Myrmicaria buenaventei

Occupies a wide altitudinal range (890-1,436 m a.s.l.) including cold and wet habitats in the mossy forest zone, of Mt. Palali, Phillipinnes (Perry A. C. Buenavente).

Identification
Zettel et al. (2018) - Clypeus with pronounced median carina. Scape long, SI = 99-110. Pronotum dorsally with arcuate rugae, anteroventral teeth prominent. Sides of mesonotum hardly bulging; posterior surface with reduced sculpture. Rugae on metapleura and sides of propodeum longitudinal (reduced in smallest specimens). Propodeal spines long, directed caudally, continuing dorsal outline of propodeum, weakly upcurved. Propodeum deeply concave between bases of spines. Peduncle of petiole long. Base of gaster tergite 1 without striation. Gaster light brown.

Myrmicaria buenaventei can be immediately recognized by the arcuate rugae on the dorsum of the pronotum. Pronounced anteroventral pronotum teeth, a reduced sculpture of the mesonotum, comparatively long propodeal spines and petiolar peduncle, and a smooth gaster base are further important characteristics. The overall very pale colour may be an artefact caused by preservation in ethanol.

Distribution
Only known from Mt. Palali in Nueva Vizcaya Province.

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

Nomenclature

 *  buenaventei. Myrmicaria buenaventei Zettel, Laciny, Balàka & General, 2018: 615, figs. 5-8, 18 (w.) PHILIPPINES (Luzon Island).

Worker
Holotype: HW 1.54; HL 1.50; SL 1.53; SW 0.16; TL 7.11; Pmin 0.17; PW 0.40; PPW 0.45; SpD 0.53; PrL 1.14; FeL 2.02; ML 1.92; PnW 1.08; CI 103; SI 99; FeI 131. Paratypes: min-max (n = 15): HW 1.11-1.52; HL 1.13-1.52; SL 1.22-1.53; SW 0.13-0.16; TL 4.96-7.17; Pmin 0.12-0.16; PW 0.28-0.40; PPW 0.35-0.45; SpD 0.35-0.53; PrL 0.74-1.08; FeL 1.50-1.99; ML 1.37-1.96; PnW 0.75-1.08; CI 97-100; SI 101-110; FeI 131-136.

Structures: Head roundish; medioposteriorly with strong piliferous punctures; most areas dorsally and laterally with fine longitudinal rugae. Clypeus with distinct median carina (usually complete) and few longitudinal rugae. Mandible with sharp longitudinal rugae; apical margin with four teeth. Pronotum with arcuate rugae on dorsal surface, usually without longitudinal elements; anteroventral teeth prominent (comparatively short in smallest specimens). Mesonotum with reduced sculpture, usually with a median and one transverse carina; sides laterally scarcely bulging. Metanotal groove narrow and sharp, in dorsolateral view lateral margin forming an obtuse angle. Mesopleura and sides of propodeum with more or less developed longitudinal rugae (evanescent in smallest specimens). Dorsum of propodeum with reduced sculpture, a transverse carina or a pair of longitudinal carinae occasionally present; in dorsal view, area between bases of spines strongly concave. Propodeal spines long, directed caudally, slightly diverging, at base continuing dorsal outline of propodeum, then weakly upcurved (except in one aberrant specimen with downcurved spines). Nodes of petiole and postpetiole rounded; peduncle of petiole long. Gaster with piliferous punctures; base of gaster tergite 1 without striation.

Setae abundant on trunk and appendages. Dorsal setiferation composed of two types of setae, short setae about half as long as long ones. On head dorsum, petiole and postpetiole all setae suberect. Short setae abundant on mesosoma sides, but scarce on its dorsum. On gaster, long setae suberect, short setae subdecumbent anteriorly, suberect posteriorly.

Colour: yellow; mandibles, distal part of antenna and gaster tergites light brown. All setae white.

Type Material
Holotype (worker) from Luzon Island, Nueva Vizcaya Province, Municipality of Quezon, Maddiangat Village, N16°27′16″, E121°13′14″, 1,076 m a.s.l., coll. P.A.C. Buenavente, 14 January 2010. Paratypes: 1 worker (NMNH) from the same locality; 2 workers (NMNH), same village, Mount Palali, N16°26′32″, E121°13′19″, 890 m a.s.l., coll. P.A.C. Buenavente, 16 January 2010; 22 workers (NMNH,, , , , , , , ), same village, Mt. Palali, N16°26.80′, E121°13.27′, 1,296 m a.s.l., coll. P.A.C. Buenavente,11 January 2010; 2 workers (UPLB), same village, N16°26.272′, E121°13.493′, 1,436 m a.s.l., coll. P.A.C. Buenavente, 9 January 2010.

Etymology
Dedicated to Perry A. C. Buenavente of the National Museum of Natural History, Manila, who discovered this remarkable species.