Lophomyrmex bedoti

Collections of this species have, when noted, been from moist forest habitats.

Identification
A member of the Lophomyrmex bedoti group.

A widespread species which sometimes may be confused with Lophomyrmex ambiguus (see there).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines. Oriental Region: Bangladesh, India, Thailand. Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  bedoti. Lophomyrmex bedoti Emery, 1893e: 192, pl. 8, fig. 17 (w.q.) INDONESIA (Sumatra). Rigato, 1994a: 54 (m.); Imai, Baroni Urbani, et al. 1984: 7 (k.). See also: Bingham, 1903: 196; Moffett, 1986a: 207; Rigato, 1994a: 54.

Type Material
Rigato (1994) - Syntype workers and females, Indonesia: Sumatra, Deli (Bedot) [workers examined]. The original locality was reported as Sumatra: Deli; yet Deli is a small island near the southern coast of the westernmost point of Java.

Worker
Rigato (1994) - TL 2.5-3.5, HL 0.66-0.89, HW 0.60-0.87, CI 88-99, SL 0.58-0.75, SI 85-98, PW 0.38-0.58, AL 0.75-1.09, SpL 0.21-0.33, HTL 0.55-0.75, TI 83-95 (162 measured).

With the characters given in the key and the following: Mesonotum in profile with a very low, barely evident prominence. Metanotal groove in profile very shallow without clear anterior and posterior borders. Propodeal spines in profile usually very straight, quite thin and with a sharp tip. Some specimens may have more proximally enlarged spines not so thin as usual. Petiole in profile with a rather narrow peduncle and a distinct high node. This has a steep anterior face meeting the superior one at a distinct angle; posteriorly the node often has an evident rounded step toward the postpetiole.

Clypeus finely sculptured, sublucid except for its posteriormost median portion which is smooth. Frontal triangle sublucid. Cephalic dorsum superficially reticulate, rather shining on the frons and vertex, but, mostly in largest specimens, sublucid on the lateral portions contained between the level of the inner margin of the eyes and the frontal lobes. Genae and frontal lobes longitudinally rugulose. Anterior slope of the pronotum clearly reticulate and sublucid. Pronotal dorsum between the lateral margins and pronotal sides shining, very superficially sculptured, chiefly reticulate; a very faint longitudinal median carina also occurs on the pronotal dorsum. Mesonotum superficially reticulate, more shining on its anterior half. Mesopleurae and propodeum, excluding the declivity, finely reticulate and more or less opaque. Petiole and postpetiole reticulate on the sides, usually sublucid; top of petiolar node faintly reticulate; dorsum of postpetiole quite smooth anteriorly. Gaster mostly glassy smooth, shining.

Colour usually brownish yellow, darker on the dorsum, to light brown.

Queen
Rigato (1994) - TL about 9.5-10. Ocelli quite wide, but separate from one another by a distance much larger than their maximum diameter. Axillae distinctly separate but linked by a narrow strip. Propodeal teeth short and strong or spiniform and blunt. Propodeal spiracle directed a little backward.

Clypeus punctured and sublucid. Head distinctly reticulate and opaque with superimposed longitudinal rugulae more evident on the anterior half. Scutum opaque, reticulate. Scutellum clearly shining and poorly sculptured in the middle. Gaster finely punctured, sublucid.

Colour mostly brown, reddish brown on the sides, legs lighter. Wings uniformly infuscated.

Male
Rigato (1994) - TL about 5.6-6. Mandibles not serrated. Propodeum bituberculate, tubercles widely rounded. Petiole in profile with a very low, rounded node. Postpetiole a little higher than the petiole.

Mandibles finely striate. Clypeus feebly sculptured and sublucid. Head finely reticulate, opaque. Alitrunk sculptured about as in the female; but scutellum less shining and with some longitudinal sculpture pattern. Gaster finely punctured and quite lucid.

Colour mostly brownish yellow, brown on the posterior half of the head and scutellum, scutum and dorsum of the gaster with an intermediate tinge. Wing slightly lighter than in the female.