Nylanderia bibadia, Kallal, 2019

Kallal, Robert J., 2019, Nylanderia of the World Part III: Nylanderia in the West Indies, Zootaxa 4658 (3), pp. 401-451 : 408-410

Nylanderia bibadia , sp. nov.

Figs. 2–4 (worker); 5–10 (male)

Holotype worker, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Parque Nacional Sierra de Baharuco , 18° 09.073’N, 71° 36.466’W, elev. 1423 m, broadleaf humid rainforest, decayed log, 26.vii.2009, J.S. LaPolla & S.A. Schneider ( USNM00753618 ) ( NMNH); 4 paratype workers, 1 paratype queen and 1 paratype male with same locality data as holotype (specimens are from the same nest as holotype) ( NMNH & MCZC).

Worker diagnosis: Larger species (in most specimens, HL greater than 0.7 mm; HW greater than 0.6 mm; SL greater than or equal to 0.81 mm); dark brown often with distinct lighter brown undulations in lateral view from posterior portion of head across mesosoma; ocelli present.

Compare with: N. bourbonica , N. fuscaspecula , N. metacista , N. pini

WORKER. Measurements (n=11): TL: 2.70–3.10; HW: 0.55–0.68; HL: 0.64–0.75; EL: 0.15–0.22; SL: 0.75– 0.92; WL: 0.81–0.99; GL: 0.96–1.40. SMC: 19–27 PMC: 3–5; MMC: 2–4. Indices: CI: 82–91; REL: 23–30; SI: 130–140; SI2: 21–25.

Head: sides of head in full face view rounded and slightly convergent anteriorly; posterolateral corners rounded; posterior margin rounded and slightly emarginate medially; anterior clypeal margin slightly emarginate; three ocelli present; eye well-developed. Mesosoma: in lateral view, pronotum convex; anterior margin of mesonotum raised slightly above posterior pronotal margin; metanotal area with short flat area anterior to spiracle; dorsal face of propodeum relatively flat immediately posterior to metanotal area; dorsal margin of propodeum in lateral view lower than mesonotum. Color and pilosity: dark brown; in lateral view often with undulating lighter brown patches from posterior of head across mesosoma; antenna, mandible, legs mostly lighter brown, procoxa dark brown; cephalic pubescence densest towards posterolateral corners; pronotum, mesonotum and anterior portion of propodeum with moderate pubescence; first and second gastral tergites with dense pubescence.

QUEEN. Measurements (n=2): TL: 4.50–4.54; HW: 0.88–0.92; HL: 0.87–0.88; EL: 0.31–0.33; SL: 0.99–1.01; WL: 1.50–1.56; GL: 2.0–2.1. SMC: 16–18; PMC: 4–7; MMC: 8; MtMC: 3–5. Indices: CI: 101–104; REL: 35–37; SI: 109–112. Generally, as in worker with modifications expected for caste.

MALE. Measurements (n=2): TL: 2.70; HW: 0.54–0.59; HL: 0.60; EL: 0.23–0.26; SL: 0.79–0.80; WL: 0.98– 1.00; GL: 1.17. SMC: 9–12; PMC: 0; MMC: 8–12. Indices: CI: 90; REL: 38; SI: 137–146.

Head: sides of head in full face view rounded and slightly convergent anteriad; posterior margin rounded and slightly emarginate medially; clypeus emarginate anteriorly; mandible with two teeth; a long apical tooth and much smaller subapical tooth adjacent to apical tooth; basal angle sharp and distinct; Mesosoma: in lateral view, dorsal margin of mesoscutum same as height as dorsal margin of mesoscutellum; propodeum steeply sloping without distinct dorsal and declivitous faces. Genitalia: gonopod apex coming to triangular point in lateral view; gonopod margin in dorsal view curves away from penial sclerite; digitus with pointed apex that bends away from penial sclerite; cuspis tubular, rounded at apex bending sharply toward digitus; anteroventral process of penial sclerite broadly rounded; valvura of penial sclerite placed ventral to midline (fig. 105). Color and pilosity: head and gaster dark brown; posterior portion of mesosoma, petiole, mesocoxa and metacoxa as well as antenna and mandible distinctly lighter than head and gaster; legs with distinct yellow around joints; head, scape, mesosomal notum, legs and gastral dorsum with dense layer of pubescence.

Other material examined: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: nr. Haitian border, 18° 41.607’ N, 71° 46.278’ W, elev. 1628 m, nr. road in steep forest in moist, rotten log, 24.vii.2009, J.S. LaPolla & S.A. Schneider .

Etymology: Species epithet is a combination of badius (L. = brown) with the prefix bi- (L. = two), named for the striking alternating pattern of shades of brown found on this species.

Notes: Workers of this species can be separated from N. bourbonica based on the amount of pubescence on the mesosoma. In N. bibadia , dense pubescence is only located dorsally on the mesosoma as opposed to dorsally and laterally as in N. bourbonica . Workers of this species have one of the largest heads (width and length) among the West Indian Nylanderia and these measurements are an effective way to separate it from N. pini and N. metacista , which are the species most likely confused with N. bibadia . All but callow workers display this unique pattern. That said, the posterolateral portions of the head are almost always lighter brown than the remainder of the head. This species is included in the phylogeny of Gotzek et. al (2012) as N. n. sp. 5 DR, and was found as sister to N. metacista . See under N. metacista notes for further discussion regarding the morphology of N. bibadia and N. metacista workers and males, including additional diagnostic features for the two species.

Figures

FIGURES 2–4. Nylanderia bibadia worker USNMENT00753618. Lateral, full-face, and dorsal view of the body.