3 | In dorsal view, posterior margin of petiole clearly concave with distinct lateral blunt angles; petiole almost as long as high |
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– | In dorsal view, posterior margin of petiole with 3 distinct spines; petiole longer than high (Fig. |
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4 | In profile view, propodeum armed with a pair of short teeth or tubercles (Fig. |
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– | In profile view, propodeum unarmed; dorsum curving evenly into declivity (see fig. 28 in |
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5 | In dorsal view, petiole clearly longer than broad; antennal scape relatively short, not reaching posterolateral corner of head |
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– | In dorsal view, petiole almost as long as broad; antennal scape relatively long, slightly extending beyond posterolateral corner of head |
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6 | Head relatively shorter ( |
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– | Head relatively longer ( |
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Two dealate queens of the
SEM images of
SEM images of
The new species and
Scape length against head width in the worker.
Frontal view focusing on the frontal carinae.
Dorsal view focusing on the petiole.
Profile view focusing on the propodeal junction of
This work was supported by Grant for Graduate Student 2016–2017 from Faculty of Science, Burapha University, Thailand. We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Prof. Frederick William Henry Beamish (Burapha University, Thailand) for his comments and reading through an earlier draft of this paper. We also thank Assoc. Prof. Decha Wiwatwitaya (Kasetsart University, Thailand) and Prof. Fuminori Ito (Kagawa University, Japan), who kindly allowed Weeyawat Jaitrong to examine the
Data label of holotype of
Data label.
Close up of the label of Holotype of