Lordomyrma taylori

Specimens of this species were collected from leaf litter approximately of 2 cm thickness. The study area is situated at an altitude of 1100 meters above mean sea level. It is a shady place exposed to limited sunlight. Mean annual temperature of the region is 20.2°C with average annual rainfall 6,066mm and 95% relative humidity. It is a primary undisturbed tropical moist evergreen forest. The species seems to be rare as it was encountered only once during the repeated intensive surveys conducted to the region. (Bharti and Ali 2013)

Identification
Bharti and Ali (2013) - Lordomyrma taylori can be recognized by dense longitudinally rugulose sculpture of head, large spine size, dark body coloration and heavily sculptured gaster. However, it is somewhat allied to Bornean Lordomyrma reticulata and another Indian species Lordomyrma lakshmi. From L. reticulata, it can be easily separated by the following combination of characters; in L. reticulata head and mesosoma rugoreticulate with honeycomb like regularity, metanotal groove strongly impressed, propodeal spines shorter (PSLI 114 - 136), straight, slightly downcurved in profile and petiole comparatively less wide (DPWI 100 - 113). However in L. taylori head is longitudinally rugose, mesosoma is irregularly rugoreticulate, metanotal groove slightly impressed, propodeal spines much longer (PSLI 156), slightly upcurved, posteriad in profile and wider petiole (DPWI 256 - 276). Moreover, the gaster in case of L. taylori is heavily sculptured as compared to L. reticulata. The configuration of the cephalic sculpture brings L. taylori close to L. lakshmi, from which it can be separated by following combination of characters. In L. lakshmi body colour medium-dark reddish brown, clypeus smooth, without hourglass shape, occipital collar shining medially with a very finely shagreened margin, head ventrally smooth and shiny, mesosomal profile lacking a metanotal indentation, much shorter propodeal spines; in L. taylori body colour black coloured with appendages light reddish black, clypeus sculptured, moderately shiny with a pair of strong carinae that converge centrally and diverge anteriorly and posteriorly, forming an hourglass shape, occipital collar sculptured and with fine shagreened margin; head ventrally striate; mesosomal profile with a metanotal indentation and longer propodeal spines. Both species differ considerably in morphometery as well; in L. taylori CI 95 - 97; EL 0.18 - 0.20; OI 21 - 22; WL 1.17 - 1.24; PSL 0.39; PSLI 156, while in L. lakshmi; CI 97 - 103; EL 0.15 - 0.18; OI 17 - 21; WL 1.04 - 1.13; PSL 0.30 - 0.37; PSLI 130 - 132.

There are two Lordomyrma species in India. They can be separated using the following couplet:

Body colour medium-dark reddish brown with appendages lighter orange brown; clypeus smooth, without hourglass shape; occipital collar shining medially with a very finely shagreened margin; head ventrally smooth and shiny; mesosomal profile lacking a metanotal indentation; much shorter propodeal spines; CI 97 - 103; EL 0.15 - 0.18; OI 17 - 21; WL 1.04 - 1.13; PSL 0.30 - 0.37; PSLI 130 - 132. . . . . Lordomyrma lakshmi

Body colour dull black with appendages light reddish black; clypeus sculptured, moderately shiny with a pair of strong carinae that converge centrally and diverge anteriorly and posteriorly, forming an hourglass shape; occipital collar sculptured and with fine shagreened margin; head ventrally striate; mesosomal profile with a metanotal indentation and longer propodeal spines; CI 95 - 97; EL 0.18 - 0.20; OI 21 - 22; WL 1.17 - 1.24; PSL 0.39; PSLI 156. . . . . Lordomyrma taylori

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 *  taylori. Lordomyrma taylori Bharti & Ali, 2013: 150, figs. 1-3 (w.) INDIA.

Worker
Measurements (holotype followed by paratype worker) TL 4.23, 4.07; HW 0.89, 0.87; HL 0.92, 0.91; CI 97, 95; EL 0.20, 0.18; OI 22, 21; SL 0.62, 0.62; SI 70, 71; P TL 0.31, 0.31; P pL 0.27, 0.25; P H 0.31, 0.31; PW 0.69, 0.64; WL 1.24, 1.17; DPW 0.31, 0.29; FCW 0.25, 0.25; DPpW 0.39, 0.38; G L 1.25, 1.20; GW 1.07, 1.00; R ELI 22, 20; PSL 0.39, 0.39; PSLI 156, 156; MFL 0.88, 0.84; MFLI 99, 97; DPWI 276, 256.

Head longer than wide, subquadrate, sides gradually curving to the posterior margin with posterolateral corners gently rounded. Occipital collar sculptured and with fine shagreened margin. Clypeus moderately shining with a pair of strong carinae that converge centrally and diverge anteriorly and posteriorly, forming an hourglass shape. Eyes prominent, convex, placed slightly below the midline of head. Frontal carinae strongly produced, extending beyond the posterior level of eyes. Antennal funiculus clavate but without delineation of a distinct segmentally defined club. Mandibles triangular elongate. The masticatory margin with nine prominent teeth decreasing in size from apex to base. Antennae long with scape slender, shining and roughly micropunctate, not extending beyond the posterior border of the head.

Mesosoma hunched in profile with promesonotal humeri in dorsal view rounded and lacking nodules, promesonotal suture not distinct. Mesometanotal groove slightly impressed. Propodeal declivity concave with dorsal surface slightly convex. Propodeal spines long, straight and acute, slightly upcurved. Petiolar node robustly built, in lateral view anterior face of node weakly concave and gently sloped and posterior face almost convex. Postpetiole with anterior and posterior faces evenly convex, node higher than petiole in profile with ventral side possessing two transverse ridges. Legs long, slender with longitudinal concavities.

Gaster ovate, pointed at apex.

Head longitudinally rugose with inter-rugal spaces punctured. Sides of head sculptured like frons. Scrobes finely shagreened with few carinae near antennal insertions. Head ventrally striate. Mandibles shiny with few scattered punctures. Mesosoma rugoreticulate with the rugae more prominent on the lateral sides. Declivity of propodeum generally smooth, shining, with dorsal section shagreened. Anterior coxae finely sculptured, rest of the coxae with effaced traces of sculpture. Petiole, postpetiole sculptured like mesosoma. Gaster strongly sculptured with rugoreticulation somewhat obscure while comparing with mesosoma.

All body surfaces clothed with long dense acuminate yellowish hairs. Hair curved, tapering, flexuous and roughly greater than the length of eye.

Body dull black, with dark reddish appendages.

Type Material
Type material: Holotype and paratype (worker): India, Kerala, Indira Gandhi National Park (Silent Valley National park), 22km W of Mukkali (Coordinates for Mukkali: 11° 03' 31.33" N, 76° 32' 25.12" E), 1100 meters a.s.l., 24.X.2011, winkler method (coll. Shahid Ali); leg. H. Bharti. Holotype in and paratype in.



Etymology
The species is named after Dr. Robert W. Taylor for his significant contribution to the genus.