Crematogaster philippinensis

Heterick & Kitching (2022) collected this species in the canopy of a lowland dipterocarp forest in Brunei.

Identification
Hosoishi and Ogata (2016) - A member of the Crematogaster quadriruga group. In the worker this species can be distinguished from all other members of the Crematogaster quadriruga group by the distinct compound eyes, V-shaped metanotal groove in lateral view, large propodeal spiracles touching metapleural gland bulla, long propodeal spines (PSL 0.08–0.11), and yellow-colored body. This species is similar to Crematogaster sundalandensis, but can be distinguished from it by the scape with suberect setae only and yellow-colored body.

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

Nomenclature

 * . Crematogaster philippinensis Hosoishi & Ogata, 2016a: 593, fig. 113 (w.) PHILIPPINES (Luzon I.).
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 4 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Philippines: Luzon, Los Baños, Mt Makiling, 13.vii.1997 (Sk. Yamane); paratypes with same data.
 * Type-depositories: NMPM (holotype); BMNH, CASC, KUEC, SKYC (paratypes).
 * Distribution: Philippines (Luzon).

Worker
(n=5) HW 0.45–0.46; HL 0.48–0.49; CI 94–96; SL 0.41–0.43; SI 91–93; EL 0.09–0.11; PW 0.28–0.31; WL 0.56–0.59; PSL 0.08–0.11; PtL 0.16–0.18; PtW 0.13–0.14; PtH 0.13–0.14; PpL 0.11–0.12; PpW 0.14–0.15; PtHI 72–82; PtWI 76–88; PpWI 117–127; WI 100–108.

Workers monomorphic. Head subquadratic in full-face view. Mandibles with four teeth arranged at an equal distance, apical and subapical teeth large, basal two teeth smaller. Anterior clypeal margin convex in medial portion. Compound eyes distinctly projecting beyond lateral margins of head in full-face view. Scapes reaching posterolateral corners of head.

Pronotal collar with weakly concave anterior margin in dorsal view, distinctly lower than pronotum in lateral view. Pronotal dorsum without distinct ridges laterally. Mesonotal dorsum with lateral ridges posteriorly that irregularly extend posteriad to tips of propodeal spines. Pronotum and mesonotum in lateral view not clearly forming continuous dorsal outline; mesonotal dorsum flat. Metanotal groove in dorsal view transverse, almost straight in median portion, forming deep concavity that is laterally margined by lamellate ridges. Propodeal spiracles elliptical, situated at posterolateral corners of propodeum, touching to metapleural gland bullae. Propodeal spines developed, longer than diameter of propodeal spiracles, in dorsal view directed posteriad.

Petiole in dorsal view with subparallel sides and narrow anteriorly, longer than wide. Posterior portion of petiole with short process that is slightly higher than posterior margin of petiole disc in lateral view. Subpetiolar process undeveloped. Postpetiole in lateral view with weakly convex dorsum, as high as petiole, in dorsal view as wide as petiole, weakly bilobed posteriorly but without longitudinal sulcus. Subpostpetiolar process undeveloped, but venter of postpetiole convex.

Integument essentially smooth and shining. Dorsal surface of head smooth and shining. Mandibles with feeble rugulae and smooth interspaces. Clypeus generally smooth and shining, but with one pair of longitudinal rugulae; rugulae not extending to posterior clypeal margin. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of pronotum smooth shining; anterolateral shoulders of pronotum with rugulae. Mesopleura smooth and shining. Dorsal surface of propodeum generally smooth and shining, but one pair of rugulae running from metanotal groove to tips of propodeal spines. Dorsal surface of petiole smooth and shining. Lateral surface of petiole generally smooth, but with one longitudinal rugula. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of postpetiole smooth and shining.

Standing pilosity sparse. Dorsal face of head with suberect setae sparsely. Clypeus with two pairs of long setae in anterior portion, one directed upward and the other downward. Anterior clypeal margin with one pair of long setae medially and short setae laterally. Scapes with suberect setae. Mesosoma with four pairs of long erect and stout setae [ps1PN (two pairs), psaMN, pspMN, and ps1PS] that are much longer than other erect setae. Posterolateral tubercles of petiole posteriorly with one pair of stout setae (one pair of short setae laterally). Postpetiole with three pairs of setae on disc anteriorly, posteriorly and laterally. Fourth abdominal tergite with erect to suberect setae abundantly, and short decumbent setae sparsely.

Body yellow. All flagellar segments yellow.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Mt. Makiling, Los Banos, Luzon Island, PHILIPPINES, 13.vii.1997 (Sk. Yamane). Paratype. Four workers, same data as holotype.

Etymology
The specific name refers to the country of origin, the Philippines.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Hosoichi S., and K. Ogata. 2016. Systematics and biogeography of the ant genus Crematogaster Lund subgenus Orthocrema Santschi in Asia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 176: 547–606.