Lepisiota binghami

Identification
Lepisiota binghami distinctly differs from other known species of the genus Lepisiota from India. It differs from the bicoloured species Lepisiota pulchella in the sculpture of body, distribution of setae on the body, and size. Lepisiota pulchella workers have reticulate-punctate sculpture on the dorsum of head and mesosoma with gaster microreticulate and subopaque while the head of L. binghami is faintly microreticulate and shiny, most mesosoma without reticulation, gaster smooth and shiny. Mesosoma of L. pulchella has abundant pilosity whereas L. binghami has very less pilosity. Lepisiota pulchella is comparatively larger (HL 0.58–0.64, WL 0.83–0.91) than L. binghami (HL 0.51–0.56, WL 0.69–0.76) (here we are not considering measurements of Wachkoo et al. (2021) as they might have also considered specimens with less prominent characters of L. pulchella as discussed in personal communication).

Lepisiota binghami differs from another similar species Lepisiota chutimae in the sculpture of mesosoma and head, colouration of gaster, and petiole height. The dorsum of promesonotum is microreticulate and subopaque, the dorsum of metanotum and propodeal spines are reticulate in L. binghami whereas the dorsum of mesosoma is completely smooth in L. chutimae; dorsum of head is comparatively clear microreticulate with feeble striation below compound eyes in L. binghami whereas L. chutimae is about completely smooth. The first gastral segment is yellowish-brown to brown and the remaining part of the gaster is black in L. binghami whereas the gaster is completely dark brown in L. chutimae. The petiole of L. chutimae is higher (PH 0.33–0.35) than L. binghami (PH 0.24–0.28) (Jaitrong et al. 2022).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 * . Lepisiota binghami Harshana & Dey, 2022: 6, fig. 1 (w.) INDIA (Kerala).

Type Material

 * Holotype worker. INDIA: Kerala: Palakkad (Nelliyampathy), 10°32ʹ56”N 76° 41ʹ08”E, 865 m, 27.V.2019, Coll. Anooj S.S.
 * Paratype workers. 1 worker with same data as holotype; Thrissur (Peechi), 10°31ʹ48”N 76°20ʹ48”E, 78 m, 7 workers, 30.V.2019, Coll. Anooj S.S. (type specimens deposited in NPC, New Delhi).