Parasyscia keralensis

Bharti & Akbar (2013): Cerapachys keralensis Karmaly, 2012 described on the basis of two minor? workers collected from the Palakkad district of Kerala. The new species is highly dubious. The description is minimal, superficial and contains no comparative notes. The photographs are derisory as illustrations supporting the inadequate descriptions. Cerapachys keralensis Karmaly, 2012 is here considered to be a species inquirenda.

Identification
Karmaly et al. (2012) - Cerapachys keralensis closely resembles to Cerapachys rissi (=Cerapachys sulcinodis) in following features: 1. Antennae 12 jointed., 2. The constriction between basal two segments of abdomen very deep, 3. Head, thorax, abdomen black, shiny; Mandibles, clypeus, antennae, legs reddish yellow. However Cerapachys keralensis differs from Cerapachys rissi in having: 1. Abdomen punctured (in Cerapachys rissiabdomen smooth)., 2. Pedicel with projection beneath (In Cerapachys rissi pedicel without projection beneath)., 3. Whole body covered with whitish hairs (in Cerapachys rissi whole body covered with yellowish hairs).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Biology
The type material was collected from a disturbed area. Nothing more is known about the biology of .

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 * . Cerapachys keralensis Karmaly, in Karmaly, et al. 2012: 157, 2 figs. (w.) INDIA (Kerala).
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 1 paratype worker.
 * Type-locality: holotype India: Kerala, Palakkad, 10°47’N, 76°40’E, 84 m., 23.vi.2009 (Karmaly et al.); paratype with same data.
 * Type-depository SXAK.
 * [Note: Karmaly, et al. 2012: 158 state that type-material, “eventually will be transferred to Western Ghats Regional Station of Zoological Survey of India, Calicut” (= SZIK).]
 * Unidentifiable taxon, incertae sedis in Cerapachys: Bharti & Akbar, 2013a: 101.
 * Combination in Parasyscia: Borowiec, M.L. 2016: 205.
 * Distribution: India.

Worker
Minor TL = 4.8 mm; HL = 1 mm; HW = 0.7 mm; CI = 70; SL = 0.6 mm; SI = 85.7; ED = 0.2 mm; PW = 0.7 mm; AL = 1.2 mm.

Colour: Head, thorax, node, gaster blackish brown; shining; antennae, mandible, legs reddish yellow; hairs whitish.

Sculpture and hair pattern: Head, thorax, node, gaster punctured; mandibles, antennae, legs smooth; whole body pubescent, covered with white hairs.

Head: Ovalo-rectangular; mandibles triangular, masticatory margin broad, obsoletely dentate; clypeus very narrow, prominent, concave, transverse; eyes round, small, lateral; antennal hollow very widened; presence of antennal scrobe; antennae 12 segmented, scape cylindrical, not reaching to the vertex; funiculus short, stout, basal joints of funiculus very short, apical joint very long, thickened, massive, pointed at apex;. Relative measurements of length of antennal segments: Scape = 0.6 mm, F1 = 0.09 mm, F2 = 0.10 mm, F3 = 0.12 mm, F4 = 0.18 mm, F5 = 0.20 mm, F6 = 0.22 mm, F7 = 0.24 mm, F8 = 0.25, F9 = 0.26, F10 = 0.28, F11 = 0.29, club (F12) = 0.4 mm.

Thorax: Arched above, short; pronotum tapering at the anterior end forming a constriction between occiput and pronotum; promeso, mesometanotal suture indistinct; legs elongate; stout; femora, tibia cylindrical; tibia pectinate.

Gaster: Pedicel single jointed, nodiform, nearly square, broader than long, pedicel with a projection beneath; gaster five segmented, truncate, slightly concave in front, slightly convex above, elongate, basal segment much broader posteriorly than in front, second segment wide and long, convex above; the constriction between basal two segments very deep, last 4 segment small hidden, 5th segment ends with a sting.

Type Material
Holotype: Worker minor: 10° 47’ N, 76° 40’ E, 84 m, INDIA: Kerala, Palakkad, (Karmaly & party, 23.VI.2009, ). Paratype: 1W: With same data as that of holotype. All specimens are in the collections of Department of Zoology, St. Xavier’s College for Women, Aluva, (DZSX). But eventually will be transferred to Western Ghats Regional station of Zoological Survey of India, Calicut (ZSIC).

Etymology
Named after the state from which the specimen was collected.