Prenolepis fustinoda

The type worker was captured in a malaise trap. Heterick & Kitching (2022) collected this species in the canopy of a lowland dipterocarp forest in Brunei.

Identification
Williams and LaPolla (2016) - Three small ocelli present; head subtriangular in shape; light brown head and mesosoma with a dark brown to black gaster; erect setae on scapes; petiole low in profile and very narrow and elongate (PetWI < 55) with a rounded dorsal apex of the scale; overall shape of petiole club-like.

This species is similar to Prenolepis darlena and Prenolepis fisheri but can be identified by its distinct coloration, finely rugoreticulate cuticle of the head and unique club-shaped petiole. While P. fisheri is dark brown and uniform in color, P. fustinoda has a light brown head and mesosoma that contrasts with its dark brown to black gaster, similar to the color pattern seen in Prenolepis melanogaster.

Distribution
Prenolepis fustinoda was misattributed to Nepal (Williams & LaPolla 2018) due to similarity with P. darlena (Williams, 2022).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Brunei Darussalam. Oriental Region: Thailand. Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  fustinoda. Prenolepis fustinoda Williams & LaPolla, 2016: 222, figs 69-71 (w.) THAILAND.
 * Senior synonym of angulinoda: Williams & LaPolla, 2018: 174.
 * angulinoda. Prenolepis angulinoda Chen & Zhou, 2018: 60, figs. 4-6 (w.) CHINA.
 * Junior synonym of fustinoda: Williams & LaPolla, 2018: 174.

Taxonomic Notes
The recently described Prenolepis angulinoda bears remarkable resemblance to Prenolepis fustinoda from Nepal. The holotypes for both have the same characteristic shape of the petiole and mesosoma in profile and an identical overall color pattern with a light brown head and mesosoma, and a dark brown to black gaster. The tarsi, trochanters, and intersegmental leg joints in both are also pale yellow and much lighter than the femora and tibiae, which are medium to dark brown in color. Furthermore, the measurements of P. angulinoda provided by Chen & Zhou (2018) fall within range of those recorded for P. fustinoda (Williams & LaPolla 2016). This synonymy expands the native range of P. fustinoda to also include the Guizhou province of China (Williams & LaPolla, 2018).

Worker
(n=4): CMC: 30–34; EL: 0.24–0.27; EW: 0.19–0.22; HL: 0.72–0.88; HLA: 0.39–0.48; HLP: 0.12–0.24; HW: 0.72–0.86; IOD: 0.47–0.53; LF1: 0.17–0.19; LF2: 0.07–0.09; LHT: 0.78– 1.05; MMC: 2–5; MTW: 0.40–0.46; MW: 0.28–0.34; PDH: 0.32–0.38; PMC: 6–9; PrCL: 0.41–0.50; PrCW: 0.26– 0.32; PrFL: 0.66–0.85; PrFW: 0.21–0.24; PTH: 0.21–0.25; PTL: 0.34–0.45; PTW: 0.18–0.22; PW: 0.48–0.57; SL: 0.78–1.01; TL: 2.65–3.25; WF1: 0.06–0.07; WF2: 0.05–0.07; WL: 0.89–1.27; BLI: 124–153; CI: 98–100; EPI: 202–233; FLI: 200–232; HTI: 109–122; PetHI: 67–68; PetWI: 46–53; PrCI: 62–63; PrFI: 28–32; REL: 30–36; REL2: 30–36; REL3: 49–55; SI: 109–122.

Light brown head and mesosoma with a dark brown to black gaster; cuticle of head finely rugoreticulate; cuticle of pronotum smooth and shiny; cuticle of gaster reticulate; abundant long, erect setae on scapes, head, mesosoma, gaster, and legs; head as broad as long and subtriangular in shape with indistinct posterolateral corners; three small ocelli present; compound eyes moderately large and convex, but do not surpass the lateral margins of the head in full-face view; torulae do not touch the posterior border of the clypeus; clypeus without prominent anterolateral lobes; mandibles with 5 teeth on the masticatory margin; ectal surface of mandibles smooth and shiny; in profile view, propodeum is domed with a rounded dorsal face; petiole low in profile and very narrow and elongate (PetWI < 55) with a rounded dorsal apex of the scale; overall shape of petiole club-like.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Thailand: Chang Mai, Doi Inthanon N.P., 1200m, 18°32.657’N 98°31.482’E, 06–13.ix.2006, malaise trap (Y. Areeluck) (: CASENT0129291).

Etymology
The specific epithet is Latin for “club knot”, which describes the shape of the petiole.