Lepisiota rothneyi

This species is widespread in India. It appears to be a forest ant, restricted to relatively undisturbed areas. The workers were mostly hand collected from tree trunks and by beating vegetation. (Wachkoo et al., 2021)

Identification
The medium-sized ant closely resembles Lepisiota wroughtonii, but can be separated from it by having a sparsely pubescent and shiny body, lacking erect setae on the mesosomal dorsum. In contrast, L. wroughtonii is more pubescent with few short setae on the pronotum. (Wachkoo et al., 2021)

Distribution
Bangladesh, China, India (Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, West Bengal), Myanmar, Vietnam (Wheeler 1927; Hannan 2003; Zryanin 2011, Guénard & Dunn 2012; Bharti et al. 2016; Wachkoo et al., 2021).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Bangladesh, India, Thailand. Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  rothneyi. Plagiolepis rothneyi Forel, 1894c: 415 (w.) INDIA. Combination in Acantholepis (Lepisiota): Santschi, 1926a: 15; in Lepisiota: Bolton, 1995b: 228. Current subspecies: nominal plus splendida, sundaica, taivanae, watsonii, wroughtonii.

Description
Worker

Bingham (1903): Black, smooth, polished and shining, the mandibles, antennae and legs reddish brown ; head, thorax and abdomen with sparse, erect, somewhat coarse hairs and a very fine thin pubescence, only to be seen in certain lights. Head without the mandibles nearly square, very slightly emarginate, and a little broader posteriorly than in front ; mandibles triangular, the masticatory margin broad, dentate and nearly straight, not so oblique as in P. longicornis; clypeus not carinate, convex and tectiform, the medial angle on its anterior margin not well-marked, not covering any portion of the mandibles. Thorax not so broad as the head, the pronotum very convex and rounded in front; mesonotum nearly as long as the pronotum; the meso-metanotal suture very distinct, deep and wide; metanotum large, broad and fiat, posteriorly its basal and apical obliquely sloping flat portions about equal. Node of the pedicel low, thick at base, slightly conical and rounded, but broader than long at apex ; abdomen very broad, convex and massive, gibbous in front.

Length: 2.5 - 4.5 mm

Wachkoo et al. (2021): Head subquadrate; about as long as wide, wider posteriorly than in front; lateral margins convex, posterior margin gently convex, posterolateral corners rounded; clypeus subcarinate in the middle; anterior clypeal margin complete and convex; eyes relatively small, broadly oval, weakly convex, placed at the middle-line of head, covering three-tenths of lateral cephalic margin; three small ocelli present; antennal scape surpassing posterior head margin by about one-fourth its length. Mesosoma constricted in the middle, in lateral view promesonotum dome like, convex; metanotum distinctly lower than promesonotum but almost as high as propodeum; mesometanotum demarcated; metanotal area short but distinct; propodeum unarmed without a pair of teeth or spines; propodeal declivity steep. Petiole upright, with smoothly curved sides, dorsally rounded, without a pair of teeth or spines.

Body overall smooth and shiny. Setae restricted to clypeus, gastral venter and segmental margins; a few setae near lateral ocelli usually present; body covered with sparse pubescence; antennal funiculus with appressed to decumbent pubescence. Color brown to black; antenna, mandible and tarsi light brown.

Measurements. HL 0.74–1.04; HW 0.71– 1.03; EL 0.20–0.28; SL 0.72–0.88; PnW 0.48–0.63; ML 0.88–1.09; PFL 0.61–0.81; PFW 0.18–0.25 mm. Indices: CI 95–98; SI 98–104; REL 26–27

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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