Prenolepis mediops, Williams, Jason L., 2016

Williams, Jason L., 2016, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the ant genus Prenolepis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 4200 (2), pp. 201-258 : 231-234

Prenolepis mediops , sp. nov.

( Figs 95–97 )

Holotype worker. CHINA: Yunnan Province, Gaoli-gong Shan , Nujiang State Nat. Res., 27.715°N 98.565°E, 2000m, 09– 14.vii.2000 (D.H. Kavanaugh, C.E. Griswold, D. Ubick, H.M. Yan, D.Z. Dong, H.B. Liang) ( USNM: CASENT0203583) . 2 paratype workers, same locality as holotype ( USNM: CASENT0203584, CASENT0203585).

Worker diagnosis. In profile view, propodeum is obtusely angled with a flat dorsal face ( Fig 22 ); compound eyes moderately sized, rounded, and spaced far apart (REL3 <40).

Most similar species. P. shanialena .

Morphology. Worker. Measurements (n=3): CMC: 11–12; EL: 0.18–0.19; EW: 0.15–0.16; HL: 0.70–0.76; HLA: 0.35–0.39; HLP: 0.26–0.28; HW: 0.67–0.70; IOD: 0.47–0.50; LF1: 0.19; LF2: 0.08–0.09; LHT: 0.82–0.89; MMC: 2–3; MTW: 0.39–0.42; MW: 0.24–0.28; PDH: 0.29–0.31; PMC: 3–4; PrCL: 0.41–0.44; PrCW: 0.23–0.24; PrFL: 0.66–0.71; PrFW: 0.15–0.16; PTH: 0.31; PTL: 0.29–0.31; PTW: 0.24–0.26; PW: 0.44–0.47; SL: 0.84–0.87; TL: 2.85–3.32; WF1: 0.07; WF2: 0.06–0.07; WL: 0.91–1.00; BLI: 130–142; CI: 92–96; EPI: 127–147; FLI: 200– 235; HTI: 123–127; PetHI: 100–107; PetWI: 83–84; PrCI: 53–55; PrFI: 22–23; REL: 25–26; REL2: 27; REL3: 38–39; SI: 124–126.

Light to medium brown; antennae and mandibles distinctly much lighter in color when rest of body is medium brown; cuticle of head, pronotum, and propodeum smooth and shiny; cuticle of gaster lightly reticulate; abundant decumbent setae on scapes and legs; long, erect macrosetae on head, pronotum, mesonotum, and gaster; head about as long as broad and round in shape with indistinct posterolateral corners and a straight posterior margin; compound eyes moderately sized, convex, and spaced far apart (REL3 <40); compound eyes do not surpass the lateral margins of the head in full-face view; torulae overlap with the posterior border of the clypeus; clypeus with prominent anterolateral lobes ( Fig 45 ); mandibles with 6 teeth on the masticatory margin; ectal surface of mandibles with light longitudinal striations; in profile view, propodeum is obtusely angled with a flat dorsal face; dorsal apex of petiole scale is sharply angled and forward-inclined ( Fig 53 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet is named for the moderately sized compound eyes of this species.

Notes. This species is most similar to P. shanialena , but is distinguished by its moderately sized compound eyes, which are distinctly smaller and spaced farther apart than those of most other Prenolepis species. The only other Prenolepis species with compound eyes comparable in relative size and position is P. melanogaster , which is a much larger species (TL> 4.25mm) that has a yellow-brown head and mesosoma and a dark brown to black gaster.

Figures

FIGURES 95 – 97. Prenolepis mediops holotype worker CASENT 0203583. Lateral, full-face, and dorsal view of the body.

FIGURES 15 – 27. Illustrations of mesosoma shapes (profile view) observed in all Prenolepis species. 15, P. angularis; 16, P. darlena; 17, P. fisheri; 18, P. fustinoda; 19, P. imparis; 20, P. jacobsoni; 21, P. jerdoni; 22, P. mediops; 23, P. melanogaster; 24, P. naoroji; 25, P. nitens; 26, P. shanialena; 27, P. subopaca.

FIGURES 38 – 50. Illustrations of clypeus shapes (full-face view) observed in all Prenolepis species. Apparent differences in width of torulae are artifacts of specimen orientation. In some species the torulae are oriented more laterally. 38, P. angularis; 39, P. darlena; 40, P. fisheri; 41, P. fustinoda; 42, P. imparis; 43, P. jacobsoni; 44, P. jerdoni; 45, P. mediops; 46, P. melanogaster; 47, P. naoroji; 48, P. nitens; 49, P. shanialena; 50, P. subopaca.

FIGURES 51 – 56. Illustrations of petiole shapes (profile view) observed in Prenolepis species. 51, P. darlena; 52, P. fustinoda; 53, P. imparis (typical shape seen in most Prenolepis species); 54, P. jacobsoni; 55, P. jerdoni; 56, P. subopaca.