Colobopsis markli

Identification
Maschwitz et al. (2004) - Major workers Distinctly larger than minor workers with respect to TL and the size of the head; no intermediates; distinctly phragmotic; all body parts – including the phragmotic part – are shining and not punctated; blackish to black in color, except the phragmotic part and the legs. Minor workers No intermediate forms between major and minor caste, head trapezoidal and elongated, all body parts are blackish and shining and not punctated. Decumbent pubescence is lacking, longer erect white hairs on all body parts. Queens Head elongated, sides are nearly straight. Eyes are situated behind the midlength of the sides of the head; ocelli widely spaced. Mesonotum prominent with steep declivities to pronotum and propodeum. Node of petiole flat on top. Color of head and gaster brown, alitrunk yellowish brown, legs darker. Males Head elongated, sides are nearly straight. Ocelli widely spaced. Color mostly mid brown, alitrunk and parts of the legs yellowish brown. Decumbent pubescence especially on gaster but also on the rest of the body parts.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: Thailand.

Nomenclature

 *  markli. Camponotus markli Dumpert, in Maschwitz, Fiala & Dumpert, 2004: 44 (w.) THAILAND. Combination in Colobopsis: Ward, et al., 2016: 350.

Worker
Holotype: TL 4.1, HW 0.95, HL 0.98, CI 96.9, OD 0.27, SL 0.66, SI 69.5, PW 0.62, PH 0.38, PB 0.24.

Head nearly as wide as long (CI 96.9), sides are nearly straight and not divergent. Eyes are situated behind the midlength of the sides of the head and slightly protruding; their maximum diameter is 0.27 mm or 0.28 HW. Occipital margin and corners in full-face view strongly rounded (Fig. 2 a). Antennal insertion right in the midlength of frontal carinae. Clypeus not convex but strongly angled downwards, forming – together with a small part of the genae and the mandibles – the phragmotic part of the head (Fig. 2 b). Anterior clypeal margin rounded. Mandibles much broader than those of the minors, with lateral borders strongly curved and 5 strong teeth on each masticatory border (Fig. 2 c). Antennal scapes relatively short (SI 69.5); they just reach the occipital margin. Funicular segments become continuously smaller and do not form a distinct club. Frontal carinae extend to less than two-thirds of head length. Apart from a slight projection behind the scapal insertion, they are straight and distinctly divergent. Alitrunk with a deep impression (metanotum) between promesonotum and propodeum, and two raised stigmata beside the deepest point of the impression. Petiolar scale broadly rounded on top.

Nearly whole animal blackish brown to black in color; only legs and front part of head lighter. Surface of all body parts shining. Accordingly, cuticular punctures and reticulated sculptures (SEM) are weak (Fig. 2 a). Decumbent pubescence is lacking on all body parts. Longer erect white hairs on all body parts, especially on antennal scapes and legs.

Paratype (majors) (n = 6): TL 4.1–4.5, HW 0.94–1.06, HL 0.98–1.30, CI 86.1–96.9, OD 0.27–0.3, SL 0.65–0.74, SI 63.7–70.2, PW 0.6–0.68, PH 0.38–0.46, PB 0.23–0.28.

Head trapezoidal and elongated (CI 83.7), sides are nearly straight. Eyes are situated behind the midlength of the sides of the head and slightly protruding; their maximum diameter is 0.23 mm or 0.32 HW. Occipital margin and corners in full face view strongly rounded (Fig. 3 a). Clypeus slightly convex and without median carina; anterior clypeal margin rounded. Mandibles relatively short, with lateral borders strongly curved and 4 subequal teeth on each masticatory border. Antennal scapes relatively large (SI 97.2); they project beyond the occipital margin by about one third of their length. Funicular segments become continuously smaller and do not form a distinct club. Frontal carinae extend to about two-thirds of head length. Apart from a slight projection behind the scapal insertion, they are straight and slightly divergent (Fig. 3 a). Alitrunk and petiolar scale as in major worker.

Whole animal dark brown to black in color, only tarsi and mandibles lighter. Surface of all body parts shining. Accordingly, cuticular punctures and reticulated sculptures (SEM) are weak (Figs. 3 a, b). Decumbent pubescence is lacking on all body parts. Longer erect white hairs on all body parts, especially on antennal scapes and legs.

Paratype (minors) (n = 7): TL 3.1–3.4, HW 0.72–0.78, HL 0.86–0.94, CI 85.2–88.3, OD 0.23–0.24, SL 0.68–0.74, SI 92.3–97.3, PW 0.44–0.5, PH 0.34–0.36, PB 0.2–0.22.

Queen
Head elongated (CI 73.3–74.6), sides are nearly straight. Eyes are situated behind the midlength of the sides of the head and distinctly protruding; their maximum diameter is 0.50–0,52 mm or 0.45–0.48 HW. Ocelli widely spaced (OD1 0.28–0.34 mm, OD2 0.16–0.18 mm). Occipital margin and corners in full-face view strongly rounded (Fig. 4 a). Clypeus not convex but strongly angled downwards, forming – together with a small part of the genae and the mandibles – the phragmotic part of the head (Fig. 4 b). Anterior clypeal margin rounded. Mandibles relatively short, with lateral borders strongly curved and 6 subequal teeth on each masticatory border. Position of antennal insertion right in the midlength of frontal carinae. Antennal scapes relatively short (SI 80.4–97.6); they are long enough to reach the occipital margin. Funicular segments become continuously smaller and do not form a distinct club. Frontal carinae extend to nearly two-thirds of head length. Apart from a slight projection behind the scapal insertion, they are straight and slightly divergent (Fig. 4 a). Alitrunk in dorsal view with the pronotal angles weakly rounded. Seen in profile, mesonotum prominent with steep declivities to pronotum and propodeum, surface of mesonotum only slightly rounded (Fig. 4 c). Petiolar scale in dorsal view broadest behind with rounded corners; seen in profile, node of petiole flat on top, anterior slope steep, posterior slope broadly rounded on top (Fig. 4 d).

Color of head and gaster brown, alitrunk yellowish brown; legs darker. Surface of all body parts shining. Accordingly, cuticular punctures and reticulated sculptures (SEM) are weak (Figs. 4 a, b, c). Decumbent pubescence scarce on all body parts. Longer erect white hairs on all body parts, especially on antennal scapes and legs.

Paratype (females) (n = 6): TL 7.6–7.9, HW 1.08–1.12, HL 1.46–1.52, CI 73.3–74.6, OD 0.50–0.52, OD1 0.28–0.34, OD2 0.16–0.18, SL 0.86–0.96, SI 80.4–97.6, PW 1.15–1.24, PH 0.44–0.46, PB 0.42–0.48, FWL 7.5–7.8, HWL 5.0–5.1, FWW 2.2–2.2, HWW 1.7–1.7.

Male
Head elongated (CI 76.9–89.2), sides are nearly straight (fig.5 a). Eyes are situated midlength of the sides of the head and strongly protruding; their maximum diameter is 0.31–0.33 mm or 0.46–0.55 HW. Ocelli widely spaced (OD1 0.22–0.24 mm, OD2 0.10–0,12 mm). Occipital margin and corners in full-face view strongly rounded (Fig. 5 b). Clypeus strongly convex and with distinct median carina; anterior clypeal margin strongly rounded. Mandibles relatively short, with lateral borders scarcely curved and 3 subequal teeth on each masticatory border which are more or less rounded (Fig. 5 b). Antennal scapes moderately long (SI 72.7 – 83.3); they are just long enough to reach the occipital margin (Fig. 5 a). Funicular segments about equal in width. Frontal carinae extend to about midlength of the head. Apart from a slight projection behind the scapal insertion, they are straight and distinctly divergent (Fig. 5 b). Alitrunk with only a very slight impression between promesonotum and propodeum (Fig. 5 c). Petiolar scale stongly rounded on top.

Color mostly mid brown, altirunk and parts of the legs yellowish brown. Surface of all body parts shining. Accordingly, cuticular punctures and reticulated sculptures (SEM) are weak (Figs. 5 a, b). Decumbent pubescence especially on gaster but also on the rest of the body parts. Longer erect white hairs on all body parts, especially on antennal scapes and legs.

Paratype (males): TL 3.82–3.83, HW 0.60–0.66, HL 0.74–0.78, CI 76.9–89.2, OD 0.31–0.33, OD1 0.22–0.24, OD2 0.10–0.12, SL 0.48–0.5, SI 72.7–83.3, FWL 4.6–4.7, HWL 2.9–3.0, FWW 1.7–1.7, HWW 1.3–1.3.

Type Material
Holotype, eastern Thailand: Khao Chamao, 1.02.2001, leg. U. Maschwitz (Naturhistorisches Museum Basel).

Paratype (majors) 4 with the same data as holotype (2 in Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, 2 in National Museum of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur) and 2 eastern Thailand: Khao Sa Bap, 3.02.2001, leg. U. Maschwitz (in collection of the author).

Paratype (minors): 7 from eastern Thailand: Khao Chamao, 1. 02. 2001, leg. U. Maschwitz (1 in Naturhistorisches Museum Basel, 2 in Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, 2 in National Museum of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 3 in collection of the author).

Paratype (females): 3 from eastern Thailand: Khao Chamao, 1.02.2001, leg. U. Maschwitz (1 in Naturhistorisches Museum Basel, 1 in Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, 1 in National Museum of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur), 3 eastern Thailand: Khao Sa Bap, 3.02.2001, leg U. Maschwitz (in collection of the author).

Paratype (males), 2 from eastern Thailand: Khao Chamao, 1. 02. 2001, leg. U. Maschwitz (1 Naturhistorisches Museum Basel, 1 collection of the author).

Etymology
The species name is dedicated to the great biologist, myrmecologist and president of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft Prof. Dr. Hubert Markl.