Stigmatomma janovitsika

Stigmatomma janovitsika specimens were collected in forest, mixed forest, and mixed forest near glacis (rocky outcrop) habitats, from 60 to around 700 m above sea level, on three granitic islands of the Seychelles (Conception, Mahé, and Silhouette). Specimens were recorded: (1) manually under rootmat and litter on rocks, and in rotten logs; (2) from sifted leaf mold and rotten wood; and (3) in a Malaise trap.

Identification
Esteves and Fisher (2016) - A member of the sakalava complex in the tsyhady species group. Stigmatomma janovitsika is somewhat similar to Stigmatomma bolabola and Stigmatomma sakalava in palpal formula, shape of microtrichia on the posterior face of posterior metatibial spur, and absence of fenestra on the subpetiolar process.

However, it may be distinguished from them by: brush of filiform setae present on the corners of the clypeus (if the setae are removed, the region will be densely punctuate); presence of genal teeth; the mesepisternum is not divided into anepisternum and katepisternum; head sculpture; proportion of lamella on the baso-ventral margin of the calcar of strigil; long, stout, spiniform seta on the mesotibial inner face apex (resembling a spur under the stereomicroscope), followed apically by a cuticular deep fovea concealing a small, stout, truncated seta; and distribution, since it does not occur in sympatry with any of its congeners.

Worker - With characters of the tsyhady species-group and the sakalava species-complex, and the following characters (asterisks flag unique characters within the genus in the Malagasy bioregion):

1. Integument orange-brown; medium-sized ant (HL: 0.74-0.79, WL: 0.87-0.93).

2. Pairs of teeth along baso-masticatory margin of mandible have the same length along the baso-apical axis.

3. Bicuspid pre-apical tooth.

4. Long acuminate flattened-apex setae ventrally skirting baso-masticatory margin of mandible.

5. * Most lateral area of clypeus bearing a brush of filiform setae (when setae are not present, the region presents numerous punctuations).

6. Dorsal face of the head areolate.

7. Genal teeth present.

8. Palpal formula 4:2.

9. Dorsal face of mesosoma foveolate; lateral face of propotum rugose-foveolate; remainder lateral face of mesosoma mostly costate; declivitous face of propodeum smooth.

10. * Mesepisternum not divided into anepisternum and katepisternum.

11. * Basoventral lamella of calcar of strigil reduced to a basal bud.

12. Anterior face of calcar of strigil with tubiform microtrichia.

13. Mesotibial spur absent.

14. * Apex of mesotibial inner face bearing a long, stout, spiniform seta, resembling a spur under optical microscope.

15. Mesotibial apical stout seta apically followed by a deep fovea concealing small, stout, truncated seta.

16. Slit-like sulcus present on the anterodorsal face of mesobasitarsus, with apical end projected laterally.

17. Anterior face of posterior metatibial spur glabrous.

18. Brush of truncated filiform setae present on the posterior face of the apex of metatibia.

19. * Base of the inner face of metabasitarsus swollen anteriorly. Posterior face of basal swollen area bearing a row of truncated, flattened-apex stout setae, followed apically by a brush of filiform setae.

20. Absence of a longitudinal sulcus on metabasitarsus.

21. Subpetiolar process fin-like: half of its ventral margin obtusely angled.

22. Eight stout spiniform setae present on the apex of hypopygium.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Seychelles.

Nomenclature

 *  janovitsika. Stigmatomma janovitsika Esteves & Fisher, 2016: 66, figs. 1c, 2b, 7a-c, 8a, 18b, 44-58, 115d, 116e, 117d, 120c, 124a, 124c, 124e (w.q.m.) SEYCHELLES.

Worker
(holotype values within parentheses): HL: 0.74-0.79 (0.79); HW: 0.63-0.67 (0.67); HW2: 0.58-0.62 (0.61); SL: 0.44-0.46 (0.46); ML: 0.54-0.57 (0.56); WL: 0.87-0.93 (0.93); PPW: 0.34-0.37 (0.37); PtL: 0.36-0.38 (0.38); PtW: 0.39-0.42 (0.42); CI: 84-88 (84); SI: 58-61 (58); MI: 71-75 (71); PtI: 90-93 (91).

Head: Mandibular baso-masticatory margin skirted dorsally by row of filiform setae; medially, by spatular setae; ventrally, by longer acuminate flattened-apex setae. Dentition arrangement, from base to apex: single larger tooth; single smaller tooth; four pairs of teeth; bicuspid pre-apical tooth; apical tooth. Tooth couples with same dimensions; teeth basally fused. Pairs of teeth with similar dimensions along mandible's basoapical axis. Anterior clypeal margin with six tubercle-like cuticular processes arranged in a single row; armed anteriorly with asymmetrical mucronate dentiform setae. Most lateral clypeal cuticular process armed anterolaterally with row of numerous smaller, blunt, dentiform setae, continuing laterad on clypeal anterior margin, arising from flat cuticle. Clypeal cuticular processes approximately the same length as associated dentiform setae. Pair of long, filiform setae on clypeal median area, posterior to central-most pair of cuticular processes on anterior clypeal margin. Clypeal corners with brush of filiform setae; if absent, numerous punctations instead. Median clypeal area extending posteriorly between antennal sockets as a narrow longitudinal strip; frontoclypeal sulcus acute. Supraclypeal area as small oblong depression. Twelve antennomeres. Small genal teeth present. Compound eyes absent. Palpal formula: 4:2 (four maxillary, two labial).

Mesosoma: In dorsal view, mesonotum narrower than remaining mesosoma. Metanotal suture absent. Mesepisternum not divided into anepisternum and kaptepisternum. Sulcus separating mesepisternum from posterior remainder of mesosoma, running from metathoracic spiracle to endoapodemal pit of mesopleural arm. Metathoracic spiracle round, pinched inside its opening, and surrounded by cuticular swell. Propodeal spiracle round, surrounded by cuticular swell. Propodeal declivitous face with raised lateral margins.

Legs: Basoventral lamella of calcar of strigil reduced to a basal bud. Anterior face of calcar of strigil with tubiform microtrichia; posterior face with lanceolate microtrichia. Multiple paddle-like setae on antero-ventral face of protibial apex, next to calcar of strigil. Multiple paddle-like setae on anterior face of probasitarsus; row of stout setae along posterior face of probasitarsus, next to comb of strigil. Mesotibial spur absent. Apex of mesotibial inner face with long, stout, spiniform seta resembling a spur under the optical microscope, followed apically by a deep fovea concealing a small, stout, truncated seta. Slit-like longitudinal sulcus on anterodorsal face of mesobasitarsus, with apical end projected laterally. Two metatibial spurs; simple anterior spur with lanceolate microtrichia; posterior spur pectinate. Anterior face of posterior metatibial spur glabrous; posterior face with numerous antler-like microtrichia. Brush of truncated-apex long filiform setae on posterior face of metatibial apex, next to posterior metatibial spur. Absence of longitudinal sulcus on antero-dorsal face of metabasitarsus. Base of the inner face of metabasitarsus swollen anteriorly; swollen posterior face with longitudinal row of truncated, flattened-apex stout setae, followed by brush of filiform setae apically. Somewhat stout setae along inner face of remaining metabasitarsus. Arolium on pro-, meso-, and metapretarsus.

Metasoma: Petiole sessile. Ventroanterior margin of petiolar tergite anterior dorso-lateroventral carina (Ward 1990) much shorter than anterior margin of subpetiolar process, in lateral view. Subpetiolar process fin-like: obtuse angle on mid-length of its ventral margin. Absence of fenestra on lateral face of subpetiolar process. Petiolar proprioceptor zone a large, round concavity with few sensilla. Prora present. Scrobiculate sulcus between pretergite and postergite of abdominal segment III and presclerites and postsclerites of abdominal segment IV. Eight stout spiniform setae on apex of hypopygium.

Sculpture: Mandibular dorsal face rugose-foveolate basally, grading into costate apically, except for smooth apical portion. Clypeal median area smooth, grading to costulate laterally. Supraclypeal area smooth. Head in dorsal view, areolate; area posterior to tentorial pit plicate. Labrum imbricate. Mesosoma foveolate dorsally. Pronotum rugose-foveolate laterally; remainder of lateral face of mesosoma mostly costate. Propodeal declivitous face smooth. Petiolar tergite alveolate ventroanteriorly, grading to smooth anteriorly, imbricate laterally, and foveolate dorsally. Petiolar laterotergite smooth anteriorly, grading to alveolate posteriorly and imbricate lateroposteriorly. Petiolar poststernite imbricate anteriorly, grading to alveolate to smooth posteriorly.

Abdominal segment III foveolate; segment IV punctate; segments V, VI, and VII imbricate.

Pilosity and color: Erect to subdecumbent pilosity on head, dorsal face of mesosoma, petiolar tergite, and abdominal segments III and IV. Petiolar poststernite mostly glabrous, with row of setae along lateral margins. Longer pilosity on abdominal segments V, VI, and VII. Body color orange-brown; light-orange appendages.

Queen
Alate when virgin: Very similar to the worker caste but for the greater body length, presence of compound eyes and ocelli, and differences on the mesosoma due to the presence of wings. Parapsidal lines on the mesoscutum; scuto-scutellar suture narrow, without apparent sculpture. Mesepisternum not divided into anepisternum and katepisternum by a sulcus, but the upper mesepisternum is clearly smoother than its lower section; mesepimeral lobe not distinct; metapleuron not divided into upper and lower sections but for a short and narrow longitudinal sulcus located around the mid-length of the suture separating mesopleuron from metapleuron; metapleuron not clearly distinct from the propodeum.

Male
Alate: Mandibles falcate, with sharp, single apical tooth. Anterior margin of the clypeus with dentiform setae. Compound eyes with long setae among ommatidia. Palpal formula 4:2. Notauli distinct; parapsidal lines present; scuto-scutellar suture narrow, not sculptured. Mesepisternum not divided into anepisternum and katepisternum; posterior oblique sulcus short, not well developed; mesepimeral lobe not distinct. Metapleuron divided into upper and lower sections by a sulcus; costate sulcus separating upper metapleuron from propodeum; lower metapleuron not completey distinct from the propodeum. Forewing: pterostigma well developed; Rs.f2-3 may be indistinct; Rs.f5 present and reaching R.f3; 1r-rs absent; 2r-rs present; M.f2 present, but may be just slightly distinct; Rs+M complete or not well-developed; M.f3-4 present; 2rs-m absent; Cu.f2 present; 1m-cu present or just slightly distinct; A.f2 present; cu-a intercepting M+Cu anteriorly to the separation point between M.f1 and Cu.f1. Hindwing: C slightly distinct; Sc+R, R, Rs.f1, and Rs.f2 absent; M+Cu just slightly distinct; 1rs-m, M.f1, M.f2, Cu, and cu-a absent; A present. Pygostyles present. Posterior margin of abdominal sternum IX convex. Visible division of the paramere into telomere and basimere. Digitus mushroom-shaped; presence of a short projection at the base of the digitus. Anterior half of the ventral margin of penisvalva clearly serrate; ventral portion of the penisvalva extremely reduced if compared with other Stigmatomma species in the Malagasy bioregion; dorsal portion somewhat sclerotized.

Type Material
Holotype: Seychelles; Mahé Island, Morne Blanc; 660; -4.6574; 55.43325; coordinates obtained from GPS; 9 MaxiWinks, mixed samples; 02/10/2010; mixed forest near glacis; BLF24151; sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood); 1w; pin; casent0161533; B. L. Fisher et al.;. Paratypes: Same data as holotype. 1 w, 1 dq, CASC, 1 w.

Etymology
The name janovitsika is a portmanteau of Janovitz and vitsika (Malagasy name for ants), meaning the ant of Janovitz. Dr. Tyler W. Janovitz is a medical scientist interested in myrmecology, and generously supported this study.

Determination Clarifications
This taxon was referenced as Stigmatomma SC01 (specimen CASENT0159676-D01) in Ward and Fisher (2016).