Emeryopone narendrani, Varghese, T., 2006

Varghese, T., 2006, Description of a new species of the Ponerine ant genus, Emeyopone (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Karnataka, India., Biospectra 1, pp. 89-92 : 90-91

Emeryopone narendrani sp nov

Holotype worker. India: Karnataka: Utttara Kannada, Kumta (14° 26' N 74°27' E) May 1998, Collector: Ganapathy H.M. ( CES)

Worker's description:

(fig. 1-3) Total length 3.8mm (Fig.l), head longer than broad (CI 0.86mm), slightly broader posteriorly than anteriorly, with almost straight cheeks, posterior corners rounded, posteriorly broadly emarginated (Fig. 2). Mandibles elongate-triangular, broadly curved with long, slender spiniform teeth, apical tooth very long, third one smallest (Fig. 2). Clypeus broadly convex, depressed towards sides and projects like convex cuticular lobes laterally. Frontal area distinct, with short frontal lobes. Antennae 12 segmented (Fig. 3), funicular segments gradually thickening towards apex with 3 segmented club, the ultimate antennomere more than 2x longer than broad (ANTML 0.32mm, ANTMW 0.14mm, ANTMI 0.43mm), scape long (SL 0.68mm), but not reaching beyond head. Eyes very small (EL 0.05mm), and placed towards the anterior lateral corners of head, more towards the base of mandibles. Thorax broad, not broader than head, broader than long and broader than mesonotum and metanotum, pronotum anteriorley rounded, promesonotal suture distinct, meso-metanotal suture obsolete. Propodeum with a posterior concave declivity. Petiole broader than long (PTI 1.22mm), with well formed subpetiolar process. Legs short and stouter, hind leg with a single pectinate spur. Gaster long and rounded posteriorly.

Head, thorax, petiole and gaster foveate, interfoveal space more or less smooth and shining, mandibles smooth and shining, clypeus sculptured, propodeal concavity longitudinally striated, legs smooth and shining. Body hairs sub recumbent, short and abundant. Head, thorax, petiole and gaster ferruginous, mandibles, antennae, legs and extreme tip of gaster lighter.

The new species, E.narendrani resembles E.buttelreepeni in having similar colour, antennomere, and petiolar width, but differs from E.buttelreepeni in being of smaller size ( E.buttelreepeni : 4.00 - 4.50mm, E.narendrani : 3.80mm), having smaller eyes, which are placed well anteriorly, and by the nature of the subpetiolar process. It differs clearly from E.loebli (3.2mm) in having brown color and being larger in size. It differs mainly from E.franzi (4.5mm) in being of smaller size, having very small eyes, by the nature of the petiole and the subpetiolar process. The new species, E.narendrani differs noticeably from E.melaina (4.9mm) in being much smaller in size and by having very small eyes. Other differences in body parameters are given in figure 4, along with those of other species given in Baroni Urbani1 and Xu2 for comparison.

Etymology:

This species is named after my beloved teacher, Professor Narendran TC, University of Calicut, India, who trained me in the fundamentals of taxonomy.