Harpegnathos alperti

Known only from Luzon Island, nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
General (2015) - This specimen is superficially similar to Harpegnathos venator chapmani which Donisthorpe (1937) considered a black variety of Harpegnathos venator albeit with sculpturation similar to Harpegnathos venator rugosus. The Philippine Harpegnathos key summarizes the morphological differences with a non-type specimen of H. v. rugosus. Unfortunately, the holotype of H. v. chapmani cannot be located at the MCZC, AMNH, USNM, or BMNH, precluding a direct comparison and a confident determination (DEMG, personal observation; Natural History Museum Data Portal. 2016).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Philippines.

Range
Harpegnathos honestoi is sympatrically distributed with Harpegnathos alperti, both having been collected in sites less than 5 km apart on Mt. Isarog, Luzon Island, Philippines.

Nomenclature

 *  alperti. Harpegnathos alperti General, 2016: 102, figs 5-8 (w.) PHILIPPINES.

Worker
TL 19.45, HL 2.81, HW 2.55, CI 91, SL 2.60, SI 102, MandL 3.54, MI 126, MLO 3.64, PW 2.03, ML 5.04, PetL 1.35, PetH 0.88, HFL 3.22, MtL 4.16, EL 1.40, EW 0.94, EI 55, MOW 0.11 (n=1).

In full face view, posterior margin of head straight; scape exceeds posterior margin of head by at least width of scape; ocelli present; frontal lobes broad, covering antennal sockets; frontal carinae short, as long as about twice width of scape, diverging; clypeus narrowly inserted between frontal lobes; triangular labral lobe present; eyes extremely large, ovate, occupying the anterior lateral margin of head; mandibles converging rather abruptly from attachments; head irregularly reticulo-punctate; antennal scape with sparse, short erect and suberect hairs.

In lateral view, mesosoma long and cylindrical; front coxa well separated from mid- and hindcoxae; front coxa long but distal end not reaching midcoxa; promesonotal suture deeply impressed; metanotal groove obsolete; dorsal face of propodeum very long; propodeal declivity not bounded by lateral carinae; metapleural gland orifice opening laterally, not protected by guard hairs; petiole longer than tall; anterior subpetiolar process triangular; gaster long; sting present and functional; tarsal claws with median tooth.

In dorsal view, irregular striae subparallel, but diverging posterior fourth of pronotum; irregular striae subparallel on mesonotum; propodeum coarsely punctate; petiole longer than broad; petiole coarsely punctate dorsally and laterally; first and second gastral tergite coarsely punctate over underlying punctulation.

Sparse short hairs on body. Body black; mandibles and antennae chocolate- brown; legs yellowish chocolate-brown.

Type Material
Holotype. PHILIPPINES: Luzon Island, Camarines Sur, Naga City, Panicuason Village, 500-550 m ± 500 m, 13°40’11” N, 123°19’47” E ± 4 km, 12.iii.2003, coll. D. E. M. General, G. D. Alpert, et al. (PNM 13015, deposited in ).

Etymology
This species is named after my mentor and colleague, Dr. Gary D. Alpert, a true friend who hosted all my visits to Cambridge, MA, USA. Gary’s fortuitous visit to Naga City and Mt. Isarog firmly redirected my research interest from spiders to ants.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * General D. E. M. 2016. A review of the ant genus Harpegnathos Jerdon, 1851 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Philippines, with the description of two new species. Halteres 7: 99-105.