Leptogenys suarensis

Leptogenys suarensis occurs generally in the dry forests and littoral habitats in the north of Madagascar. It is also known from the humid forest of Binara near Daraina.

Identification
A member of the imerinensis complex of the incisa species group. Rakotonirina and Fisher (2014) - Worker. Three to four peg-like setae present near anterior margin of median lobe of clypeus; median longitudinal clypeal carina sharp; translucent lamella of clypeus usually broadly rounded; antennal scape relatively short (SI: 101–108), less than apical fourth portion extending beyond posterior margin of head; in dorsal view, mesosoma apparently of four visible segments, with an additional suture present between metanotal groove and propodeum; mandible generally smooth and shiny between sparse piligerous punctures.

Leptogenys suarensis and Leptogenys gracilis are morphologically similar to each other, but see L. gracilis identification. Leptogenys suarensis is one of the smallest species within the incisa group and presents a variety of morphological traits.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  suarensis. Leptogenys incisa subsp. suarensis Emery, 1895f: 338 (w.) MADAGASCAR. Junior synonym of incisa: Bolton, 1975a: 298. Revived from synonymy: Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2014: 99. Raised to species: Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2014: 99.

Worker
Rakotonirina and Fisher (2014) - (9 specimens). HW: 1.09–1.47, HL: 1.27–1.62, CI: 86–95, SL: 1.16–1.57, SI: 101–108, PW: 0.86–1.14, WL: 2.20–2.77, PNH: 0.68–0.81, PNL: 0.73–0.89, PNW: 0.65–0.82, DNI: 86–97, LNI: 90–99.

Head subrectangular, slightly longer than broad; sides feebly convex and gradually diverging towards base of mandible; posterior cephalic margin more or less straight. Eye large and protruding from head surface, maximum diameter twice as great as maximum width of scape; in full-face view, portion of eye extending beyond outline of lateral cephalic border. Antennal scape relatively short, less than one fourth its length surpassing posterior margin of head. Clypeus broadly angular, usually with short, rounded, anteromedian lobe fringed by broadly rounded translucent lamella; three to four peg-like setae projecting anteriorly from above lamella near median margin of lobe; median longitudinal carina sharp. Mandible long and slender; blades broadly concave; basal groove vestigial and preapical tooth or denticle mostly absent. Hypostomal teeth not visible with cephalic full-face view. With mesosoma in dorsal view, metanotal groove curved with an additional suture present between groove and propodeum; groove with transverse striation; in side view, propodeum generally short and high. With petiole in profile, node either as broad as high or broader than high, and inclined anteriorly; with shorter anterior face and anteriorly sloping posterior face rounding to generally convex dorsal margin. Constriction between third and fourth abdominal segments weak. Mandible mostly smooth and shining between sparse punctures. Body sculpture densely and finely reticulate-punctate to densely and finely reticulate-rugose; propodeal declivity with transverse rugulae. Third and anterior half of fourth abdominal tergites with dense, shallow punctures which become shallower at posterior half of fourth abdominal tergite. Standing, yellowish, long and slender hairs present and pubescence quite abundant. Black species with bluish reflection or opalescence in some specimens.

Type Material
Rakotonirina and Fisher (2014) - Lectotype worker, present designation, Madagascar, Diego Suarez, 1893 (Alluaud), AntWeb CASENT0102014. Paralectotype worker, with same data as lectotype but specimen coded as CASENT0280591 (MSNG) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Emery C. 1895. Mission scientifique de M. Ch. Alluaud dans le territoire de Diego-Suarez (Madagascar-nord) (Avril-août 1893). Formicides. Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique 39: 336-345.
 * Rakotonirina J. C., and B. L. Fisher. 2014. Revision of the Malagasy ponerine ants of the genus Leptogenys Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 3836 (1): 001163.