Anochetus graeffei Mayr, 1870

Chen, Zhilin, Yang, Zhigang & Zhou, Shanyi, 2019, Review of the ant genus Anochetus Mayr, 1861 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from China, with revival of the valid status of Anochetus gracilis, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 68, pp. 49-74 : 49

Anochetus graeffei Mayr, 1870

Fig. 1

Anochetus graeffei Mayr, 1870: 961. [Lectotype worker images examined, AntWeb, CASENT0915887, photos by Harald Bruckner].

Anochetus punctiventris Mayr, 1879: 659. Synonymized by Wilson, 1959: 507. [Syntype worker images examined, AntWeb, CASENT0915888, photos by Harald Bruckner].

Anochetus rudis Emery, 1889: 499. Synonymized by Brown, 1978: 577. [Syntype worker images examined, AntWeb, CASENT0903978, photos by Zach Lieberman].

Anochetus punctiventris subsp. oceanicus Emery, 1897: 597. Synonymized by Wilson, 1959: 507. [Syntype worker images examined, AntWeb, CASENT0903977, photos by Zach Lieberman].

Non-type material examined.

5 workers, CHINA, Hainan, Qiongzhong County, Mt. Limushan, 19.17N, 109.71E, 681 m, 03.IV.2016, leg. Zhilin Chen, No. G160161; 4 workers, 1 male and 1 queen from the same colony, CHINA, Guangxi, Chongzuo City, Zuozhou Village, Pairutun, 22.56N, 107.41E, 222 m, 11.VI.2016, leg. Zhilin Chen, No. G160056; 2 workers, CHINA, Guangxi, Shangsi County, Hongqi Forest Farm, 03.VII.2001, leg. Shanyi Zhou, No. G010062.

Workers.

TL 4.40-4.91, HL 1.09-1.13, HW 0.98-1.00, CI 86-89, SL 0.80-0.83, SI 82-84, ED 0.14-0.17, PW 0.58, MSL 1.35, PL 0.27-0.28, PH 0.46-0.48, DPW 0.27-0.29, LPI 57-58, DPI 99-100 (n = 5).

In full-face view head longer than broad, posterior margin strongly concave. Mandibles linear, gradually broadened apically; inner margin without denticles; apical portion with three distinct teeth. Antennae 12-segmented; scapes just reaching to posterior corners of head. Eyes moderate-size, maximum diameter equal to the width of mandible at its base.

In lateral view mesosoma stout, dorsal outline of pronotum convex and gradually sloping anteriorly. Promesonotal suture indistinct dorsally and laterally. Dorsal outline of mesonotum and propodeum almost straight, posterolateral corners of propodeum forming obtuse triangle. Metanotal groove broadly impressed. Petiole thin, distinctly higher than long, narrowing dorsally, anterior margin straight, posterior margin distinctly convex; subpetiolar process developed, anterior margin straight, posteroventral margin rounded. Dorsal margin of petiole weakly convex in anterior view.

Frons and anterior part of vertex longitudinally striate; remainder of head smooth and shining. Frontal lobes weakly striate. Mesosoma irregularly rugose, rugae on pronotal disc inverted U-shaped rugae, metapleuron rugose, sides and declivity of propodeum transversely rugose. Petiolar node smooth and shiny except basal area faintly striate. Gaster smooth and shining, except distinctly punctate first gastral tergite.

Dorsum of body with abundant suberect to subdecumbent hairs and decumbent pubescence, hairs on cephalic dorsum sparse; scapes and tibiae with dense decumbent pubescence. Body reddish brown to brown; antennae, legs and petiole yellowish brown.

Recognition.

The species is similar to A. lanyuensis Leong et al., 2018, A. validus Bharti et Wachkoo, 2013 and A. victoriae Shattuck et Slipinska, 2012, but well separated from them by the following characters: dorsal outline of pronotum gradually sloping anteriorly, not forming a straight outline with mesonotum and propodeum; pronotal disc with dense inverted U-shaped rugae; scapes just reaching to posterior corner of head.

Distribution.

Known from southern India east through SE Asia to Australia and onwards to the Cook Islands ( Shattuck and Slipinska 2012). In China, the species is distributed in Fujian, Guangxi, Hainan and Yunnan.

Figures

Figure 1. Anochetus graeffei worker (No. G 160161). A head in full-face view B mandible in anterior view C body in dorsal view D body in lateral view.