Parasyscia aitkenii

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India, Sri Lanka.

Nomenclature

 * . Cerapachys aitkenii Forel, 1900d: 332 (diagnosis in key) (w.) INDIA (Karnataka).
 * Type-material: syntype workers, syntype males (numbers not stated).
 * Type-locality: India: Kanara (Aitken), and Kanara (Bell).
 * Type-depositories: MHNG, NHMB.
 * Forel, 1900d: 332 (m.).
 * Combination in C. (Cerapachys): Emery, 1902c: 24;
 * combination in Parasyscia: Borowiec, M.L. 2016: 204.
 * Status as species: Emery, 1902c: 24; Bingham, 1903: 30; Emery, 1911d: 9; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 17; Brown, 1975: 22; Bolton, 1995b: 142; Mathew & Tiwari, 2000: 270; Bharti & Akbar, 2013a: 86 (in key); Bharti & Wachkoo, 2013d: 1192 (in key) ; Bharti, Guénard, et al. 2016: 21.
 * Distribution: India.

Description
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from Bingham 1903.

Wroker

Resembles C. fossulatus, Forel, but is smaller, and the difference in the number of joints of the flagellum of the antennae separates it at once. Head and second and following segments of the abdomen black; mandibles, antennae, clypeus, antennal hollows and carinae, thorax, legs, pedicel and basal segment of the abdomen dark red. The head also is sometimes partially, sometimes entirely, red or reddish. Head, thorax and abdomen covered with a thick, short, erect yellowish pilosity, more dense than in any other species, but not hiding the sculpture in any way. Head very closely and somewhat irregularly cribrate and sub-opaque; thorax and node of pedicel with sparsely scattered shallow punctures; abdomen almost smooth and shining. Head as broad posteriorly as in front, the posterior emargination deep, the posterior lateral angle very acute. Thorax convex and arched above, anteriorly submargined, posteriorly the basal portion of the metanotum is separated from the apical portion by a semicircular carina; legs short and stout, with the femora and tibiae cylindrical. Node of the pedicel and abdomen as in C. fossulatus.

Length: 4.5 mm

Male

"Mandibles shining, triangular, with the masticatory margin rather long, slightly concave. Antennae with 13 joints, but resembling the antennae of the worker . . Eyes of moderate size. Head, antennal carinae, &c. as in the worker. Mesonotum slightly convex and slightly overhanging the pronotum, without converging furrows. The oblique portion of the metanotum truncate, margined by a carina as in the worker. Pedicel also as in the worker. First abdominal segment, properly speaking, constricted and narrow, and like that of the worker appearing as if it were a 2nd node to the pedicel. Pygidium rounded. Hypopygium deeply emarginate, terminating in two long spines, one on each side, slender from their base and widely separated one from the other, very shining; sculpture resembling that of the worker, but with deep instead of shallow dimple-like punctures. Abdomen sparsely punctured. Pilosity similar to that of the worker. Wings rather short, hyaline, with the nervures brown, a large deeper brown marginal spot, and one cubital cell. Generative organs hidden. Entirely black; flagellum of the antennae, mandibles and tarsi brownish. Basal joint of the flagellum and posterior margins of the abdominal segments reddish." (Forel.)

Length: 4.6 - 5 mm

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bharti H. 2001. Check list of ants from north-west India I. Uttar Pradesh Journal of Zoology 21(2): 163-167.
 * Dad J. M., S. A. Akbar, H. Bharti, and A. A. Wachkoo. 2019. Community structure and ant species diversity across select sites ofWestern Ghats, India. Acta Ecologica Sinica 39: 219–228.
 * Dias R. K. S. 2013. Diversity and importance of soil-dweeling ants. Proceedings of the National Symposium on Soil Biodiversity, chapt 4, pp 19-22.
 * Dias R. K. S., K. R. K. A. Kosgamage, and H. A. W. S. Peiris. 2012. The Taxonomy and Conservation Status of Ants (Order: Hymenoptera, Family: Formicidae) in Sri Lanka. In: The National Red List 2012 of Sri Lanka; Conservation Status of the Fauna and Flora. Weerakoon, D.K. & S. Wijesundara Eds., Ministry of Environment, Colombo, Sri Lanka. p11-19.
 * Dias R. K. S., and R. P. K. C. Rajapaksa. 2016. Geographic records of subfamilies, genera and species of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the four climatic zones of Sri Lanka: a review. J. Sci. Univ. Kelaniya 11(2): 23-45.
 * Varghese T. 2004. Taxonomic studies on ant genera of the Indian Institute of Science campus with notes on their nesting habits. Pp. 485-502 in : Rajmohana, K.; Sudheer, K.; Girish Kumar, P.; Santhosh, S. (eds.) 2004. Perspectives on biosystematics and biodiversity. Prof. T.C. Narendran commemoration volume. Kerala: Systematic Entomology Research Scholars Association, xxii + 666 pp.