Lepisiota bipartita

A common Middle Eastern ant. Pashaei Rad et al. (2018) found this species in Iran on river valley soil in a moderate rainfall area. It is widespread across India where specimens have been collected by hand, from honey baits and by beating vegetation (Wachkoo et al., 2021). It has adapted well in urban localities and is frequently encountered and therefore collected easily (Harshana & Dey, 2022).

Identification
Lepisiota bipartita is a medium to large sized ant. The main feature that will enable it to be distinguished from Lepisiota integra, the species with which it is most likely to be confused, is the shiny bicolored body, whereas the latter species has a dull and uniformly reddish-brown body (Wachkoo et al., 2021).

Distribution
Greece, India (Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, West Bengal), Iran, Israel, Lebanon (Bharti et al. 2016; Dad et al. 2019; Sharaf et al. 2020; Wachkoo et al. 2021).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia. Oriental Region: India, Sri Lanka. Palaearctic Region: Greece, Iran, Israel, Lebanon.

Associations with other Organisms
This species is associated with the aphids, , , , , , , , , , , , , and  (Saddiqui et al., 2019 and included references).

Nomenclature

 *  bipartita. Formica bipartita Smith, F. 1861a: 33 (w.) LEBANON. André, 1882b: 211 (q.); Karavaiev, 1910b: 44 (m.). Combination in Acantholepis: Roger, 1863b: 11; in Lepisiota: Baroni Urbani, Bolton & Ward, 1992: 303. Junior synonym of frauenfeldi: Mayr, 1863: 394. Revived from synonymy as subspecies of frauenfeldi: André, 1882b: 211. Subspecies of frauenfeldi: Emery, 1891b: 16; Emery, 1898c: 126; Forel, 1902a: 155; Ruzsky, 1905b: 463; Santschi, 1917d: 47 (in key). Raised to species: Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 365.

Description
Worker

Wackoo et al. (2021): Head subrectangular; longer than wide, equally wide anteroposteriorly; lateral and posterior margins convex, posterolateral corners rounded; clypeus medially subcarinate to carinate; anterior clypeal margin complete and convex; eyes subglobulose, convex, projecting beyond cephalic lateral margins, covering onethird of lateral cephalic margin, placed at posterior half of head; three ocelli present; antenna long, scape surpassing posterior head margin by about half its length. In lateral view pronotum convex, mesometanotum strongly constricted, lower than pronotum and propodeum, giving mesosoma a dumbbell shape; mesometanotum demarcated; metanotal area distinct; propodeum armed with a pair of teeth diverging posteriorly; propodeal declivity steep. Petiole upright with distinctly angular sides, dorsally emarginate, apical corners teeth like pointing upward.

Head and mesosoma feebly shining; gaster relatively more shiny; overall body weakly microreticulate, however, sculpturing is effaced in some specimens. Body covered with erect setae on head, pronotum and gaster; setae on gaster usually restricted to venter and segmental margins; pubescence very fine and sparse, most visible on head; almost absent on mesosoma and gaster; antennal funiculus with appressed to decumbent pubescence. Head and gaster dark brown; mesosoma reddish brown; antenna and tarsi brown.

Measurements (n = 15): HL 0.66–0.80; HW 0.57– 0.71; EL 0.19–0.25; SL 0.98–1.09; PnW 0.36–0.53; ML 0.97–1.06; PFL 0.75–0.98; PFW 0.14–0.20 mm. Indices: CI 84–88; SI 148–171; REL 28–31.

Harshana and Dey (2022):

Head: Head longer than broad, sides slightly convex, posterior margin almost straight, posterolateral corners rounded (Fig. 5F) and head covered with sparse appressed pubescence; palp formula 6,4 and third maxillary segment from base longest of all segments, fifth maxillary segment distinctly smaller than sixth segment; mandible with five teeth on masticatory margin, third tooth from apex is smallest while second tooth smaller than fourth tooth, mandibular surface having fine setae; antennae 11 segmented, scape extending to posterior margin of head about half its length, antennal insertions touching the posterior margin of clypeus; a pair of erect setae present little behind the antennal insertions, and a pair at about mid-length of head; clypeus dorsally convex, subcarinate medially, anterior clypeal margin convex, clypeus with appressed pubescence, posterior margin of clypeus with a pair of long erect setae while anterior margin with two pair of long erect setae along with a downwardly directed median seta; compound eyes broadly oval, convex and placed little behind mid-length of head; three ocelli present with a pair of erect setae in between lateral ocelli.

Mesosoma: Pronotum and about half of the mesonotum forming an arch in profile view (Fig. 5D); pronotum with 2–4 standing setae; mesometanotum strongly constricted (Fig. 5E) and lower than rest of mesosoma; propodeum armed with a pair of short spines and propodeal declivity slanting. Metasoma: Petiole upright, dorsally emarginated, and apical corners with very short teeth, sides angular; gastral segments with erect setae on their distal margin and basal part of the first gastral sternum with 2–4 erect setae; acidopore well-developed with the fringe of hairs.

Sculpture and colour: The body is not smooth, with effaced sculpture and subopaque. Body bicoloured; head and gaster dark brown to black, mesosoma reddishbrown; antennae, mandible, distal segments of legs brownish.

Measurements (n = 6). EL: 0.22–0.24; HL: 0.71–0.77; HW: 0.56–0.62; MML: 0.42– 0.46; PH: 0.33–0.37; PRW: 0.44–0.49; SL: 1.04–1.12; TL: 3.48–3.60; WL: 1.21–1.27, CI: 77–80; OI: 38–42; REL: 31–33; SI: 180–194. Males (N = 2). EL: 0.28–0.30; HL: 0.57–0.58; HW: 0.53; SL: 0.66–0.72; CI: 91–93; OI: 52–56; REL: 49–51; SI: 124–134. Female (N = 1). EL: 0.38; HL: 1.042; HW: 0.976; SL: 1.324; CI: 94; OI: 39; REL: 36; SI: 136.

Male

Harshana and Dey (2022):

Head: Head little longer than broad, sides mostly covered by compound eyes, posterior margin about straight, posterolateral corners rounded (Fig. 6A); palp formula 6,4 and third maxillary segment from base longest of all segments, fifth maxillary segment distinctly smaller than fourth and sixth segment; mandible with five teeth on masticatory margin, third tooth from apex is than fourth tooth, mandible with a pit at its base; antennae 12 segmented, scape extending to posterior margin of head about half its length, third antennal segment is about same length of second and fourth segment; antennal insertions touching the posterior margin of clypeus; clypeus dorsally convex, anterior clypeal margin weakly convex, posterior margin of clypeus with a pair of long erect setae while anterior margin with two pairs of long erect setae along with a downwardly directed median seta; compound eyes large, broadly oval, convex and covering more than half of sides of head; three large ocelli present with a pair of erect setae in between lateral ocelli.

Mesosoma: Pronotum strap-like, anteroventral, and hidden by mesoscutum dorsally; mesoscutum well developed, dorsally flat, and anterior margin rounded; mesoscutellum subtriangular in dorsal view and about the same height as mesoscutum; metanotum strip-like; propodeum lower, slightly convex in profile view; propodeal spiracles well developed, anterolateral in position, and its diameter about equal to the length of metanotum; fore tibiae with a pectinate spur at the distal end and basitarsus with a notch at the proximal end. Metasoma: The petiole is short, without teeth, dorsally emarginated, and apical corners seemingly rounded; gastral segments with erect setae on their distal margin.

Sculpture and colour: Overall body microreticulate and shiny. Body colour brown to dark brown.

Genitalia: Abdominal sternum nine wider than long, outline somewhat bat-shaped dorsally, spiculum (anterior apophysis of the sternum nine) long, anterior margins meeting basal to the spiculum at an obtuse angle, lateral margins sloping inwardly, posterior margin concave with weakly bulging medially, anterolateral corners well-produced and posterolateral corners with long setae (Fig. 6C). Genital capsule is longer than broad, cupula broader than long, and dorsally anterior margin of cupula concave (Fig. 6D). Basimere broad with outer surface convex; telomere attached ventrally and the inner side of basimere. In the lateral view, the telomere is a little longer than broad and posterior part with long setae (Fig. 6E). Volsella with setae on the ventral ridge. Digitus is broad and hooked ventrally in the lateral view (Fig. 6F). The lateral view shows penisvalva having more than 15 denticles on the ventral margin, posterior apex hooked ventrally, and foveae sparsely present on the surface (Fig. 6G). Valvura directed dorsoanterolaterally.

Queen

Harshana and Dey (2022):

Head: Head little longer than broad, sides weakly convex, posterior margin about straight, and posterolateral corners rounded (Fig. 6B); palp formula 6,4; the third maxillary segment from base longest of all segments, and fifth maxillary segment distinctly smaller than the sixth segment; mandible with five teeth on masticatory margin; antennae 11 segmented, scape extending to posterior margin of head about half its length; antennal insertions touching the posterior margin of clypeus; clypeus dorsally convex, anterior clypeal margin weakly convex, posterior margin of clypeus with a pair of long erect setae while anterior margin with two pairs of long erect setae along with a downwardly directed median seta; compound eyes large, broadly oval, convex and covering more than 1/3rd of sides of the head; three large ocelli present with a pair of erect setae in between lateral ocelli.

Mesosoma: Pronotum strap-like, anteroventral in position; mesoscutum well developed, dorsally flat, and anterior margin rounded; mesoscutellum subtriangular in dorsal view and about the same height as mesoscutum; metanotum striplike; propodeum lower, slightly convex in profile view; propodeal spiracles well developed, anterolateral in position; fore tibiae with a pectinate spur at the distal end and basitarsus with a notch at the proximal end. Metasoma: Petiole upright, squamiform, with teeth on the apical corners; gastral segments with erect setae on the posterior margin except for first gastral sternum which has erect setae on the middle part; acidopore well developed and fringed with hairs.

Sculpture and colour: Body sculpture is rough and subopaque. Body colour brown.

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