Vombisidris philippina

This species was described from six workers, all individually collected, sampled from five locations. Nothing is known about the biology of this species.

Identification
Zettel and Sorger (2010) - A member of the australis group (with Vombisidris australis from Queensland, Vombisidris harpeza from Sarawak, Vombisidris occidua from Karnataka (India) and Vombisidris jacobsoni from Sumatra. This species group is defined by three characteristics: a complete subocular groove, relatively short antennae and legs (SI < 80, FI < 100) and a vestigial or absent metanotal groove.

In Bolton's (1991) key V. philippina reaches couplet 11 which contains V. harpeza and ''V. occidua. Vombisidris harpeza differs from V. philippina'' by yellow colour, short and stout hairs on dorsum of mesosoma, laterally projecting sides of mesonotum, and short petiolar peduncle. Vombisidris occidua differs from V. philippina by having a light brown gaster, very small eyes (EI 23 vs. 30-33), and dorsum and anterior face of petiolar node forming a smooth curve. In addition, V. philippina differs from both V. harpeza and V. occidua by small size (TL 2.8-2.9 vs. 3.5-4.0; HW 0.55-0.58 vs. 0.75-0.79) and long propodeal spines. Vombisidris jacobsoni differs from V. philippina by large size (TL 3.3 - 3.6), yellow body, small eyes (EI 25), propodeal spiracles situated on distinct tubercles, broad petiole, and fine striation at anterior fourth of tergite 1 of gaster (in addition to very short, distinct striae at extreme base).

Distribution
Philippines: Luzon (Laguna Province, Quezon Province), Cebu, Negros (Negros Oriental Province).

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

Castes
Only known from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  philippina. Vombisidris philippina Zettel & Sorger, 2010a: 39, figs. 1-4 (w.) PHILIPPINES (Cebu I.).

Description
Measurements. Holotype: TL 2.9; HL 0.68; HW 0.56; CI 82; EL 0.18; EI 32; SL 0.43; SI 77; PW 0.43; AL 0.83; FL 0.52; FI 93. Paratypes (n = 5): TL 2.8-2.9; HL 0.66-0.69; HW 0.55-0.58; CI 82-85; EL 0.17-0.20; EI 30-33; SL 0.42-0.44; SI 77-79; PW 0.40-0.44; AL 0.80-0.85; FL 0.49-0.51; FI 89-93.

Colour of head, mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole, and gaster almost uniformly blackish brown, only apex of gaster yellowish brown. Mandibles bright yellow. Antennae yellow to brown, funicle usually lighter than scape. Tibiae whitish yellow (except infuscated base) and tarsi yellow; other parts of legs in most specimens dark brown.

Structures: Head slender, sides behind eyes feebly convergent; dorsum with with distinct rugoreticulum, interspaces mostly smooth. Torulus covered by short, narrow frontal lobes. Antennal scrobes indistinct, only tracable by fine sculpture just behind torulus. Subocular groove complete, meeting occipital margin. Clypeus strongly convex in lateral aspect, in full face view its anterior margin covered by this convexity. Eyes strongly protruding, comparatively large, containing 9-10 ommatidia in longest row. Mandibles smooth, with distinct hair pits. Dorsum of mesosoma, petiolar node, and postpetiole with distinct coarse rugoreticulum and relatively long standing setae (distinctly longer than those on head); dorsum of petiolar peduncle with very finely reticulate sculpture. In lateral aspect dorsum of mesosoma evenly curved; metanotal groove absent; propodeal dorsum gently down- curved; propodeal spines set at high position, long, approximately reaching node of petiole in outstretched specimen, distinctly curved in dorsal aspect. Petiole with long peduncle bearing pair of short teeth in front of spiracle; anterior and dor- sal face of node forming a blunt angle in lateral aspect, ventrally with small tooth anteriorly and shallow concavity below node; spiracle approximately at (slightly in front of) midlength of peduncle. Postpetiole in dorsal aspect subtrapezoidal, widest anteriorly. Gaster slightly depressed; dorsum smooth, except short striae at base of tergite 1, and with standing setae hardly shorter than those of mesosoma.

Intraspecific variability: Although type material was collected in five localities on three islands, it is approximately uniform in size, measurements, and structural characteristics. Some variation has been observed in colour of legs: in most specimens, coxae, trochanters, and femora are light to dark brown, tibiae white to yellowish, and tarsi yellow; but in the specimen from Quezon Province, also basal parts of legs are yellow. In this specimen, antennae are lighter than in other specimens, too.

Type Material
Type locality: Philippines, Cebu Island, municipality of Minglanilla, barrio Camp 7, degraded forest near small creek (ca. N 10° 19', E 123° 45', estimate from Google Earth).

Holotype worker labelled "Philippinen: Cebu, W C. City\ Minglanilla, Camp 7, creek\ and waterfall 16.11.2003\ l.Zettel & Pangantihon (358)", in the Entomological Collection of the University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines. 5 individual paratype workers with the following labels: Philippines: "Cebu, C. City\ Cantipla-Uno, forest res.,\ 800m, 1.3.2008, leg.\Zettel & Pangantihon (512)" (in first author's collection); "Philippinen: LZ [Luzon], Laguna\ Los Baños, Mt.Makiling\ UPLB - Mud Spring, 18.11.\ 1999, leg. H. Zettel (207)" (in first author's collection); Philippinen: Luzon, Quezon\ Atimonan, Quezon NP, Old\ Zigzag Road, 27.-28.1.2002\leg. H. Zettel (300)" (in first author's collection); Philippines: Negros Or., Cuer-\ nos de Negros, Valencia\ Apolong, Casaroro Falls, 28.\ 1.2007, leg. H. Zettel (456)" (in first author's collection); "Philippinen: Negros Or.\ Cuernos de Negros, Valen-\ cia, Apolong, Casaroro Falls\ 26.3.2006, leg. H. Zettel\ & C. Pangantihon (451)" (in the Natural History Museum Vienna).

Etymology
The species epithet is a noun in apposition and refers to the country of distribution.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Zettel, H.; Sorger, D. M. 2010. On the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Philippine Islands: IV. The genus Vombisidris Bolton 1992. Entomologica Austriaca 17:37-44.