Anochetus validus

This species appears to be uncommon and restricted to Jammu region of the Shivalik range in Northwest Himalaya. It was collected under small stones and by sieving moist soil. Three of the foraging workers were collected over grass during the evening time.

Identification
Bharti & Wachkoo (2013) - Anochetus validus resembles Anochetus graeffei and Anochetus yerburyi. It can be easily distinguished from Anochetus yerburyi by frontal striation reaching all the way to nuchal carina or most of the way; larger size (HW: 1.20–1.32); relatively small eyes (EL: 0.22–0.24); smooth and shiny meso-metapleuron and strongly pigmented body, while in the latter the frons are smooth and shiny, the frontal striation extends only a short distance beyond the level of eyes; slender (HW: 0.95–1.15); eyes larger (EL 0.26–0.28); metapleuron sculptured and body pigmentation lighter with head, petiole and appendages honey yellow. However, it most resembles Anochetus graeffei but can be fairly separated from the latter by scape reaching occipital lobe; relatively very large size; deep emargination of vertex and undivided mesopleuron whereas in the latter scape fails to reach the occipital lobe; much smaller size (HW: 0.84–1.01), shallow emargination of vertex (see Zettel, 2012: Fig. 24) and mesopleuron divided into anepisternum and katepisternum. It can also be easily separated from Anochetus ruginotus recently revived from synonymy (Zettle, 2012) by dense irregular vermiculate short rugae on pronotum and transverse rugae on mesonotum while in Anochetus ruginotus striation is distinctly longitudinal on pro-mesonotum.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 *  validus. Anochetus validus Bharti & Wachkoo, 2013: 141, figs. 7-12 (w.q.) INDIA.

Worker
HL: 1.28–1.34; HW: 1.20–1.32; EL: 0.22–0.24; MdL: 0.70–0.72; SL: 1.04–1.06; PnW: 0.68–0.72; MsL: 1.52–1.55; PtW: 0.32–0.36; PtL: 0.33–0.36; PtH: 0.40–0.45; TL: 5.50–5.66. Indices: CI: 93.75–98.50; SI: 78.79–86.67; MdI: 53.03–56.25 (n=12).

Head. Eyes with 10–12 ommatidia across greatest diameter, filling more than half the length of the orbital fossae; some minute setae present on eyes. Scape slightly curved, just reaching the posterior margin of occipital lobe. Mandible slender, broadened at distal half; medial edge with 2 nearly straight margins extending to semicircular preapical excision; ventral margin dentate; with head in “full-face” view and mandibles closed, denticles invisible dorsally; apical triad of teeth variable in shape from pointed to blunt.

Mesosoma. Stout, promesonotal suture well defined; mesometanotal suture faintly marked or absent altogether; pronotum rounded above; mesonotal disc convex, wider than long; propodeal dorsum flat to slightly depressed transversely behind metanotal spiracle, widened posteriorly; declivity oblique. Propodeal angles reduced, divergent and bluntly rounded.

Petiole. Petiolar node triangular in lateral view, thin and tapered apically. In anterior view apex of summit shallowly concave to convex; lateral margins straight to convex.

Gaster. Sub-cylindrical; weakly constricted between first two segments; base of cintus of second gastral tergite with cross ribs.

Sculpture. Head punctulate, smooth and shiny except frontal striation; striae coarse fanning out posterolaterally, extending almost to level of nuchal carina, replaced over the last 0.10 mm or so before nuchal carina by a strip of smooth, shining surface, laterally entering antennal socket but not exceeding posterior and lateral margins; 2–4 rugae present anteriorly in antennal sockets. Pronotum opaque, cervix distinctly transversely striate; anterior border of pronotal dorsum with arched rugae, pronotal disc obliquely rugo-vermiculate; laterally longitudinally rugo-vermiculate; promesonotal suture cross ribbed. Mesonotal disc transversally rugose. Dorsum of propodeum rugo-reticulate; apex and declivity of propodeum transversally rugostriate. Katepisternum and metakatepisternum smooth and shiny; propodeal sides obliquely rugose. Gaster smooth and shiny, basally punctulate. Mandibles shiny with very sparse punctures; antennae finely and densely punctulate.

Vestiture. Pilosity moderate overall; shorter and sub-decumbent on head, suberect on remainder, obsolescent on lateral face of mesosoma. Appendages covered by dense appressed to decumbent pubescence.

Color. Head, petiole and appendages red brown; mesosoma and gaster blackish brown.

Queen
HL: 1.32; HW: 1.26; EL: 0.27; MdL: 0.67; SL: 0.99; PnW: 0.83; MsL: 1.60; PtW: 0.40; PtL: 0.43; PtH: 0.54; TL: 5.72. Indices: CI: 98.32; SI: 78.57; MdI: 53.35 (n=1).

As in worker; with modifications expected for this caste and the following differences: eyes with 15 ommatidia across greatest diameter. Scutum obliquely rugo-vermiculate; scutellum and metanotum smooth and shiny. In front view petiole with rounded dorsal margin and feebly convex sides. Mandibles, head, petiole and appendages darker than in corresponding workers.

Etymology
The species epithet is a Latin for valid, in reference to its legitimate species status.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bharti H., and A. A. Wachkoo. 2013. Two new species of trap jaw ant Anochetus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), with a key to known species from India. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 16: 137142.