Vollenhovia gastropunctata

This species seems to be uncommon, as it was recorded only from one habitat during intensive survey of North-West Shivalik. The species was collected from a semiarid type of environment and seems arboreal, as it was collected from a mango tree (Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaceae)).

Identification
Bharti, R. Kumar (2013) - Vollenhovia gastropunctata can be distinguished from its other congeners by the following combination of characters: mandibles punctured, with 7 teeth, antennae 12-segmented, whole of the promesonotum sculptured, large size of subpetiolar process, absence of propodeal teeth, an unsculptured longitudinal band on head, clypeus with two longitudinal carinae, divergent toward its anterior end, and metanotal groove indistinct.

However, this species somewhat resembles Vollenhovia benzai and Vollenhovia amamiana. The new species can be separated from them by the following characters: mandibles with prominent, well developed basalmost tooth, promesonotum sloping backward, larger subpetiolar process (0.05 mm high), gaster with scattered punctures on 1st tergite (rest shiny), total length 2.53—2.54 mm and body colour blackish brown (in V. benzai, basal tooth of mandible minute, promesonotum straight, subpetiolar process small (0.03 mm in height), gaster without punctures, subopaque, body colour reddish brown and total length 2.00—2.20 mm). V. gastropunctata can be easily separated from V. amamiana by the absence of large brown spot on frons, subpetiolar process longer than its height (0.07 mm in length and 0.05 mm in height) and body colour blackish brown while in V. amamiana frons with a large brown spot, subpetiolar process higher than long (0.08 mm high) and body colour reddish brown.

Key
Indian Vollenhovia
 * Mesosoma smooth and shiny, with a few delicate scattered punctures anteriorly; mandibles with 6 teeth; body length ≤ 2 mm . . . . . .Vollenhovia oblonga (subspecies laevithorax, larger size worker 3.75—4.0 mm)
 * Mesosoma punctured; mandibles with 7 teeth; body length ≥ 2.5 mm Vollenhovia gastropunctata

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Castes
Known only from the type workers.

Nomenclature

 *  gastropunctata. Vollenhovia gastropunctata Bharti & Kumar, 2013: e-68, figs. 1-3 (w.) INDIA.

Description
Holotype worker. HL 0.56, HW 0.49, SL 0.33, EL 0.12, ML 0.73, PRNW 0.36, PTL 0.24, PTW 0.18, PTH 0.23, PPTL 0.24, PPTW 0.20, PPTH 0.19, GL 0.76, TL 2.53, CI 87.50, SI 67.35. Paratype worker. HL 0.56, HW 0.49, SL 0.33, EL 0.12, ML 0.75, PRNW 0.36, PTL 0.23, PTW 0.18, PTH 0.23, PPTL 0.24, PPTW 0.20, PPTH 0.19, GL 0.76, TL 2.54, CI 87.50, SI 67.35 (n = 1).

Head slightly longer than wide, slightly broader posteriorly than in front, with subparallel sides, occipital margin concave; mandibles with 7 teeth including well developed basalmost tooth, masticatory margin of mandibles with large apical and preapical teeth followed by 5 teeth of equal size; anterior clypeal margin concave; antennae 12-segmented with distinct 3-segmented club; scape 0.59× as long as head; eyes large, placed at midlength of the head.

Mesosoma nearly flat (seen in profile) and sloping toward propodeal declivity, promesonotal suture and metanotal groove indistinct; posterodorsal corners of propodeum weakly angulated, without distinct teeth.

Petiole convex, longer than wide, posterodorsal margin angulate, subpetiolar process (0.07 mm long and 0.05 mm high in profile) well developed and rectangular in shape; postpetiole convex, slightly longer than wide; gaster elliptical.

Sculpture. Head shagreened, with large coarse punctures of 0.02 mm diameter and longitudinal unsculptured central band; mandibles shiny, with scattered punctures; clypeus smooth with two longitudinal carinae, divergent toward its anterior end; promesonotum longitudinally rugose, with punctures; dorsum of propodeum and its declivity minutely punctured (0.01 mm diameter); sides of mesosoma coarsely punctuated; petiole and postpetiole reticulate except the anterior face of petiolar node and mid dorsum of postpetiole, which are smooth; 1st gastral tergite with scattered punctures, rest smooth and shiny.

Colour and pilosity. Body blackish brown; mandibles, antennae, legs and subpetiolar process yellowish brown. Whole body covered with abundant long, suberect, whitish hairs.

Etymology
The specific epithet refers to the punctures on gaster.