Lepisiota fergusoni

This species is infrequent in collections and within India seems to be restricted to the coastal plains. Specimens have been collected in a leaf litter sample. (Wachkoo et al., 2021)

Identification
Lepisiota fergusoni is a medium-sized ant. The reticulate-striate head and blunt propodeal spines directed backward allow distinction from the somewhat similar Lepisiota pulchella which has a reticulate-punctate head and pointed propodeal spines directed upward (Wachkoo et al., 2021).

Distribution
India (Karnataka, Kerala, West Bengal), Sri Lanka (Bharti et al. 2016; Dias et al. 2020; Wachkoo et al. 2021).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India, Sri Lanka.

Nomenclature

 *  fergusoni. Acantholepis fergusoni Forel, 1895e: 459 (w.) INDIA. Combination in Lepisiota: Bolton, 1995b: 227. See also: Bingham, 1903: 319.

Description
Worker

Bingham (1903): Head and abdomen reddish brown; the mandibles, clypeus. thorax, node of the pedicel, the base of the Ist abdominal segment broadly and a narrow transverse line at the base of the 3rd segment, yellow: antennae and legs pale brown. Head without the mandibles about as broad as long, lightly convex in front; the occiput transverse, densely and very finely punctured, opaque; mandibles narrow, curved, armed with 4 teeth; clypeus convex; antennal carinae short, widely separated, slightly divergent posteriorly. Thorax: the pronotum from above circular, rather flat, the mesonotum depressed, the thorax deeply emarginate behind the mesonotum: metanotum short, the basal portion from above crescentic, the two horns of the crescent formed by thick curved teeth or tubercles. Node of the pedicel emarginate above: abdomen comparatively massive and broad.

Length: 2 - 3.5 mm

Wachkoo et al. (2021): Head subquadrate; slightly longer than wide, wider posteriorly than in front; lateral margins convex, posterior margin convex, with rounded posterolateral corners; clypeus carinate in the middle; anterior clypeal margin complete and convex; eyes oval, weakly convex, placed at the middle-line of head, covering about one-third of lateral cephalic margin; three small ocelli present; antennal scape surpassing posterior head margin by about one-third its length. In lateral view promesonotum convex, metanotum low, almost straight; pronotum flat above; mesometanotum demarcated; metanotal area distinct; mesometanotum constricted; propodeum armed with a pair of diverging blunt spines directed backward; propodeal declivity steep. Petiole upright with angular sides, dorsally without distinct teeth or spines, shallowly emarginate; apical corners with acute angles pointing upward.

Head distinctly reticulate-striate, opaque; mesosoma dorsally fine microreticulate, overall opaque, laterally relatively shiny; gaster polished smooth and shining; propleuron relatively smoother, remainder of lateral mesosoma longitudinally striate; mesometanotal suture cross-ribbed. Body abundantly covered with erect setae; pubescence very fine and sparse; antennal funiculus with subdecumbent to suberect pubescence. Head reddish-brown, mesosoma and petiole reddish-yellow, gaster reddish-brown with a light reddish-yellow patch anteriorly on first gastral tergite.

Measurements (n = 5): HL 0.69–0.72; HW 0.65– 0.66; EL 0.17–0.19; SL 0.69–0.70; PnW 0.42–0.45; ML 0.95–1.05; PFL 0.59–0.61; PFW 0.16–0.17 mm. Indices: CI 91–94; SI 105–107; REL 24–26.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Dias R. K. S., and K. R. K. Anuradha Kosgamage. 2012. Occurrence and species diversity of ground-dwelling worker ants (Family: Formicidae) in selected lands in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. J. Sci. Univ. Kelaniya 7: 55-72.
 * Dias R. K. S., and R. P. K. C. Rajapaksa. 2016. Geographic records of subfamilies, genera and species of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the four climatic zones of Sri Lanka: a review. J. Sci. Univ. Kelaniya 11(2): 23-45.
 * Rajan P. D., M. Zacharias, and T. M. Mustak Ali. 2006. Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Fauna of Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka). Conservation Area Series, Zool. Surv. India.i-iv,27: 153-188.