Prenolepis darlena

Prenolepis darlena
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Lasiini
Genus:	Prenolepis
Species:	P. darlena
Binomial name
Prenolepis darlena Williams & LaPolla, 2016 Specimen Labels

Nothing is known about the biology of Prenolepis darlena.

Identification

Williams and LaPolla (2016) - Three small ocelli present; petiole low in profile and very narrow and elongate (PetWI < 55) with a rounded dorsal apex of the scale); erect setae on scapes; head square in shape.

Similar species. Prenolepis fisheri, Prenolepis fustinoda. This species is most similar to P. fustinoda in that the petiole is elongate with a scale that is low in profile. The scale however does not have the distinct club-like shape that is seen in P. fustinoda. The head in this species is also square in shape with a straight posterior margin, while in P. fisheri and P. fustinoda the head is subtriangular with a weakly convex posterior margin.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Prenolepis

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Nepal (type locality), Thailand.

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• darlena. Prenolepis darlena Williams & LaPolla, 2016: 219, figs 63-65 (w.) NEPAL.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

(n=3): CMC: 28–34; EL: 0.23–0.26; EW: 0.18–0.21; HL: 0.70–0.78; HLA: 0.38–0.42; HLP: 0.17–0.19; HW: 0.69–0.78; IOD: 0.45–0.49; LF1: 0.16–0.18; LF2: 0.07; LHT: 0.79–0.95; MMC: 1–3; MTW: 0.37–0.45; MW: 0.27–0.31; PDH: 0.31–0.32; PMC: 2–6; PrCL: 0.39–0.45; PrCW: 0.24–0.29; PrFL: 0.66–0.75; PrFW: 0.19–0.22; PTH: 0.21–0.25; PTL: 0.35–0.47; PTW: 0.18–0.24; PW: 0.48–0.52; SL: 0.78– 0.91; TL: 2.64–3.10; WF1: 0.05–0.07; WF2: 0.05–0.06; WL: 0.93–1.04; BLI: 133–136; CI: 98–100; EPI: 195– 233; FLI: 242–258; HTI: 114–123; PetHI: 67–69; PetWI: 51–54; PrCI: 60–69; PrFI: 28–30; REL: 32–34; REL2: 33–34; REL3: 51–54; SI: 113–120.

Light brown; cuticle of head lightly reticulate; cuticle of pronotum smooth and shiny; cuticle of gaster lightly reticulate; long, erect setae on scapes, head, mesosoma, and legs; head as broad as long and square in shape with rounded posterolateral corners; posterior margin straight; three small ocelli present; eyes moderately large and convex, but do not surpass the lateral margins of the head in full-face view; torulae do not touch the posterior border of the clypeus; clypeus strongly medially convex and without prominent anterolateral lobes; mandibles with 5–6 teeth on the masticatory margin; ectal surface of mandibles smooth and shiny; in profile view, propodeum is domed with a rounded dorsal face; petiole low in profile and very narrow and elongate (PetWI < 55) with a rounded dorsal apex of the scale.

Type Material

Holotype worker. NEPAL: 16km ENE Baglung, 28°18’N 83°46’E, 1100m, Schima-Castanopsis forest, 27.xi.1988 (P.S. Ward) (National Museum of Natural History: USNMENT00755129); 2 paratype workers, same locality as holotype (National Museum of Natural History: USNMENT00755162).

Etymology

The specific epithet is named after the first author’s mother, Darlene.

References

• Khachonpisitsak, S., Yamane, S., Sriwichai, P., Jaitrong, W. 2020. An updated checklist of the ants of Thailand (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 998, 1–182 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.998.54902).
• Subedi, I.P., Budha, P.B. 2019. Status of ant research and species first described from Nepal with new distribution records. Journal of Natural History Museum. 31:57-78.
• Subedi, I.P., Budha, P.B., Bharti, H., Alonso, L. 2020. An updated checklist of Nepalese ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 1006, 99–136 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.1006.58808).
• Williams, J.L. 2022. Description of Prenolepis rinpoche sp. nov. from Nepal, with discussion of Asian Prenolepis species biogeography. Asian Myrmecology 15, e015008 (doi:10.20362/am.015008).
• Williams, J.L., LaPolla, J.S. 2016. Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the ant genus Prenolepis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 4200(2): 201–258. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4200.2.1

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Williams J. L., and J. S. LaPolla. 2016. Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the ant genus Prenolepis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 4200: 201-258.