Pachycondyla sikorae, Fore, 1891

Rakotonirina, Jean Claude & Fisher, Brian L., 2013, Revision of the Pachycondyla sikorae species-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Madagascar, Zootaxa 3683 (4), pp. 447-485 : 451-457

Synopsis of the taxonomic history of the P. sikorae species-group

Pachycondyla sikorae was first described as a subgenus ( Euponera ) of Ponera by Forel 1891: 127. The new subgenus Euponera was later raised to genus ( Emery, 1901:46) and by 1911, included a heterogenous group of species placed in four subgenera: Euponera, Mesoponera, Brachyponera , and Trachymesopus ( Emery 1911: 79– 86). Brown in Bolton (1994) synonymized the genus as a junior synonym of Pachycondyla , which is where it remains today though molecular results suggest that Pachycondyla is paraphyletic ( Ward 2011; Schmidt 2013).

Detailed taxonomic history of Euponera modified from AntCat.org 2013:

Euponera Forel, 1891: 126 [as subgenus of Ponera ] Type-species: Ponera sikorae , by monotypy.

Euponera in Ponerinae , Ponerini : Emery, 1895: 767; Emery, 1911: 79 [subtribe Pachycondylini ]; Wheeler, 1915: 37; Arnold, 1915: 63; Forel, 1917: 237; Wheeler, 1922: 648; all subsequent authors.

Euponera as subgenus of Ponera: Forel, 1891: 126 ; Emery, 1895: 767.

Euponera as genus: Emery, 1901: 46; Emery, 1909: 364; Wheeler, 1910: 135; Emery, 1911: 79; Arnold, 1915: 63; Forel, 1917: 237; Gallardo, 1918: 64; Wheeler, 1922: 648; Borgmeier, 1923: 70; Clark, 1934: 30; Creighton, 1950: 44; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 63; Bernard, 1953: 189; Wheeler & Wheeler, 1985: 256; Dlussky & Fedoseeva, 1988: 78; Hölldobler & Wilson, 1990: 11.

Euponera as junior synonym of Pachycondyla: Brown , in Bolton, 1994: 164; Bolton, 2003: 166.

Checklist of the Malagasy P. s i k o r a e species-group

sikorae complex:

gorogota Rakotonirina and Fisher , sp. n.

haratsingy Rakotonirina and Fisher , sp. n.

ivolo Rakotonirina and Fisher , sp. n.

maeva Rakotonirina and Fisher , sp. n.

mialy Rakotonirina and Fisher , sp. n.

nosy Rakotonirina and Fisher , sp. n.

sikorae Forel 1891

vohitravo complex:

agnivo Rakotonirina and Fisher , sp. n.

antsiraka Rakotonirina and Fisher , sp. n.

daraina Rakotonirina and Fisher , sp. n.

rovana Rakotonirina and Fisher , sp. n.

tahary Rakotonirina and Fisher , sp. n.

vohitravo Rakotonirina and Fisher , sp. n.

zoro Rakotonirina and Fisher , sp. n.

Key to species of Malagasy P. sikorae species-group

The function of the key is primarily to identify workers, but can also identify ergatoid and winged queens to species as long as the shape of the mesosoma is not considered.

1. With head in full-face view, anterior margin of clypeus widely transverse and more or less straight, with weak median notch ( Fig. 2 ) ( sikorae complex)............................................................................... 2

- With head in full-face view, anterior margin of clypeus generally convex or medially bluntly angulate; slight median notch may be present ( Fig. 3 ) ( vohitravo complex)................................................................ 8

2. Posterior surface of petiole node covered with numerous slender hairs and abundant pubescence; anterior surface of third abdominal segment concave, forming a shallow cavity to lodge the posterior surface of the petiole ( Fig. 4 )............... 3

- Posterior surface of petiole node convex and not covered with numerous slender hairs and abundant pubescence; anterior surface of the third abdominal segment straight, without shallow cavity to lodge the posterior surface of the petiole ( Fig. 5 ).... 4

3. Lateral surface of head and petiole node smooth and shiny, with scattered piligerous punctures ( Fig. 6 ) [known from queen specimen]........................................................................................ ivolo

- Lateral portion of head densely and finely reticulate-rugulose, sides of petiolar node densely and finely punctate ( Fig. 7 )................................................................................................. haratsingy

4. With mesosoma in dorsal view, metanotal groove deeply impressed ( Fig. 8 ); in lateral view the dorsal outline of mesosoma complex, at least with distinct convex mesonotum ( Figs 37 , 46 )................................................. 5

- With mesosoma in dorsal view, metanotal groove not impressed or absent ( Fig. 9 ); in lateral view, the dorsal outline of mesosoma almost straight or slightly evenly convex, without breaks ( Figs 49, 51 )....................................... 7

5. Petiole node anteroposteriorly flattened in profile ( Fig. 10 ), in dorsal view its posterior margin medially notched; posterior margin of head slightly concave; antennal scape not surpassing the concave posterior cephalic margin ( Figs 38 , 47 ); mandible smooth between small punctures; tegument densely and finely reticulate-punctate ( Figs 37 , 46 )........................ 6

- Petiole node thick in profile ( Fig. 11 ); in dorsal view, the posterior margin broadly convex; antennal scape surpassing the broadly convex posterior cephalic margin ( Fig. 59 ); mandible striate-punctate; black species with mostly smooth and shiny tegument ( Fig. 58 )................................................................................ sikorae

6. Posterolateral margin of propodeum bordered with broad lamellae which project as tubercles at about the level of propodeal spiracle; antennal scape and outer surface of each tibia covered with erect, slender hairs ( Fig. 12 ); dorsum of head near the posterior margin and rest of body covered with numerous slender long hairs; posterior cephalic margin more or less straight................................................................................................... gorogota

- Posterolateral margin of propodeum bordered with narrow lamellae which form an obtuse angle at about the level of propodeal spiracle; antennal scape and outer surface of each tibia lacking erect, slender hairs ( Fig. 13 ); dorsum of head and rest of body covered with few erect, slender hairs; posterior cephalic margin concave...................................... maeva

7. Smaller species (HW: 1.15, HL<1.5, WL: 1.78); eyes smaller, with seven to eight ommatidia; metanotal groove absent ( Fig. 14 ); mesopleural suture lacking...................................................................... mialy

- Larger species (HW: 1.44, HL: 1.62, WL: 2.34); eyes larger, with 13 ommatidia; metanotal groove present as a dotted line ( Fig. 15 ); mesopleural suture present........................................................................ nosy

8. Anterior surface of the third abdominal segment concave ( Fig. 16 ), forming a shallow cavity to lodge the median portion of the posterior surface of petiole node..................................................................... agnivo

- Anterior surface of the third abdominal segment straight, not forming a shallow cavity to lodge the posterior surface of petiole node ( Fig. 17 )........................................................................................ 9

9. Posterolateral margins of petiole node without a series of sharp teeth or tubercles ( Fig. 18 ); dorsum of node not tubercuate.... 10

- Posterolateral margins of petiole node armed with a series of sharp teeth or tubercles ( Fig. 19 ); dorsum of node tuberculate... 12

10. In dorsal view, petiole node almost twice as broad as long ( Fig. 20 ); in lateral view, subpetiolar process simple with only an anterior triangular lobe ( Fig. 18 ).................................................................... daraina

- In dorsal view, petiole nodenearly as broad as long ( Fig. 21 ); in lateral view subpetiolar process with an anterior hook-like process and a posterior subtriangular process separated by a concavity ( Fig. 55 )...................................... 11

11. Larger ant (HW: 1.22–1.32, WL: 1.85–2.05); mesopleuron and lower half of the side of propodeum mostly smooth and shiny with scattered small punctures in the center and fine rugulae at the junction of anepisternum and katepisternum and the lower portion of the metapleuron near the opening of the metapleural gland ( Fig. 22 ).................................. zoro

- Smaller species (HW: 1.01–1.14, WL: 1.58–1.77); mesopleuron and lower half of the side of propodeum densely rugulose and superimposed with punctures or foveolae ( Fig. 23 )...................................................... rovana

12. Second gastral (fourth abdominal) tergite punctate to sparsely punctuate; pubescence absent or reduced in abundance on first and second gastral segments, distance between two adjacent pubescences generally equal to or greater than the length of the pubescence itself ( Fig. 24 )............................................................................. 13

- Second gastral (fourth abdominal) tergite densely punctate, with small punctures between larger ones; first and second gastral segments with abundant pubescence, distance between two adjacent pubescences always less than the length of the pubescence itself ( Fig. 25 )................................................................................. vohitravo

13. Mesopleural suture distinctly continuous and narrowly impressed ( Fig. 26 ); head densely and finely reticulate-rugulose or reticulate-punctate behind the level of eye; with head in full-face view, the lateral borders at the level of anterior margin of eye not strongly curving towards the base of mandibles ( Fig. 32 ); in profile, distance between eyes and base of mandibles roughly three times or more than the maximum diameter of eye................................................. antsiraka

- Mesopleural suture indistinct, with broad and discontinuous concavities or impressions in this region, but no obvious suture ( Fig. 27 ); head mostly smooth and shiny with faintly effaced reticulate-punctate sculpture behind the level of eyes; with head in full-face view, the lateral margins from the level of anterior margin of eye abruptly curving toward the base of mandibles ( Fig. 62 ); in lateral view, distance between eye and base of mandible slightly less than twice the maximum diameter of eye................................................................................................... tahary

Figures

FIGURES 2 – 3. Shape of the clypeus with head in full-face view; Fig. 2: anterior margin widely transverse and straight with feeble median notch (CASENT 0497667); Fig. 3: anterior margin medially convex or bluntly angulate (CASENT 0050524).

FIGURES 4 – 5. Petiole and gaster in dorsal view; Fig. 4: posterior surface of petiole with abundant pubescence and anterior face of first gastral segment forming shallow cavity (CASENT 0195184); Fig. 5: abundant pubescence absent on posterior surface of petiole and anterior face of first gastral segment straight without shallow cavity (CASENT 0231239).

FIGURES 6 – 7. Lateral view showing the sculpture of lateral portion of head and petiole; Fig. 6: head and petiole smooth and shining (CASENT 0050330: holotype); Fig. 7: head densely and finely reticulate-rugulose, petiolar node densely and finely punctate (CASENT 0195184).

FIGURES 8 – 9. Mesosoma in dorsal view; Fig. 8: metanotal groove deeply impressed (CASENT 0034340: holotype); Fig. 9: metanotal groove lacking (CASENT 0497667).

FIGURES 37 – 39. Worker caste of Pachycondyla gorogota: lateral and dorsal view of body and full-face view of head, holotype CASENT 0166009.

FIGURES 46 – 48. Worker caste of Pachycondyla maeva: lateral and dorsal view of body and full-face view of head, holotype CASENT 0034340.

FIGURES 49 – 51. Worker caste of Pachycondyla mialy: lateral and dorsal view of body and full-face view of head, holotype CASENT 0497667.

FIGURES 10 – 11. Form of petiole in profile; Fig. 10: anteroposteriorly flattened (CASENT 0034340); Fig. 11: nodiform about as long as broad (CASENT 0497202).

FIGURES 58 – 60. Worker caste of Pachycondyla sikorae: lateral and dorsal view of body and full-face view of head, CASENT 0497202.

FIGURES 12 – 13. Hairs on the outer surface of tibiae and the width of lamellae on posterior margin of propodeum; Fig. 12: outer surface of each tibia covered with erect hairs and posterior margin of propodeum with broad lamellae that project as a tubercle at about the level of the propodeal spiracle (CASENT 0166009: holotype); Fig. 13: outer surface of tibiae without erect hairs, posterior margin of propodeum with narrow lamellae that form an obtuse angle at about the level of propodeal spiracle (CASENT 0034340).

FIGURES 14 – 15. Mesosoma in dorsal view; Fig. 14: metanotal groove absent (CASENT 0497667); Fig. 15: metanotal groove as a dotted line (CASENT 0231239: holotype).

FIGURES 16 – 17. First gastral segment in dorsal view; Fig. 16: anterior face forming shallow cavity (CASENT 0317589: holotype); Fig. 17: anterior face without shallow cavity (CASENT 0247289).

FIGURES 18 – 19. Petiolar node in profile; Fig. 18: posterolateral margin without a series of sharp teeth or tubercles (CASENT 0043301: holotype); Fig. 19: posterolateral margin armed with a series of sharp teeth or tubercles (CASENT 0317590: holotype).

FIGURES 20 – 21. Petiole in dorsal view; Fig. 20: node approximately twice broader than long (CASENT 0043301); Fig. 21: node nearly as broad as long (CASENT 0045619: holotype).

FIGURES 55 – 57. Worker caste of Pachycondyla rovana: lateral and dorsal view of body and full-face view of head, CASENT 0247289.

FIGURES 22 – 23. Sculpture of the lateral surface of mesosoma; Fig. 22: smooth and shiny mesopleuron and metapleuron with scattered small punctures (CASENT 0045619); Fig. 23: densely rugulose mesopleuron and metapleuron superimposed with punctures (CASENT 0247289).

FIGURES 24 – 25. Sculpture and pubescence of the gaster; Fig. 24: first and second gastral tergites with few pubescence and second gastral tergite punctate to sparsely punctate (CASENT 0317590); Fig. 25: first and second gastral tergites with abundant pubescence and second gastral tergite densely punctate (CASENT 0050524).

FIGURES 26 – 27. Mesosoma in lateral view; Fig. 26: mesopleural suture distinctly continuous and narrowly impressed (CASENT 0317590); Fig. 27: mesopleural suture indistinct (CASENT 0162668: holotype).

FIGURES 31 – 33. Worker caste of Pachycondyla antsiraka: lateral and dorsal view of body and full-face view of head, holotype CASENT 0317590.

FIGURES 61 – 63. Worker caste of Pachycondyla tahary: lateral and dorsal view of body and full-face view of head, holotype CASENT 0162668.