Leptogenys alatapia

Leptogenys alatapia is restricted to the plateau in the south of Madagascar and particularly in Uapaca woodland habitats in the PN Isalo. Specimens of this species have been found foraging on the ground and they nest under rocks.

Identification
A member of the arcirostris complex of the truncatirostris species group. Rakotonirina and Fisher (2014) - Worker. Clypeus with median carina; distance between anterior level of torulus and anteromedial clypeal margin roughly less than maximum width of scape, head short; clearly broader than long in full-face view and broadened anteriorly.

The broader head (CI: 105–109) and relatively shorter scape (SI: 98–100) of L. alatapia make it easy to distinguish from Leptogenys arcirostris and Leptogenys borivava. In L. arcirostris, the scape is much longer (SI: 103–112). In L. borivava, in addition to its longer scape (SI: 111–129), the dorsum of its head, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster are covered with long erect and suberect hairs.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  alatapia. Leptogenys alatapia Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2014: 140, figs. 1C, 14A, 159, 168 (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
(4 specimens). HW: 1.54–1.63, HL: 1.44–1.50, CI: 105–109, SL: 1.53–1.60, SI: 98–100, PW: 0.93–1.00, WL: 2.32–2.48, PNH: 0.74–0.78, PNL: 0.60–0.67, PNW: 0.63–0.71, DNI: 103–110, LNI: 113–129.

In full-face view, head broader than long and remarkably broadened anteriorly; sides distinctly diverging from back to base of mandible; posterior margin weakly concave medially. Eye medium, located in frontal portion of head and not breaking outline of lateral cephalic border. Antennal scape relatively short. Clypeus broad and evenly rounded anteriorly, anterior margin bordered by whitish lamella; median portion with longitudinal carina; median lobe narrow, width as great as widest part of scape. With head in full-face view and mandible fully closed, blades superimposed each other, whole internal face of first blade tightly closed against clypeus along its length and most of distal portion of the second against external surface of the distal portion of the first. In dorsal view, metanotal groove impressed and transversely striate; with mesosoma in profile, propodeal lobe lacking. With petiole in lateral view, outline of the node a convex line from anterior margin to posterodorsal angle, which ends in slight, anteriorly sloping posterior margin. Mandible basally longitudinally striate, with scattered punctures, and smooth in the distal third of blades. Dorsum of head, mesosoma and petiolar node covered with dense and fine reticulate-punctures to dense and fine reticulate-rugae. Third abdominal tergite densely punctate. Erect hairs few and short; pubescence abundant. Integument black to dark brown, with brown appendages whose apices are lighter in color.

Type Material
Holotype worker: Madagascar, Fianarantsoa, Forêt d'Analalava, 29.6 km 280° W Ranohira, -22.5917, 45.1283, 700 m, Uapaca woodland, under stone, 1–5 Feb 2003 (Fisher, Griswold et al.) collection code: BLF07470, specimen code: CASENT0489586. Paratypes: series of 8 workers, with same data as holotype but specimen coded as: CASENT0489585, CASENT0489587, CASENT0489588, CASENT0196382, CASENT0247219, CASENT0247220, CASENT0247221, CASENT0247222 (CASC,, , , ).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Rakotonirina J. C., and B. L. Fisher. 2014. Revision of the Malagasy ponerine ants of the genus Leptogenys Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 3836 (1): 001163.