Leptanilla clypeata

A species discovered during a study of the ant fauna in the Bogor Botanical Garden (Kebun Raya Bogor) in Bogor, West Java.

Identification
Ito et al. (2001) - This species is closely related to Leptanilla thai from Khao Chong, Thailand, but distinguished therefrom by the following details: clypeus more strongly produced anteriorly, having a distinctly raised platform which is defined posteriorly; in profile dorsal and posterior faces of propodeum not forming a blunt angle; anterior portion of head lacking a pair of whitish markings. It also differs from another close relative, Leptanilla havilandi from Singapore, in the following details: median lobes of clypeus much more strongly divergent apically; seen from above anterolateral corners of petiole distinctly angulate; in profile postpetiole more distinctly smaller than petiole; ventral process of postpetiole narrower in profile; most of the body hairs suberect or erect.

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

Nomenclature

 *  clypeata. Leptanilla clypeata Yamane & Ito, in Ito, Yamane, Eguchi, et al. 2001: 393, fig. 7 (w.) INDONESIA (Java).

Worker
Head in full-face view weakly convex laterally, rather strongly narrowed anteriorly, with posterior margin almost straight. Clypeus strongly convex dorsally, forming a raised platform between antennal insertions, anteriorly strongly produced and apically distinctly bilobed; the lobes divergent apically. Mandible elongate-triangular, strongly bowed inwardly, with three teeth including apical one which tapers sharply; other two teeth located close to each other near basal angle of mandible, small and apically not sharply pointed. Scape gradually widened toward its 2/3 length, then slightly narrowed toward apex, reaching about 1/2 length of head as measured from posterior margin of antennal insertion to posterior margin of head. Second antenna! segment 1.5 times as long as wide; 3rd, 4th and 8th to 11th segments approximately as long as wide; 5th and 7th segments slightly wider than long; apical segment almost twice as long as wide. Pronotum in dorsal view roughly round, narrower than head; pro-mesonotal suture wide and deep; the rest of alitrunk distinctly narrower than pronotum, wider in posterior 2/3 than in anterior 1/3. In profile alitrunk with almost straight dorsal outline, with a distinct interruption at promesonotal suture; suture between mesopleuron and metapleuron weak but discernible; dorsal face of propodeum smoothly merged into posterior face; metapleural gland elongate and very large, almost as long as petiolar node. Petiolar node in dorsal view longer than wide, very weakly convex laterally; its anterior margin almost straight; postpetiole wider than petiole; its node wider than long, with rounded sides. In profile petiolar node with relatively steep anterior slope, round dorsal outline and weakly convex ventral margin; postpetiolar node distinctly smaller than petiolar node, with evenly rounded dorsal outline in profile; ventral process of postpetiole well developed. Seen from above first gastral segment with antero-lateral corners not angulate.

Body almost smooth and somewhat shining, only with small and shallow punctures. Body hairs dense; most of them being suberect to erect on head, alitrunk and waist, but many being appressed on gaster; hairs around the tip of gaster nearly as long as those on other parts of gaster; short appressed pubescence absent.

(holotype). Total length 1.60 mm. Head length measured along sagittal plane 0.38 mm. Head width 0.31 mm. Scape length excluding condylar bulb 0.19 mm. Petiolar node length 0.11 mm; its width 0.09 mm. Postpetiolar node length 0.08 mm; its width 0.11 mm.

Wong and Guénard (2016) - HL 0.37 mm; HW 0.31 mm; MaL 0.16 mm; SL 0.20 mm; WL 0.48 mm; PNW 0.20 mm; PNH 0.14 mm; MW 0.12 mm; PTL 0.10 mm; PTW 0.10 mm; PTH 0.11 mm; TL 1.79 mm (stinger not included), PPL 0.09 mm; PPW 0.12 mm; PPH 0.15 mm; CI 84; SI 65, MaI 53; PI 100; PPI 133, PPHI 80.

Type Material
Holotype: worker, Kebun Raya, Bogar, Java, Indonesia, 7 iv 1997, F. Ito leg. (colony code: FI97-556). Paratypes: 11 workers from the same colony. The holotype will be deposited in the.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Ito, F.; Yamane, S.; Eguchi, K.; Noerdjito, W. A.; Kahono, S.; Tsuji, K.; Ohkawara, K.; Yamauchi, K.; Nishida, T.; Nakamura, K. 2001. Ant species diversity in the Bogor Botanic Garden, West Java, Indonesia, with descriptions of two new species of the genus Leptanilla (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Tropics 10:379-404.
 * Wong M., and B. Guenard. 2015. Leptanilla hypodracos, a new species of the cryptic ant genus Leptanilla (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Singapore, with new distribution data and an updated key to Oriental Leptanilla species. Zookeys (in press).