Crematogaster rothneyi

Crematogaster rothneyi is known from South Asia to Southeast Asia, making it one of the most widely distributed ant species in Asia. However, the species is rarely encountered in the field (Hosoishi & Ogata, 2019).

Identification
Hosoishi and Ogata (2019) - A member of the Crematogaster rothneyi group. C. rothneyi is easily distinguished from other subgenus Crematogaster species by its strongly sculpted body, deep metanotal groove, distinctly bilobed postpetiole and stout body setae.

This species is very similar to Crematogaster yaharai, but can be distinguished by the broader than long antennal segments V to VI, sculptured mesopleuron, and reticulately or areolately sculptured propodeum (see photo below in caste section). The Indian specimen examined does not have distinctly developed longitudinal rugulae on the higher half of the dorsal surface of the head. The Thai specimens have broader or as broad as long antennal segments V and VI and a sculptured propodeal dorsum.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia, Philippines. Oriental Region: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam. Palaearctic Region: China.

Biology
This species is arboreal and inhabits lowland forests.

Nomenclature

 *  rothneyi. Crematogaster rothneyi Mayr, 1879: 685 (w.) INDIA.
 * [Crematogaster rothneyi Smith, F. 1873: viii. Nomen nudum, attributed to Mayr.]
 * Imai, et al. 1984: 6 (k.).
 * Combination in C. (Acrocoelia): Emery, 1922e: 151.
 * Combination in C. (Crematogaster): Bolton, 1995b: 166.
 * Senior synonym of civa: Hosoishi & Ogata, 2019: 6.
 * Current subspecies: nominal plus haputalensis.
 * civa. Crematogaster rothneyi var. civa Forel, 1902c: 203 (w.) INDIA.
 * Combination in C. (Acrocoelia): Emery, 1922e: 151.
 * Combination in C. (Crematogaster): Bolton, 1995b: 166.
 * Junior synonym of rothneyi: Hosoishi & Ogata, 2019: 6.

Taxonomic Notes
The syntype workers of C. rothneyi civa match well with syntype workers of C. rothneyi. We treated C. rothneyi civa as a junior synonym of C. rothneyi (Hosoishi & Ogata, 2019).

Worker
Hosoishi and Ogata (2019) - Polymorphic workers with moderate size variation.

Head subquadrate in full-face view, with weakly concave posterior margin, angular posterior corners and convex sides. Occipital carinae developed. Mandible with four teeth, apical and subapical teeth large. Anterior margin of clypeus convex with slightly impressed median portion; anterolateral margins of clypeus protruded anteriorly; posterior margin of clypeus rounded between frontal lobes. Frontal carinae almost parallel. Antennae 11 segmented; relative scape length variable with worker size (SI, 99-117); SI lower in larger specimens; antennal club 3-segmented. Scape exceeding posterior corner of head by 1/4 of its length or more. Antennal segments V and VI each broader than long or as broad as long. Compound eyes distinctly projecting beyond lateral margins of head in full-face view, especially in large workers.

Pronotum and mesonotum fully fused without defined suture. In lateral view, posterior half of dorsolateral margin of mesonotum forming triangle shaped process, anterior half forming almost flat outline. Mesothoracic spiracle reduced to form small pit dorsoventrally. Metapleural gland opening slit-shaped. Propodeal spiracle elliptical, situated at posterolateral corner, apart from metapleural gland bulla. Metanotal groove straight in dorsal view, deep and forming concave region between mesonotum and propodeum. In dorsal view, longitudinal rugulae not connecting between mesonotum and propodeum; the boundary distinct. Propodeal spines developed; length variable in several specimens.

Petiole scoop-shaped, broader anteriorly, longer than broad in dorsal view; spiracle situated at midportion between dorsal and ventral margin of petiole in lateral view, directed posterolaterally. Postpetiole with distinct longitudinal median sulcus, bilobed in dorsal view; spiracle situated anteriorly on lateral surface in lateral view. Dorsum of head sculptured with longitudinal rugulae, but weakly developed on posterior half. Clypeus with longitudinal rugulae. Promesonotum sculptured reticulately or areolately. Mesopleuron densely sculptured in Indian specimen, or central region of mesopleuron smooth with weakly sculptured surrounding in other specimens. Dorsal surface of propodeum sculptured reticulately. Lateral surface of propodeum sculptured reticulately or areolately. Dorsal and lateral surface of petiole sculptured. Dorsal and lateral surface of postpetiole sculptured. Median sulcus of postpetiole smooth.

Standing pilosity sparse. Dorsum of head with short and erect setae. Clypeus with some pairs of erect setae. Anterior clypeal margin with one pair of long setae mixed with short setae laterally. Mesonotal dorsum with sparse erect setae. Petiole with suberect setae. Postpetiole with suberect setae. Fourth abdominal tergite with sparse erect setae.

Body almost entirely yellow, or brown, except for antenna yellowish.

Type Material
Hosoishi and Ogata (2019) - Lectotype worker (by present designation) and two paralectotype workers, INDIA, Calcutta (Rothney leg.). Type locality: INDIA, Calcutta (Rothney) (NHMW).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Baidya P. 2013. Ant diversity at selected locations of Sanquelim and behavioral studies in Oecophylla. Government College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Sanquelim, 63 pp.
 * Bharti H., B. Guénard, M. Bharti, & E. P. Economo. 2015. An updated checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of India with their specific distributions in Indian states. Zookeys
 * Chen Y., C. W. Luo, H. W. Li, Y. J. Liu, H. F. Zheng, and F. C. Yang. 2013. Investigation of ant species and distribution on Wuliang Mountain. Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences 42(5): 118-122.
 * Chen Y., C.-W. Luo, H. W Li, Z. H. Xu, Y. J. Liu, and S. J. Zhao. 2011. The investigation of soil ant resources on the West slope of Mt Ailao. Hubei Agricultural Sciences 50(7): 1356-1359.
 * Dhote J. 2012. Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) records from Shri Shivaji science college campus, Amravati, India. Applied Research and Development Institute Journal 3(12): 114-117.
 * Dias R. K. S. 2002. Current knowledge on ants of Sri Lanka. ANeT Newsletter 4: 17- 21.
 * 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 H. A. W. S. Peiris. 2015. Ground-dwelling ant assemblages (Family: Formicidae) in six coconut (Cocos nucifera L. 1753) plantations in Sri Lanka. Journal ofInsect Biodiversity 3(14): 1–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.12976/jib/2015.3.14
 * Dias R. K. S., and K. R. K. A. Kosgamage 2009. Systematics and community composition of foraging worker ants (Order: Hymenoptera, Family: Formicidae) collected from three habitats in Polonnaruwa. Proceedings of Annual Sessions of SLAAS.
 * Dias R. K. S., and K. R. K. Anuradha Kosgamage. 2012. Occurrence and species diversity of ground-dwelling worker ants (Family: Formicidae) in selected lands in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. J. Sci. Univ. Kelaniya 7: 55-72.
 * 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.
 * Donisthorpe H. 1942. Ants from the Colombo Museum Expedition to Southern India, September-October 1938. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (11)9: 449-461.
 * Forel A. 1902. Myrmicinae nouveaux de l'Inde et de Ceylan. Rev. Suisse Zool. 10: 165-249.
 * Forel A. 1903. Les Formicides de l'Empire des Indes et de Ceylan. Part X. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 679-715.
 * Forel A. 1906. Les fourmis de l'Himalaya. Bulletin de la Société Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles 42: 79-94.
 * Forel A. 1913. Quelques fourmis des Indes, du Japon et d'Afrique. Rev. Suisse Zool. 21: 659-673
 * Forel A. 1913. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse einer Forschungsreise nach Ostindien ausgeführt im Auftrage der Kgl. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin von H. v. Buttel-Reepen. II. Ameisen aus Sumatra, Java, Malacca und Ceylon. Gesammelt von Herrn Prof. Dr. v. Buttel-Reepen in den Jahren 1911-1912. Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere 36:1-148.
 * Forel, A. 1908. Fourmis de Ceylan et d'Égypte récoltées par le Prof. E. Bugnion. Lasius carniolicus. Fourmis de Kerguelen. Pseudandrie? Strongylognathus testaceus. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 44: 1-22
 * Ghosh S. N., S. Sheela, and B. G. Kundu. 2005. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Rabindra Sarovar, Kolkata. Records of the Zoological Survey of India. Occasional Paper 234: 1-40.
 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Hosoichi S., and K. Ogata. 2019. Cryptic diversity in the widespread Asian ant Crematogaster rothneyi (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) inferred from morphological and genetic evidence. Zolological Studies 58:.
 * Hosoishi S. and K. Ogata. 2009. A check list of the ant genus Crematogaster in Asia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bull. Inst. Trop. Agr. Kyushu Univ. 32: 43-83.
 * Imai H. T., C. Baroni Urbani, M. Kubota, G. P. Sharma, M. H. Narasimhanna, B. C. Das, A. K. Sharma, A. Sharma, G. B. Deodikar, V. G. Vaidya, and M. R. Rajasekarasetty. 1984. Karyological survey of Indian ants. Japanese Journal of Genetics 59: 1-32.
 * Kaleeswaran B., S. Ezil, B. P. Ganesh, and S. Bhavatarini. 2008. Biodiversity and niches of Ants in Alagar hills, Tamil nadu Wildlife Biodiversity Conservation Published by Day publishing house pp 188-208.
 * Li F. 2007. A Taxonomy Study on Genera Crematogaster and Myrmica from China (Hymenoptera:Formicidae:Myrmicinae). Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi, China. 58 pages.
 * Li Q., B. D. Hoffmann, Z. X. Lu, and Y. Q. Chen. 2017. Ants show that the conservation potential of afforestation efforts in Chinese valley-type savanna is dependent upon the afforestation method. Journal of Insect Conservation DOI 10.1007/s10841-017-0005-0
 * Li Q., Y. Chen, S. Wang, Y. Zheng, Y. Zhu, and S. Wang. 2009. Diversity of ants in subtropical evergreen broadleaved forest in Pu'er City, Yunnan. Biodiversity Science 17(3): 233-239.
 * Li Q., Z. Lu, Z. Wei, M. Yanyan, and F. Ping. 2015. Communities of ground-dwelling ants in different plantation forest in arid-hot valleys of Jinsha river, Yunnan Province, China. Scientia Silvae Sinicae 51(8): 134-142.
 * Li Qiao, Chen You-qing, Guo Xiao, Duan Yan, Chen Yan-lin, and Xu Zheng-hui. 2007. Diversity of ants in differents habitats in Yuanmou arid-hot valley, Yunnan. Journal of Fujian College of Forestry 27(3): 272-277.
 * Lu Z., B. D. Hoffmann, and Y. Chen. 2016. Can reforested and plantation habitats effectively conserve SW China’s ant biodiversity? Biodivers. Conserv. DOI 10.1007/s10531-016-1090-1
 * Lu Z., K. Li, N. Zhang, and Y. Chen. 2017. Diversity and indicator species of leaf-litter ants in Eucalyptus grandis plantations and secondary natural forests. Forest Research 29(4): 576-580
 * Mathew R., and R. N. Tiwari. 2000. Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Pp. 251-409 in: Director; Zoological Survey of India (ed.) 2000. Fauna of of Meghalaya. Part 7. [State Fauna Series 4.] Insecta 2000. Calcutta: Zoological Survey of India, 621 pp.
 * Mukerjee D. 1934. Entomological investigations on the spike disease of sandal (22). Formicidae (Hymen.). Indian Forest Rec. Entomol. Ser. 20 5: 1-15.
 * Narendra A., H. Gibb, and T. M. Ali. 2011. Structure of ant assemblages in Western Ghats, India: role of habitat, disturbance and introduced species. Insect Conservation and diversity 4(2): 132-141.
 * Rasheed M. T., I. Bodlah, A. G. Fareen, A. A. Wachkoo, X. Huang, and S. A. Akbar. 2019. A checklist of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Pakistan. Sociobiology 66(3): 426-439.
 * Song Y., Z. Xu, C. Li, N. Zhang, L. Zhang, H. Jiang, and F. Mo. 2013. An Analysis on the Ant Fauna of the Nangun river Nature Reserve in Yunnan, China. Forest Research 26(6): 773-780.
 * Tak N. 2008. Ants of Rajasthan. Conserving Biodiversity of Rajasthan Zool. Surv. India. 149-155.
 * Tak N. 2009. Ants Formicidae of Rajasthan. Records of the Zoological Survey of India, Occasional Paper No. 288, iv, 46 p
 * Tak N. 2010. Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Zool. Surv. India, Fauna of Ranthambore National Park, Conservation Area Series 43: 133-144.
 * Tak N., and S. L. Kazmi. 2011. On a collection of Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae from Uttarakhand. Rec. zool. Surv. India : 111(2) : 39-49.
 * Tiwari R. N. 1999. Taxonomic studies on ants of southern India (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Memoirs of the Zoological Survey of India 18(4): 1-96.
 * Tiwari R. N., B. G. Kundu, S. Roy Chowdhury, and S. N. Ghosh. 2003. Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Fauna of Sikkim. Part 4. State Fauna Series. 9.Zool.Surv.India. i-iii, 1-512. Chapter pagination: 467-506.
 * Tiwari R.N., B.G. Kundu, S. Roychowdhury, S.N. Ghosh. 1999. Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Pp. 211-294 in: Director; Zoological Survey of India (ed.) 1999. Fauna of West Bengal. Part 8. Insecta (Trichoptera, Thysanoptera, Neuroptera, Hymenoptera and Anoplura). Calcutta: Zoological Survey of India, iv + 442 pp.
 * Tiwari, R.N. 1999. Taxonomic studies on ants of southern India (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Memoirs of the Zoological Survey of India 18(4):1-96
 * Umair M., A. Zia, M. Naeem, and M. T. Chaudhry. 2012. Species composition of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Potohar Plateau of Punjab Province, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology 44(3): 669-705.
 * 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.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1927. Burmese ants collected by Professor G. E. Gates. Psyche (Cambridge) 34: 42-46.
 * Zhang Z., M. Cao, X. Yang, X. Deng, and Y. She. 2000. A study on species diversity of ant in fragments of seasonal rain forest of Xishuangbanna, China. Zoological Research 21(1): 70-75.
 * Zryanin V. A. 2011. An eco-faunistic review of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). In: Structure and functions of soil communities of a monsoon tropical forest (Cat Tien National Park, southern Vietnam) / A.V. Tiunov (Editor). – M.: KMK Scientific Press. 2011. 277 р.101-124.