Crematogaster alafara Blaimer, 2013

Blaimer, Bonnie B. & Fisher, Brian L., 2013, Taxonomy of the Crematogaster degeeri-species-assemblage in the Malagasy region (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 51, pp. 1-64 : 17-20

Crematogaster alafara Blaimer sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:957DBC9B-0B2D-4ABF-B179-E18F67603927

Fig. 6

Diagnosis

Workers of Crematogaster alafara sp. nov. are fairly small (HW 0.72 - 0.88, WL 0.79 - 0.91) and have short to medium-sized propodeal spines (SPI 0.06 - 0.10). The characteristic promesonotal characters, with the propodeum usually distinctly set off from the promesonotum in lateral view (as Fig. 6B ), render this species moderately easy to recognize from other species in the C. degeeri -assemblage. Possibly this species could be confused with C. malahelo sp. nov.; the latter, however, bears sharp lateral margins on the pronotum (absent in C. alafara sp. nov.) and has shorter, more triangular spines (SPI 0.03 - 0.07) than C. alafara sp. nov.. Mean genetic distance in the barcode region of C. alafara sp. nov. to other species within the C. degeeri -assemblage is 15.7 - 22.2 % ( Table 3 ).

Etymology

The Malagasy word alafara means “last forest”, alluding to the restricted distribution of this species as a reminder of forest conservation concerns in Madagascar. This name is treated as a noun in apposition.

Type specimens

Holotype

Worker: pinned, CASENT0492837 , BLF08619, ex rotten log [imaged on AntWeb]; original locality label: MADG’R: P.N. Ranomafana , Sahamaloatra, 6.6 km 310° NW Ranomafana, 31 Mar. 2003, 21º14.2’S, 47º23.8’E, 1150 m, Fisher et al., BLF# (Brian L. Fisher); deposited at CASC.

Paratypes

4 workers, pinned, #1 and #2 same collection and locality data as holotype. #1: CASENT0317785 , deposited at SAMC. #2: CASENT0317786 , deposited at MHNG. #3 and #4: BLF08628, ex dead twig above ground, remaining data same as holotype. #3: CASENT0317787 , deposited at MCZC. #4: CASENT0317788 , deposited at UCDC.

Type locality

MADAGASCAR: Fianarantsoa: P.N. Ranomafana , Sahamaloatra River : -21.23667, 47.39667, 1150 m, montane rainforest.

Other material examined

( CASC, PSWC): refer to Supplementary Material 1.

Worker

Measurements

(n = 12) [holotype] HW 0.72 - 0.88 [0.83]; HL 0.69 - 0.80 [0.78]; EL 0.15 - 0.19 [0.17]; SL 0.54 - 0.64 [0.61]; WL 0.79 - 0.91 [0.90]; SPL 0.05 - 0.08 [0.06]; PTH 0.17 - 0.20 [0.20]; PTL 0.22 - 0.26 [0.26]; PTW 0.29 - 0.35 [0.35]; PPL 0.13 - 0.18 [0.16]; PPW 0.23 - 0.28 [0.25]; LHT 0.56 - 0.67 [0.66]; CI 1.02 - 1.11 [1.06]; OI 0.20 - 0.25 [0.21]; SI 0.73 - 0.83 [0.77]; SPI 0.06 - 0.10 [0.07]; PTHI 0.71 - 0.81 [0.79]; PTWI 1.18 - 1.47 [1.36]; PPI 1.56 - 1.97 [1.59]; LBI 1.30 - 1.47 [1.38].

Description

( Fig. 6A - C ) Small size (HW 0.72 - 0.88, WL 0.79 - 0.91).

Masticatory margin of mandibles with four teeth; head shape quadrate, as long, or slightly longer than wide (CI 1.02 - 1.11); posterior margin of head in full-face view laterally rounded; occipital carinae distinct; antennal scapes reaching or slightly surpassing head margin; midline of eyes situated slightly above midline of head in full-face view; eyes moderately large (OI 0.20 - 0.25) and protruding.

Pronotum laterally angular; promesonotal suture indistinct, promesonotum forming one plane; mesonotum usually without posterior face; laterally mesonotum carinate, sometimes ending in small denticles, but not greatly set off from propodeum; metanotal groove shallow, laterally constricted and bordered by carinae; propodeal spines short, spiniform (SPI 0.06 - 0.10) and straight; dorsal face of propodeum distinct; posterior face of propodeum gently sloping; petiole in dorsal view greatly flared and convex, dorsolaterally rounded to carinate, without posterolateral tubercules or denticles; subpetiolar process usually a small, angular dent; postpetiole distinctly bilobed, with a narrow median impression; subpostpetiolar process absent.

Head sculpture aciculate to faintly reticulate; sculpture otherwise mostly reticulate; face usually with <six erect, longer setae, and regular appressed to decumbent pubescence; erect pilosity on promesonotum usually sparse, <six long setae; otherwise promesonotum dorsally with sparse appressed to subdecumbent pubescence; petiole and postpetiole usually with a pair of short, erect setae posterolaterally, and sparse suberect, decumbent or appressed pubescence; abdominal tergites and sternites four to seven usually with moderately abundant, short, erect pilosity, and regular appressed to decumbent pubescence throughout. Color yellow-brown to brown.

Queen

Measurements

(n = 1) HW 1.01, HL 1.01, EL 0.33, SL 0.64, MSNW 0.76, MSNL 0.87, WL 1.68, SPL 0.00, PTH 0.29, PTL 0.33, PTW 0.39, PPL 0.23, PPW 0.39, LHT 0.75, CI 0.99, OI 0.32, SI 0.63, MSNI 0.87, SPI 0.00, PTHI 0.87, PTWI 1.18, PPI 1.68, LBI 2.24.

Description

( Fig. 6E - G ) Small queen (HW 1.01, WL 1.68). With worker characters, except as follows.

Masticatory margin of mandibles with five teeth; antennal scapes reaching level of lateral ocelli; eyes large (OI 0.33), situated below midline of head in full-face view; head elongate-rectangular (CI 0.99), posterior margin straight.

Mesoscutum in dorsal view longer than wide (MSNI 0.87); dorsal face of propodeum short; propodeal tubercules or denticles absent; petiole moderately flared, postpetiole with complete impression; subpetiolar process present as minute tooth.

Sculpture aciculate to reticulate throughout; face with six longer erect setae (but n = 1) and regular short suberect to decumbent pubescence; mesonotum with regular short, erect to suberect pubescence, interspersed with abundant, longer, erect setae; petiole and postpetiole with fairly dense, short, suberect to decumbent pilosity, and postpetiole with additional longer dorso-posterior setae; abdominal tergites and sternites four to seven with abundant, short, erect pilosity and dense appressed to decumbent pubescence. Color yellowish brown.

Male

Males of this species are unknown.

Distribution and biology

MADAGASCAR. Crematogaster alafara sp. nov. has only been collected at a few rainforest localities in central, northern and western Madagascar ( Fig. 6D ) ranging from 600 m to 1350 m in elevation. The species is known to co-occur with C. sewellii , C. dentata stat. nov. and C. mafybe sp. nov.. The few collections have been made from dead twigs above ground at the lower elevation range, and from rotten logs at higher altitudes. Otherwise nothing is known of the biology of this species.

Figures

Fig. 6. Crematogaster alafara sp. nov., worker, queen and distribution. A-C. Worker (CASENT0492837). A. Full-face. B. Profile. C. Dorsal. D. Species distribution. E-G. Queen (CASENT0050441). E. Profile. F. Full-face. G. Dorsal.