Carebara luzonensis

The very large gaster in all the specimens is translucent and distended with a yellowish liquid, so that the soldier evidently functions as a co honey-pot, or replete like the same caste in certain species of Pheidole. This is also the case in affinis, since several soldiers from Rangoon, Burma, in my collection show the same condition, though the gaster is smaller than in silvestrii. (Wheeler 1929)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Philippines.

Nomenclature

 * silvestrii. Pheidologeton silvestrii Wheeler, W.M. 1929g: 51 (s.) PHILIPPINES. [Junior primary homonym of silvestrii Santschi, 1914b.] Replacement name: Carebara luzonensis Fischer, Azorsa & Fisher, 2014: 72.
 *  luzonensis. Carebara luzonensis Fischer, Azorsa & Fisher, 2014: 72. Replacement name for Pheidologeton silvestrii Wheeler, W.M. 1929: 51. [Junior secondary homonym of silvestrii Santschi, 1914b.]

Worker
Soldier Length 9-11 mm.

Closely related to affinis Jerdon, and with the same head-proportions (3.5 mm. long, 3 mm. broad). Ocellus lacking. Eyes somewhat more convex. Mandibles more coarsely longitudinally grooved along the dental border. Frontal groove not interrupted on the front. Thorax stouter, with much more convex and protuberant scutellum; base of epinotum shorter, with stouter and moree erect teeth. Petiole in profile of a different shape, the node being more erect, in profile triangular, with straight anterior and posterior surfaces and more acute border; seen from behind the node is rectangular, with straight, transverse superior border, and straight subparallel sides, not narrowed and rounded above as in affinis; ventral surface with a distinct, dependent, median, translucent lamina. Postpetiole also different, being much broader, distinctly angulate on the sides anterior to the middle, with the node abruptly concave posteriorly. Gaster much more voluminous.

Whole body somewhat less shining than in affinis; sculpture much coarser; the whole upper surface of the head rugose, the rugae arranged as in affinis but stronger and more numerous on the sides and front, the median shining area of affinis being merely indicated; transverse rugae on the sides of the head passing into a coarsely reticulate-rugose region on the posterior corners. Pronotum sharply and regularly transversely rugose; mesonotum and scutellum coarsely punctate; base of epinotum and declivity finely transversely rugose. Petiole and postpetiole subopaque, finely punctate-rugulose on the sides and smooth and shining only on the upper surfaces of the nodes; porterior surface of petiolar node transversely rugose. Gaster less shining than in affinis, with more numerous, fine, sharp punctures over its whole dorsal surface. On the first segment these are intermingled with coarser, umbilicate punctures.

Pilosity fulvous, decidedly more abundant than in affinis. Dark ferruginous brown; cheeks, front, epinotal declivity and gaster paler and more reddish; appendages brownish orange; antennae a little darker than the legs; mandibles, clypeus and anterior corners of the head black.

Type Material
Described from four specimens taken by Professor Silvestri at Los Banos, Luzon Island, Philippines.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Ettershank G. 1966. A generic revision of the world Myrmicinae related to Solenopsis and Pheidologeton (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Aust. J. Zool. 14: 73-171.