Pyramica ambatrix Bolton, 2000

Bolton, B., 2000, The ant tribe Dacetini. With a revision of the Strumigenys species of the Malgasy Region by Brian L. Fisher, and a revision of the Austral epopostrumiform genera by Steven O. Shattuck., Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65, pp. 341-369 : 355

Pyramica ambatrix Bolton sp. n.

HOLOTYPE WORKER. TL 2.1, HL 0.56, HW 0.41, CI 73, ML 0.10, MI 18, SL 0.28, SI 68, PW 0.26, AL 0.60. Closely related to victrix and mostly matching the description given there, but differing as follows.

1 Pronotal numeral hair long and flagellate.

2 Mesonotum usually with 2 pairs of erect hairs.

3 Entire dorsal alitrunk, and propodeal declivity, densely sharply reticulate-punctate.

4 Ventral spongiform curtain of petiole extends the length of the segment, present beneath the peduncle but narrower there than beneath the node.

5 In dorsal view the postpetiole disc, from the posterolateral angles to the anterolateral angles, margined by spongiform tissue.

PARATYPE WORKERS. TL 2.0 - 2.1, HL 0.50 - 0.56, HW 0.40 - 0.42, CI 73 - 76, ML 0.09 - 0.11, MI 17 - 20, SL 0.26 - 0.28, SI 65 - 70, PW 0.24 - 0.28, AL 0.56 - 0.62 (10 measured). As holotype but number of mesonotal standing hairs apparently variable or affected by abrasion, with one or two pairs present.

Holotype worker, Madagascar: 5.3 km. SSE Ambanizana, Andranobe, 15 ° 40 ' S, 49 ° 58 ' E, 425 m., 21. xi. 1993, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood) rainforest, # 926 (41) - 1 (B. L. Fisher) (MCZ). Paratypes. 1 worker and 1 queen (dealate) with same data as holotype; 20 workers and 4 queens (dealate) with same data but coded (2) - l, (22) - 2, (24) - 1, (25) - 1, (31) - 1, (36) - 1, (40) - 1, (43) - 1, (50) - 1, (L. O.) - l (UCD, BMNH).

NON-PARATYPIC MATERIAL EXAMINED. Madagascar: 6.3 km. S Ambanizana, Andranobe (B. L. Fisher).

Of the four species of this group found in Madagascar ambatrix is unique in possessing long flagellate hairs at the pronotal humeri. In the other three species the humeral hairs are simple and straight or only very shallowly curved.