Tapinoma jandai, Seifert, 2025

Seifert, Bernhard, 2025, Treachery pigmentation pattern leads to misidentification: Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabricius), Tapinoma pygmaeum (Dufour) and Tapinoma jandai sp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), Contributions to Entomology 75 (2), pp. 245-252 : 245-252

Tapinoma jandai sp. nov.

Etymology.

The name is given in honor of Milan Janda who has collected the holotype specimen and provided valuable other material for this study.

Type material.

• Holotype worker labelled “PNG: 5.104°S, 145.775°E, 15 m, Madang: Baitabag , partially fragmented lowland rainforest, M. Janda 2004.01.01 - MJ 13337 ” and “Holotype Tapinoma jandai Seifert ” ; • one paratype with the same collecting data label on another pin ; • 8 mounted paratype workers on two pins labelled “ INDIA: 31.38682°N, 76.47164°E, Himachal Pradesh: Bakhra , 650 m, H. Bharti 2016.05.12 - EX 1750 ” ; • 38 paratype workers with identic labelling stored in ethanol; depository SMN Görlitz . The paratype sample coded EX 1750 was included in the genomic investigation of Perez-Flores et al. (2025 accepted). For the morphometric details of all 17 morphometrically examined individuals collected in 8 localities see Suppl. material 1.

Geographic range.

Combining the knowledge from this study with two genetically identified samples ( Perez-Flores et al. 2025, accepted) which were not available to me, the species is verified for ten sites in the Polynesian and Orientalic Region and the Southeast of the Arab Peninsula. Going from the east to the west, the following picture emerges: Penang / Fiji Islands [-17.364, 178.161, 36 m]; Baitabag / Papua New Guinea [-5.104, 145.775, 15 m]; Koror / Palau Islands [7.34, 134.49, 20 m] (sample Ex 1730 in Perez-Flores et al. 2025); Christmas Island [- 10.48, 105.650, 120 m]; Cameron Highlands-Tana / Malaysia [4.47, 101.37, 1400 m]; Xishuangbanna / China [21.9280, 101.2556, 556 m] (sample Ex 1745 in Perez-Flores et al. 2025); Bakhra / Himachal Pradesh [31.38682, 76.47164, 650 m]; Khalghat / Madhya Pradesh [22.16, 75.45, 200 m]; Kagan Valley-Balakot / Pakistan [34.55, 73.35, 1070 m]; Dhofar, Salalah / Oman [17.02, 54.11, 9 m].

Diagnosis.

Worker (Figs 3 – 6 ; only arithmetic mean of numeric data given here, for full data see Table 1 ): Minute, mean CS = 454 μm. Head elongated, CL / CW 1.141. Postocular index larger than in T. melanocephalum, PoOc / CL 0.495. Hind margin of vertex usually very weakly excavated, ExOcc / CS 0.47 %. Anterior clypeal margin not or only very slightly excavated, ExCly / CS 0.63 %. Minimum distance of the inner margins of antennal socket rings slightly smaller than in T. melanocephalum , dAN / CS 0.326. Scape and 3 nd segment of antennal funiculus much shorter than in T. melanocephalum, SL / CS 0.841, Fu 3 / CS 9.69 %. Second funiculus segment much shorter than both in T. melanocephalum and T. pygmaeum , always shorter than wide, Fu 2 / CS 7.26 %, IFu 2 0.751 (Fig. 6 ). Maximum eye diameter notably smaller than in T. melanocephalum, EL / CS 0.246. Mesosoma more compact, with a larger width than both in T. melanocephalum and T. pygmaeum, MW / CS 0.675; longer than in T. melanocephalum, ML / CS 1.152. Metanotal depression very shallow, MGr / CS 1.31 %. Pubescence hairs on all body surfaces longer and shaggier than in T. melanocephalum – as result more fine hairs protruding beyond the anteromedian margin of clypeus, nExCly 3.24. Head and mesosoma medium to blackish brown; gaster, antennae and legs always notably lighter, in dried specimens very pale yellowish or very pale brownish. Accordingly, it shows basically the same light-dark contrasts as usually seen in T. melanocephalum . Deviating color morphs not known so far.

Biology.

It is a tropical species with basically unknown biology. The holotype sample was collected in a partially fragmented lowland rainforest, the paratype in a dense woodland and the genetically identified sample from China in a tropical botanical garden. The frequency of Tapinoma jandai sp. nov. in all collections and all antweb. org images studied is about 10 % of that of T. melanocephalum and there seems to be no worldwide spreading. This indicates that Tapinoma jandai sp. nov. has a much lower tramp species potency than T. melanocephalum – if it has any.

Figures

Figure 3. Dorsal aspect of the head of the holotype of Tapinoma jandai sp. nov.

Figure 6. Distal scape and basal funiculus segments of the holotype of Tapinoma jandai sp. nov. imaged perpendicular to the swiveling plane of the first funiculus segment.