Paratopula Wheeler

Eguchi, K., Viet, B. T. & Yamane, S., 2011, Generic synopsis of the Formicidae of Vietnam (Insecta: Hymenoptera), Part I - Myrmicinae and Pseudomyrmicinae., Zootaxa 2878, pp. 1-61 : 22-23

Paratopula Wheeler , 1919

Taxonomy. The genus Paratopula is assigned to the tribe Paratopulini by Bolton (2003). The genus was revised by Bolton (1988b). The worker of the single Vietnamese species has the following features.

Worker monomorphic; head in full-face view subrectangular; frontal carina indistinct or absent; antennal scrobe absent; anterior clypeal margin feebly emarginated medially, lacking an isolated median seta; posteromedian portion of clypeus very broadly inserted between frontal lobes; mandible triangular; masticatory margin with 9 teeth decreasing in size from apex to base; antennae 12-segmented, with distinct 3-segmented club; eye large, in full-face view strongly convex laterad; mesosoma in lateral view elongate and low; promesonotum in lateral view not domed; promesonotal suture absent dorsally; metanotal groove distinctly impressed dorsally; propodeal spine long and spinose; propodeal lobe extending well posteriad; petiole consisting of elongate peduncle and cubic node, with small anteroventral process; postpetiole in lateral view compressed dorsoventrally, lower than long; gastral shoulder absent; sting simple and strong; head and mesosoma strongly sculptured with rugation or rugoreticulation; body bearing moderately dense hairs that are short and blunt apically.

The worker of Paratopula is somewhat similar to that of Tetramorium . However, in the latter, the lateral portion of clypeus is modified into a distinct ridge or wall in front of antennal insertion, the apex of sting bears a small lamellate appendage, and the body is much smaller.

Vietnamese species. Only one species is known from Vietnam: sp. eg-1 (Nam Cat Tien).

Bionomics. Paratopula sp. eg-1 seems to be an arboreal nester and forager, and so it is rarely found on the ground and lower vegetation.