Gauromyrmex bengkalisi Menozzi, 1933

Chen, Defu & Chen, Zhilin, 2022, Ants of the genus Gauromyrmex Menozzi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with description of a new species from China, Asian Myrmecology (e 015007) 15, pp. 1-10 : 7-8

Gauromyrmex bengkalisi Menozzi, 1933

( Figs. 10–13 )

Gauromyrmex bengkalisi Menozzi, 1933: 146 , figs. 1–2 (w.) INDONESIA. Combination in Vollenhovia by Bolton, 1995: 422; in Gauromyrmex by Bolton, 2003: 269. (The Cotype worker images examined, https://AntWeb.org, CASENT0172783, images by April Nobile).

Material examined. unexamined.

Diagnosis. Anteromedian part of clypeus prominent, with anterior margin distinctly concave and its lateral part forming a pair rounded lobe. Eyes located a little forward of midpoint of lateral margin. Posterodorsal corner of propodeum unarmed, forming an obtuse angle between dorsal margin and declivity, declivity steep and marginate laterally, about 2 times as long as its dorsum, and with a small tooth on the mid-lateral edge of declivity. In dorsal view, humeral corners of pronotum rounded and unarmed. Subpetiolar process absent.

Description. Worker. TL 2.22, HL 0.52, HW 0.51, CI 98, SL 0.35, SI 69, ED 0.11, PW 0.32, MSL 0.70, PL 0.15, PH 0.19, DPW 0.10, LPI 127, DPI 67 (n=1, Measurement data obtained from Cotype worker images).

Head. Head in full-face view rectangular, slightly longer than broad, posterior margin in middle weakly concave, posterolateral corner rounded, lateral margin even. Mandibles triangular, masticatory margin with 6 teeth, with a large apical tooth, followed by a smaller preapical tooth and 4 denticles; anteromedian part of clypeus prominent, with anterior margin distinctly concave and its lateral part forminged a pair of rounded lobes. Frontal carina and antennal scrobes absent.Antenna 12-segmented, scape not surpassing posterior margin of head. Eyes median size (ED 0.11), located a little forward of midpoint of lateral margin.

Mesosoma. in lateral view, dorsum of pronotum weakly convex; anterior part of dorsum of mesonotum almost straight, and posterior part steep; dorsum of propodeum weakly convex, posterodorsal corner unarmed, forming an obtuse angle between dorsal margin and declivity, declivity steep and marginate laterally, about 2 times as long as its dorsum, and with a small tooth on the mid-lateral edge of declivity. In dorsal view, humeral corners of pronotum rounded and unarmed; lateral sides of pronotum almost straight and convergent posteriorly; posterodorsal corner of pronotum with a pair of blunt processes, and not passing smoothly to lateral margins of mesonotum; promesonotal suture absent; metanotal groove depressed, and strongly constriction between mesonotum and propodeum; lateral margin of propodeum straight and divergent posteriorly, posterolateral corner forming a pair of obtuse angles. Waist. Petiole in lateral view peduncle short, anterodorsal corner forming an inconspicuous denticle, dorsum triangular, subpetiolar process absent; in dorsal view, petiole rectangular, anterolateral corner obtuse, with a transverse ridge in middle. Postpetiole in lateral view smaller than petiole, anterior margin convex, dorsum narrowed, posterior margin steep, sternite of postpetiole much smaller than its stergite, anteroventral obtuse; in dorsal view anterolateral corner of postpetiole rounded, lateral margin convex and almost narrowed posteriorly. Gaster. Gaster in lateral view oval, in dorsal view humeral corner of gaster obtuse-angulate. Sculpture. Mandibles scattered with piligerous punctures and weak stria; middle part of clypeus smooth and shiny, and its lateral part with several stria; outer face of antennal sockets with concentric stria, the rest of head smooth and shiny, scattered with small piligerous punctures. Lateral face of pronotum smooth and shiny, dorsum of pronotum with dense puncta and about 9-11 stria; face of metanotal groove scattered with five ridges; the rest of mesosoma punctate-reticulate. Lateral face of petiole and postpetiole punctate-reticulate; anterior face of petiole smooth and shiny, posterior face and dorsal face of postpetiole punctate-reticulate weakly. Gaster smooth and shiny. Pilosity. Head with sparse erect hairs and medium-density pubescences, mesosoma with abundant erect hairs, gaster with sparse erect hairs, antennae with abundant pubescence. Color. Body dark brown, clypeus and antenna yellowish-brown.

Remarks. This species is easily distinguished from G. bengkalisi by anteromedian part of clypeus prominent, with anterior margin distinctly concave and its lateral part formed a pair rounded lobes; dorsum of propodeum weakly convex, posterodorsal corner of propodeum unarmed, forming an obtuse angle between dorsal margin and declivity; in dorsal view, humeral corners of pronotum rounded and unarmed; subpetiolar process absent; dorsum of pronotum with dense puncta and about 9-11 stria; the rest of mesosoma punctate-reticulate.

This species is easily distinguished from G. orbihumerus by posterodorsal corner of propodeum obtuse and unarmed; subpetiolar process absent; dorsum of petiole triangular; dorsum of pronotum with dense puncta and about 9-11 stria.

Distribution. Indonesia ( Menozzi 1933; Chapman & Capco 1951) and Malaysia (data from AntWeb.org).

Figures

Figs. 10 – 13. Gauromyrmex bengkalisi Cotype worker. 10. Head in full-face view; 11. Label; 12. Body in dorsal view; 13. Body in profile view. (Cotype, https://www.antweb.org, CASENT0172783, images by April Nobile)