Paraparatrechina gnoma LaPolla and Cheng

Lapolla, John S., Cheng, Chiu H. & Fisher, Brian L., 2010, Taxonomic revision of the ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) genus Paraparatrechina in the Afrotropical and Malagasy Regions, Zootaxa 2387, pp. 1-27 : 10-11

Paraparatrechina gnoma LaPolla and Cheng , sp. nov.

( Fig. 5 , 16 , 17 )

Holotype worker, GHANA: Mankrang For. Res. nr. Akomaden; 11.iii.1992 (R. Belshaw) ( BMNH); 6 paratype workers, same locality as holotype ( BMNH, USNM).

Worker diagnosis: Small size (TL: 1.2–1.44); HL & SL <0.4 mm.

Compare with: P. oreias and subtilis

WORKER. Measurements (n=12): TL: 1.2–1.44; HW: 0.32–0.34; HL: 0.36–0.38; EL: 0.084–0.098; SL: 0.34–0.38; PW: 0.22–0.25; WL: 0.36–0.42; PDH: 0.19–0.21; PrFL: 0.28–0.30; PrFW: 0.09–0.11; GL: 0.47– 0.67. Indices: CI: 85–94; REL: 24–26; SI: 102–115; FI: 32–36

Head brownish-yellow, with lighter yellow colored clypeus, mandibles, and antennae and area around torulae. A fine, short pubescence covers the head. Scapes surpass posterior margin by about the length of the first 2 funicular segments. Mesosoma compact, laterally brownish-yellow, with dorsum lighter yellow, and a fine pubescence covering the entire mesosomal dorsum. Pronotum rises very steeply from anterior margin to dorsum; propodeum possesses a short, angular dorsal face, with a long declivitous face. Procoxae typically brownish-yellow as in mesosoma, although procoxae in some specimens are lighter yellow; overall, the legs are brownish-yellow, becoming yellow towards last tarsal segments; gaster brownish-yellow becoming lighter yellow around segmental margins.

Etymology. The species epithet is a Latin noun in apposition for dwarf, in reference to the fact that this is the smallest species of Paraparatrechina currently known from the Afrotropics.

Non-type material examined: GHANA: Enchi, 23.v.1969 (D. Leston); Enchi, 27.v.1969 (D. Leston); Enchi, 28.v.1969 (D. Leston); Mankrang For., Res. Nr. Akomadan, 11.iii.1992 (Belshaw); NIGERIA: Onipe, 25.vii.1975

Notes. This species is most likely to be confused with P. oreias , but can separated by its overall smaller size in head width and length and scape length. P. gnoma is currently the smallest known Afrotropical Paraparatrechina species, although P. brunnella is very small as well (TL: 1.23–1.58).

Figures

FIGURE 5. Paraparatrechina gnoma worker holotype CASENT 0178758. A, profile; B, dorsum; C, full face.

FIGURE 16. Various measurements of Paraparatrechina workers.

FIGURE 17. Distribution of Paraparatrechina species. NOTE: The specimens of brunnella and umbranatis from Kenya were received after the proofing stage of this paper and are not included on the maps above. Instead, the Kenya locality records can be found under the non-type materials examined section of each species.