Leptogenys vatovavy

Leptogenys vatovavy has only been collected once, a single worker in a rotten log.

Identification
A member of the saussurei species group. Rakotonirina and Fisher (2014) - Worker. Mandible short and robust, capable of closing tightly against clypeus; anterior clypeal margin medially projecting into triangular lobe; clypeus with sharp edge or lamella. Eye large, maximum diameter larger than maximum width of antennal scape. Dorsum of head and mesosoma distinctly sculptured. In dorsal view, metanotal groove absent, posterior margin of petiolar node medially excised; apical portion of mandible blades armed with three teeth.

This species closely resembles Leptogenys ralipra and Leptogenys andritantely in that all three have an indistinct metanotal groove and excised posterior margin of the petiolar node. It can be separated from L. ralipra by the presence of three teeth on the apical margin of the mandible, and from L. andritantely by the smaller size, the presence of a pair of denticles on the apex of the anterior clypeal margin, and the rugo-reticulate sculpture of its head and mesosoma.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  vatovavy. Leptogenys vatovavy Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2014: 126, figs. 34B, 38A, 142, 154 (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
(1 specimen). HW: 1.18, HL: 1.62, CI: 73, SL: 1.55, SI: 131, PW: 1.09, WL: 2.61, PNH: 1.04, PNL: 0.85, PNW: 0.91, DNI: 107, LNI: 122.

Head more or less elongate and increasing in width from back to front; sides slightly convex and diverging anteriorly throughout their length. Center of eye closer to midlength of lateral border of head than to base of mandible. Anteromedian lobe of clypeus projecting into a pair of small triangular teeth or denticles; lateral portion bordered with undulate, semi-translucent lamella. Apical margin of mandible armed with three teeth: apical tooth followed by two preapical teeth or denticles. With mesosoma in dorsal view, metanotal groove not visible; in profile, groove between metapleuron and propodeum present. Petiolar node noticeably excised medially in dorsal view. Sculpture of clypeus rugulose interspersed with widely spaced punctures. With head in profile, lateral margin anterior to the eye, densely reticulate-rugulose, superimposed with dense punctures. Dorsum of head from level of eyes coarsely and densely reticulate-rugose, with large punctures which become sparser toward the posterior margin of head. Mandible smooth with faint or effaced longitudinal striolae. Pronotal dorsum finely reticulate-rugose and superimposed with fairly large punctures; rest of dorsum of mesosoma sparsely shallowly punctate. With mesosoma in profile, mesopleuron smooth between scattered punctures; anterodorsal portion of propodeum and petiolar node rugoreticulate, superimposed with widely spaced punctures.

Type Material
Holotype worker: Province Fianarantsoa, FC Vatovavy, 7.6 km 122º Kianjavato, -21.4, 47.94, 175 m, rainforest, ex rotten log, 6–8 June 2005 (B.L. Fisher et al.), collection code: BLF12344, specimen code: CASENT0059729

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Rakotonirina J. C., and B. L. Fisher. 2014. Revision of the Malagasy ponerine ants of the genus Leptogenys Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 3836 (1): 001163.