Lordomyrma vuda, Sarnat, E. M., 2006

Sarnat, E. M., 2006, Lordomyrma (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Fiji Islands., Bishop Museum Occasional Papers 90, pp. 9-42 : 34-35

Lordomyrma vuda Sarnat, sp. n.

(Figs. 20, 21)

Description. Worker. TL 4.65-4.84, HL 1.01-1.05, HW 0.87-0.90, CI 0.83-0.87, SI 0.84- 0.89, REL 0.20-0.23, PSLI 1.19-1.26, MFLI 1.19-1.24, DPWI 0.94-1.02 (6 measured). A large dark brown species with sparse facial sculpture, long appendages, and strongly produced downcurved propodeal spines. In full face view, posterior margin of head evenly convex with gently rounded corners. Clypeus bearing one pair of weak carinae. Frontal carinae weak, terminating before to just after posterior level of eye. Antennal scrobe weakly impressed. Eyes of moderate size. In profile, shape of promesonotum massive, strongly convex, and bulging above the head and propodeum in larger workers; less robust in smaller workers. Propodeal spines strong, triangular, downcurved, divergent; in profile when measured from propodeal spiracle, surpassing width of the procoxae. Propodeal lobes of strongly produced, upturned. Petiole robustly built; anterior sloping steeply to a vertical face; dorsal face gently sloping and weakly convex; slightly peaked apex occurring at the anterior angle. Postpetiole with anterior dorsal faces evenly convex, apex occurring in front of midline. Mandibles smooth and shining with scattered setigerous foveolae. Middorsum of head smooth and shining with scattered foveolae; carinae absent mesad of frontal carinae. Frontal lobes with several pair of strong carinae in addition to the frontal carinae. In oblique lateral view, a few weak carinae above eye; smooth behind, below and in front of eye. Promesonotum smooth and shining with scattered foveolae. Procoxae smooth and shining. Sides of mesonotum, metapleuron, and propodeum overlain by coarse, widely spaced and occasionally intersecting rugae. In dorsal view, dorsal face of propodeum smooth and shining, the anterior margin without a transverse carina posterior to the metanotal groove; declivitous face smooth and shining. Petiole with smooth and shining anterior face, banded by coarse transverse rugae that reach the ventral face. Postpetiole coarsely rugoreticulate. Gaster smooth and shining. All dorsal surfaces with an abundance of suberect to erect acuminate hairs, the longest of which equal or exceed the length of the eye. Head, mesosoma and gaster reddish brown with lighter appendages.

Type Material. Holotype. Worker, FIJI: Viti Levu: Koroyanitu National Park, Savione Falls, 2 km ESE Abaca Village, 17°40'33.6"S 177°33'00.5"E, 650 m, 25.viii.2006, rainforest /river edge, on stone (E.M. Sarnat #2335) (FNIC). Paratypes. 5 workers, same data as holotype (ANIC, MCZC, BPBM, NMNH). Holotype will be deposited in FNIC.

Other Material Examined. FIJI: Viti Levu: Koroyanitu NP, Mt. Batilamu, 2 km SE Abaca Village, 17°40'45.8"S 177°32'34.2"E, 840 m, 24.viii.2006, on stone (E.M. Sarnat #2323).

Discussion. Lordomyrma vuda , is the largest species in the genus thus far collected from Fiji. Like L. desupra, L. stoneri and L. tortuosa , it lacks a transverse carinate margin posterior to the metanotal groove on the dorsal face of its propodeum. Like L. desupra and L. stoneri , it lacks a developed facial sculpture and the presence of longitudinal carinae that run inward from, and parallel to, the frontal carinae. The downcurved spines of L. vuda distinguish the species from L. stoneri . Lordomyrma vuda can be distinguished from L. desupra by the more vertical, peaked appearance of its petiole node, the more robust propodeal spines, the more shallowly sloped propodeal dorsum, its larger size and darker coloration.

The similar morphologies of L. desupra, L. stoneri and L. tortuosa suggest a closely related group of species into which L. vuda does not comfortably fit. The robust propodeal spines, shallow slope of propodeal dorsum, and dark color combine with the petiole shape and sculpture to give L. vuda a appearance distinct. It will be interesting to learn from future phylogenetic work the relationships between L. vuda and the other Fijian Lordomyrma .

Distribution and Biology. Thus far, L. vuda has only been collected from two nearby localities in western Viti Levu's Vuda Province. Both collections were made from workers foraging on stones, with one locality being adjacent to a river. So far, L. vuda is the only species of the genus that appears to be restricted to the drier, leeward mountain ranges of western Viti Levu.