Myrmoteras namphuong, Bui, Viet Tuan, Eguchi, Katsuyuki & Yamane, Seiki, 2013

Bui, Viet Tuan, Eguchi, Katsuyuki & Yamane, Seiki, 2013, Revision of the ant genus Myrmoteras of the Indo-Chiese Peninsula (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae), Zootaxa 3666 (4), pp. 544-558 : 553

Myrmoteras namphuong sp. nov.

( Fig. 6 )

Type material. Holotype worker from Northern Vietnam, Lao Cai Province, Hoang Lien Son NP., Sa Pa Distr., Ban Khoang, secondary forest, stream-side, ca. 1700–1800 m alt., 27 iv 2002, leg. K. Eguchi (Eg02-VN-123) [VNMN]. Paratypes: 3 workers from the same colony as holotype [ACEG, SKYC, VNMN].

Worker measurements and indices. TL 4.5 –5.0, HL 1.25 –1.29 (1.26), HW 1.25 –1.31 (1.27), EL 0.75 –0.81 (0.77), ML 1.54–1.58 [1.56] (1.56), SL 1.48– 1.52 (1.51), PrW 0.77 –0.81 (0.79), HfL 1.73 –1.79 (1.77), CI 98–103 [100] (100), SI 116– 122 (119). (Holotype and 3 paratype workers were measured.)

Worker description. Frons and mesosoma dark brown; clypeus, vertex of head, petiole and gaster yellowishbrown; mandible and legs pale yellow. Body with sparse erect hairs; pubescence present near anterior margin of clypeus and frons. Clypeus smooth or slightly rugoso-punctate; frons mainly smooth, but area around antennal insertion slightly rugose; vertex of head (including occipital lobe) smooth; frontal sulcus very feeble, visible as a very short trace running backward until the middle of frons; anterior clypeal margin concave; mandible with 8 teeth that reduce in size from apical to basal teeth; two denticles present between first and second teeth; palp formula 6,4; orbital groove absent; scape a little shorter than funicular segments combined; funicular segments each longer than broad. Pronotum in lateral view flattened dorsally; anteriormost part of pronotum transversely rugose, and its remainder part smooth; mesonotum longer than high; dorsal part of mesonotum slightly rugoso-punctate transversely; lateral face of mesosoma more or less transversely rugose between pronotum and metathoracic tubercle, and obliquely rugose from the tubercle to propodeum; mesopleuron, metapleuron and lateral face of propodeum smooth; dorsum of propodeum smooth or slightly rugoso-punctate transversely; propodeum in lateral view roundly convex posterodorsally. Petiolar node in lateral view with vertical anterior face and steep posterior slope; ventral outline of petiole beneath the node slightly concave.

Etymology. The specific name is after a famous queen of an ancient Vietnamese dynasty.

Remarks. This beautiful species is separated from other Indo-Chinese congeners by the lack of pubescence on the gastral tergites, incomplete frontal sulcus, and yellow mandible and petiole.

Distribution. Vietnam.

Figures

FIGURE 6. Myrmoteras namphuong sp. nov. Paratype worker. A. Head, full-face view; B. Head and mesosoma, dorsal view; habitus, profile. Ban Khoang (A), Sa Pa, Lao Kai, N Vietnam, 27 / iv / 2002, K. Eguchi leg. (Eg 02 VN 123).