Carebara propomegata

This species is spread throughout Shivalik range of north-­western Himalaya. Nothing is known about this ant's biology.

Identification
Bharti & Kumar (2013) - Carebara propomegata resembles to Carebara rara but can be differentiated from latter by the combination of following characteristics: leading edge of scape with single long stiff hair projected upward and forward, head with two pairs of long hairs directed outwards and upwards close to the occipital corners, CI 81.08-81.58, PW 0.22-0.23mm, while in C. rara leading edge of scape with two long stiff hair projected upward and forward, head with three-four pairs of long hairs directed outwards and upwards close to the occipital corners, CI 83-85, PW 0.25-0.26mm. Carebara propomegata can also be distinguished from Carebara escherichi by the following attributes: in C. propomegata leading edge of scape with single long stiff hair projected upward and forward, tibiae with number of erect, long hairs projected at right angles to the tibial shaft, however, in C. escherichi leading edge of scape without single long stiff hair projected upward and forward, tibiae without number of erect, long hairs projected at right angles to the tibial shaft.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  propomegata. Carebara propomegata Bharti & Kumar, 2013: 55, figs. 16-18 (w.) INDIA.

Worker
Measurements. Holotype. HL 0.38, HW 0.31, SL 0.20, ML 0.08, ED 0.02, MSL 0.36, PW 0.23, PTL 0.14, PPTL 0.08, PTW 0.10, PPTW 0.13, PTH 0.14, PPTH 0.10, GL 0.39, TL 1.43, CI 81.58, EI 6.45, SI 64.52.

Paratypes. HL 0.37-0.38, HW 0.30-0.31, SL 0.20, ML 0.06-0.08, ED 0.02, MSL 0.35-0.36, PW 0.22-0.23, PTL 0.13-0.14, PPTL 0.08-0.11, PTW 0.10-0.11, PPTW 0.13, PTH 0.13-0.14, PPTH 0.08-0.10, GL 0.37-0.39, TL 1.39-1.43, CI 81.08-81.58, EI 6.45-6.66, SI 64.52-66.67 (7 measured).

Monomorphic. Head longer than broad, broader posteriorly, sides weakly convex; posterior margin of head straight with rounded corners; mandibles triangular, masticatory margin oblique with four acute teeth and poorly defined basal tooth; anterior clypeal margin straight; frontal triangle narrow; frontal lobes developed and cover the condylar bulb; eyes with a single ommatidium, situated below mid-length of head at a distance of 0.10mm from mandibular insertions into head; antennae slender, nine segmented; scape short, reach to half of the distance from antennal insertion to posterior margin of head and 0.54x of head length; promesonotum weakly convex; promesonotal suture absent, pronotal humeri somewhat angulate in dorsal view; metanotal groove feeble; propodeal dorsum with a long slope down to the declivitous face, distinctly peaked and angular anteriorly and with somewhat raised margins; declivitious face concave; propodeal lobes large with posterior margin round; petiole with a short peduncle and high narrow node in profile; postpetiole convex, broader than long; 1st gastral tergite almost rectangular with convex sides.

Head and mesosoma densely foveolate punctured, while punctures on the former larger (0.02mm) than latter; clypeus with lateral divergent carinae; rest smooth and shinning.

Whole body yellowish with brownish yellow gaster; whole body covered with pubescence, short and long erect to suberect pilosity; head with abundant pubescence and long erect hairs, two pairs of long hairs directed outwards and upwards close to the occipital corners; scape with subdecumbent pubescence directed apically and leading edge with single long stiff hair projected upward and forward; mesosoma with seven-eight pairs of erect straight hairs and with pubescence; propodeal lobes with a pair of short subdecumbent hairs dorsally; petiole and postpetiole with long erect hairs and few pubescence on postpetiole; whole gaster with sparse pubescence and long erect hairs; longer hairs on head, mesosoma and gaster equal in length; dorsal surface of middle and hind tibiae with short subdecumbent pubescence and with a number of erect, long hairs projected at right angles to the tibial shaft.

Type Material
Holotype worker, India: Jammu and Kashmir, Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Manda, 32.750232°N 74.866183°E, 400m, 04.08.2010, soil core; R. Kumar Leg.;. Paratypes. India. Jammu and Kashmir: Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Manda, 400m, 5 workers, 15.07.2009, soil core, 10 workers, 04.08.2010, soil core. Himachal Pradesh: Paonta Sahib, 350m, 4 workers, 19.08.2009, soil core; Saketi, 300m, 1 worker, 25.08.2009, soil core. Punjab: Patiala, 250m, 1 worker, 05.10.2010, soil core. R. Kumar Leg.; PUPAC.

Etymology
The specific epithet refers to large propodeal lobes.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bharti H., and R. Kumar. 2013. Six new species of Carebara Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with restructuring of world species groups and a key to Indian species. J. Entomol. Res. Soc. 15(1): 47-67.
 * Dad J. M., S. A. Akbar, H. Bharti, and A. A. Wachkoo. 2019. Community structure and ant species diversity across select sites ofWestern Ghats, India. Acta Ecologica Sinica 39: 219–228.