Carebara rectidorsa

The type material was collected from secondary shrub vegetation.

Identification
Xu (2003) - This new species is close to Carebara taiponica, but body smaller with TL 1.4-1.7 mm, mandible with 5 teeth, dorsum of propodeum straight, lateral sides of alitrunk finely punctured.

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

Nomenclature

 *  rectidorsa. Oligomyrmex rectidorsus Xu, 2003: 319, figs. 32-35 (s.w.) CHINA. Combination in Carebara: new combination (unpublished).

Worker
Holotype soldier. TL 1.7, HL 0.63, HW 0.48, CI 76, SL 0.25, SI 53, PW 0.28, AL 0.45, PL 0.18, PH 0.13, DPW 0.10. Head longer than broad, in full face view rectangular, slightly narrowed forward. Occipital margin moderately and angularly concave in the middle, occipital corners roundly prominent. Lateral sides weakly convex. Mandible with 5 teeth. Median portion of clypeus longitudinally depressed, bicarinate and divergent forward, anterior margin weakly concave. Antenna 9 segments with a 2-segmented club, apex of scape reaching 1/2 of the distance from socket to occipital corner. Eye with 2 facets. In profile view, occiput with a pair of small acute horns, dorsum of head weakly convex. Promesonotum high and roundly convex. Promesonotal suture obsolete on the dorsum. Metanotum absent. Metanotal groove deeply impressed. Propodeum with posterodorsal corner roundly prominent, dorsum straight and sloping down rearwards, declivity concave with thin lateral laminae. Petiole pedunculate anteriorly, ventral face straight, anteroventral corner weakly and bluntly angled. Petiolar node thick, anterior and posterior faces sloping, dorsal face roundly prominent. Postpetiolar node roundly convex and lower than petiolar node. In dorsal view, petiolar node as broad as postpetiolar node.

Mandibles and median portion of clypeus smooth and shiny. Anterior 2/5 of head finely and longitudinally striate, middle portion smooth and shiny, occiput with sparse transverse striations. Transverse striations present between occipital horns, but without a developed ridge. Pronotum and mesonotum smooth and shiny. Lateral sides of mesothorax, meta thorax, lateral sides of propodeum, petiole and postpetiole finely punctured. Dorsum of propodeum, dorsum of petiolar node, dorsum of postpetiolar node and gaster smooth and shiny. Head and body with abundant erect or suberect hairs and abundant decumbent pubescences. Scapes and tibiae with dense decumbent pubescences. Body color yellow. Head brownish yellow. Masticatory margins of mandibles, eyes and occipital horns black.

Paratype soldiers. TL 1.4-1.7, HL 0.55-0.60, HW 0.43-0.46, CI 75-78, SL 0.23-0.25, SI 49-56, PW 0.24-0.25, AL 0.38-0.45, PL 0.15-0.18, PH 0.11-0.13, DPW 0.10 (5 individuals measured). As holotype.

Paratype workers. TL 1.1-1.2, HL 0.35-0.38, HW 0.30, CI 80-86, SL 0.20-0.23, SI 67-75, PW 0.20, AL0.33-0.38, PL0.13, PH0.09-0.10, DPW 0.08 (5 individuals measured). As holotype, but body much smaller. Head normal and nearly square, slightly longer than broad, without occipital horns. Occipital margin shallowly concave in the middle, lateral sides of head moderately convex. Apex of scape reaching to ¾ of the distance from socket to occipital corner. Eye with 1 facet. In profile view, promesonotum weakly convex. Head smooth and shining. Body color light yellow.

Type Material
Holotype, soldier, No. A97-1956, 820 m, Nanqian Village, Shangyong Town, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, collected in secondary shrub vegetation by Dr. Xu Zheng-Hui on 15 Aug. 1997. Paratypes 4 soldiers and 4 workers, with same data as holotype. 2 soldiers and 4 workers, with same data as holotype but No. A97-1867. 5 soldiers and 1 worker, with same data as holotype but No. A97-1950.