Pachycondyla haratsingy Rakotonirina and Fisher

Rakotonirina, Jean Claude & Fisher, Brian L., 2013, Revision of the Pachycondyla sikorae species-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Madagascar, Zootaxa 3683 (4), pp. 447-485 : 464-466

Pachycondyla haratsingy Rakotonirina and Fisher , sp. nov.

( Figures 4 , 40, 41, 42 , 74 )

Holotype worker: Madagascar, Antsiranana, RS Ankarana, 7 km SE Matsaborimanga, -12.9, 49.1167, 150 m, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), 28 Nov 1990, (P.S. Ward) collection code: PSW11010 specimen code: CASENT0195184 ( PSWC).

WORKER. Diagnosis: Anterior margin of clypeus widely transverse and slightly medially notched; metanotal groove weakly impressed; posterior surface of petiolar node with numerous slender hairs and abundant pubescence; anterior surface of first gastral segment concave, forming shallow impression to lodge posterior surface of petiole; lateral portion of head densely and finely reticulate-rugulose, sides of petiolar node densely and finely punctate.

Measurements (1 specimen): HW: 1.51, HL: 1.67, CI: 90, SL: 1.16, SI: 77, PW: 1.06, WL: 2.37, NH: 0.83, NL: 0.63, NW: 0.86, DNI: 137, LNI: 132.

Description: Head oblong, broadest at midlength; lateral borders generally convex and posterior margin weakly medially excised. Head capsule densely and finely reticulate-punctate. Eyes small, flushing with the head surface. Antennal scape short, not attaining posterior cephalic margin. Anterior margin of clypeus broad and transverse, not medially convex but slightly notched. Mandibular blades smooth and shiny apart from scattered punctures; masticatory margins with ten teeth or denticles; outer margin of mandibles, from the base to apical portion, gradually curving towards the midline.

With mesosoma in dorsal view, metanotal groove a shallowly impressed transverse line; posterior margin of propodeum simple, not lamellate, and without a series of sharp teeth; dorsum of mesosoma reticulate-rugulose, superimposed with small punctures. Petiolar node broader than long in dorsal view, with medially bluntly angulate posterior margin and broadly convex anterior border; dorsum of node with large punctures; posterior surface covered with abundant pubescence; subpetiolar process anteriorly subquadrate followed by posteriorly acute angle. Anterior face of first gastral segment, from lower level of tergite towards anterodorsal angle, inclined posteriorly and shallowly impressed to lodge posterior face of petiolar node; this impression is deepest immediately above helcium and turns into a superficial cavity near the anterodorsal angle. First two gastral tergites covered with denser fine punctures.

Head and the rest of body dorsum with slender, elongate, erect hairs and abundant pubescence; dark brown in color with red to light brown appendages and tip of gaster.

Queen: unknown.

Discussion: Pachycondyla haratsingy may be confused with P. i v o l o but the former has reticulate-rugulose sculpture on the lateral portion of the head and petiolar node, whereas the sides of the head and petiolar node of the latter are smooth and shiny between small piligerous punctures.

Distribution and biology: Pachycondyla haratsingy is only known from the RS Ankarana in northwestern Madagascar and represented by a single worker found foraging through leaf litter.

Figures

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 40 – 42. Worker caste of Pachycondyla haratsingy: lateral and dorsal view of body and full-face view of head, holotype CASENT 0195184.

FIGURES 70 – 75. Distribution maps of the Pachycondyla sikorae species-group in Madagascar. Fig. 70: P. agnivo; Fig. 71: P. antsiraka; Fig. 72: P. daraina; Fig. 73: P. g o ro g o t a; Fig. 74: P. haratsingy (circle) and P. i v o l o (triangle); Fig. 75: P. maeva.