Leptogenys alamando

This species is terrestrial; workers have been mostly recorded foraging through the leaf litter and on the forest floor. The colonies are found in rotten logs.

Identification
A member of the fiandry species group. Rakotonirina and Fisher (2014) - Worker. Eye small, maximum width less than maximum diameter of antennal scape; body smooth and shining; mandibular blades smooth and shining; masticatory margin with three teeth, one apical and two preapical; mesopleuron and lower half of lateral propodeal surface with dense and fine reticulate rugulae.

Distribution
Its geographic range extends from northeastern Madagascar in Marojejy, through the central-eastern region in Mananara-Nord and Betampona, to the southeast in the forests of Ambalagoavy Nord.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Habitat
The collections of L. alamando were made in lowland rainforests between 20 m and 775 m.

Nomenclature

 *  alamando. Leptogenys alamando Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2014: 67, figs. 6A, 7A, 85, 90 (w.q.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
(7 specimens). HW: 0.61–70, HL: 0.91–1.02, CI: 66–72, SL: 0.76–0.89, SI: 117–133, PW: 0.52–0.59, WL: 1.38–1.54, PNH: 0.44–0.48, PNL: 0.38–0.50, PNW: 0.35–0.39, DNI: 72–90, LNI: 89–110.

Head weakly broader in front than behind; lateral border almost straight. Eye reduced, with maximum width distinctly less than broadest width of scape. Anterior clypeal margin medially terminating at triangular lobe, bordered by narrow semi-translucent lamella. Mandible short and capable of placing firmly against clypeus; masticatory margin armed with three teeth, one apical plus two preapical (median tooth smallest). Antennal scape relatively short, barely surpassing posterior cephalic margin. In profile, posterior border of propodeum with small toothlike lobe. With petiole in lateral view, node about as high as long, anterior face rounding to the dorsum, joining posterior face at distinct angle. Subpetiolar process simple, consisting only of anterior tooth or lobe followed by smooth ventral margin. In profile, prora extending as sharp, ventrally directed lobe anterior to anteroventral angle of third abdominal segment. Mandible smooth and shiny between scattered punctures. Dorsum of head, mesosoma and petiolar node smooth and shining with sparse, small piligerous punctures. With mesosoma in profile, mostly anterior half of mesopleuron and lower half of propodeum finely reticulate. Fine reticulation also present around mesometapleural suture. Long erect hairs present on scape and dorsum of body and shorter suberect hairs abundant.

Queen
(3 specimens). HW: 0.67–0.74, HL: 0.94–1.00, CI: 70–74, SL: 0.80–0.87, SI: 117–120, PW: 0.56–0.58, WL: 1.39–1.44, PNH: 0.47–0.49, PNL: 0.38–0.40, PNW: 0.43–0.45, DNI: 111–114, LNI: 118–128. Worker traits are observed in ergatoid queen, but ergatoids have the following specific characters: shorter head, mesosoma with incomplete thoracic sclerites, shorter petiolar node, and enlarged gaster. Hairs on dorsum of body numerous and slender.

Type Material
Holotype worker: Madagascar, Toamasina, Montagne Akirindro, 7.6 km 341° NNW Ambinanitelo, -15.2883, 49.5483, 600 m, rainforest, sifted litter, 17–21 Mar 2003 (Fisher, Griswold et al.) collection code: BLF08250, specimen code: CASENT0034626. Paratypes: 3 workers and 1 ergatoid queen, of same data as holotype but specimen coded as: CASENT0034621, CASENT0034622 (ergatoid queen), CASENT0034624, CASENT0034625 (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.