Vombisidris regina

This conspicuous black species appears to be the only member of the genus that is predominantly or entirely terrestrial in foraging habits. The majority of samples were collected using Winkler sampling.

Identification
A member of the philax group

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

Nomenclature

 *  regina. Vombisidris regina Bolton, 1991: 6, figs. 1, 2 (w.) BORNEO.

Worker
Holotype. TL 5.0, HL 1.09, HW 0:94, CI 86, SL 0.84, Sl 89, PW 0.86, AL 1.34. Maximum diameter of eye 0.21 (0.22 x HW). Eyes in full-face view short but strongly prominent, dome-like. Cephalic dorsum reticulate-rugulose everywhere. Sides of head weakly convergent behind eyes. Anterior clypeal margin with a distinct median indentation. Subocular groove complete. Alitrunk reticulate-rugose everywhere. Propodeal spines long and sharp, elevated but only shallowly curved along their length. Metanotal groove vestigial to absent. Propodeal declivity finely rugulose and superficially punctulate. Mesonotum unarmed, the sides not angular nor prominent in dorsal view. Petiole and postpetiole reticulate-rugulose, the petiolar spiracle approximately at the midlength of the short peduncle. Gaster unsculptured, smooth and shining. All dorsal surfaces of body with numerous hairs. Colour uniformly blackish brown to black.

Paratype. TL 4.8-5.6, HL 1.04-1.16, HW 0.88-0.96, CI 83-87, SL 0.80-0.86, Sl 87-93, PW 0.64-0.72, AL 1.30-1.42. Maximum diameter of eye 0.20-0.24 (0.21-0.24 x HW) (10 measured). As holotype.

Type Material
Holotype worker, East Malaysia: Sabah, Mt Kinabalu, 1550-1650 m, 23.v.1987, no. 38 (Burckhardt & LobI). Paratypes, 2 workers with same data but 28.iv.1987, 1540 m, no. 7c; 1 worker with same data but 23.iv.1987, 1550 m, no. 1b; 3 workers with same data but 20.iv.I987, 1500 m, no. 9b; 1 worker with same data but 21.iv .1987, 1550-1650 m, no. 2b; 1 worker with same data hut 30.iv.1987, 1500 m, no. 9c; 2 workers with same data but 27.v .1987, no. 36; 3 workers with same data but Pinosuk Plateau, 14-17.iii.1964, 5225 ft (S. Kueh) (MHNG; ; ).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton B. 1991. New myrmicine genera from the Oriental Region (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Systematic Entomology 16:1-13.
 * Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58