Lophomyrmex changlangensis

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Sheela and Ghosh (2008) - L. changlangensis comes closer to the species Lophomyrmex bedoti in the following main characters in addition to the colour: 1. The pronotal humeri only margined laterally; 2. Scape Index less than 100; 3. Propodeal spines thinner, straight and longer; 4. Mesonotum with a prominence and 5. Petiole with a narrow peduncle and a distinct high node.

Differs from L. bedoti in the following main characters: 1. In L. changlangensis distance between eye and mandibular base is 1.2x eye length (In L. bedoti distance between eye and mandibular base is > 1.5x eye length); 2. In L. changlangensis body almost bare with only three or four pairs of setae on head, thorax and pedicel (In L. bedoti body with long, erect setae all over); 3. In L. changlangensis body not shining; dull, opaque with light, indistinct punctures all over except gaster (In L. bedoti body shining with clear sculpture on parts) and 4. In L. changlangensis prominence on mesonotum high (In L. bedoti prominence on mesonotum shallow).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 *  changlangensis. Lophomyrmex changlangensis Sheela & Ghosh, 2008: 18, figs. 1-3 (w.) INDIA.

Worker
Holotype. Worker: TL- 3.2mm; HL- 0.78mm; HW-0.72mm; CI- 92; SL- 0.63mm; SI- 88; PW- 0.42mm;AL- 0.94mm; SpL- 0.26.

Colour. Uniform brownish yellow; head with a little red tint all over; hairs minute, small, appressed on antennae and legs; head, thorax and abdomen almost bare with two- three hairs on each part; head and thorax minutely reticulate, dull; sculpture on meso-metanotum stronger than other parts; pedicel and gaster opaque.

Head. Masticatory margin of mandibles broad with two distinct apical teeth followed by a number of ill defined crenulations towards base; clypeus convex with anterior margin arched; eyes placed at middle, elongate oval; distance between mandible and eye 1.2x eye length; scape of antennae just crossing posterior margin of head; posterior margin shallowly emarginated.

Mesosoma. Pronotum anteriorly rounded, very broad, posteriorly constricted; pronotal humeri margined; middle of pronotum longitudinally subcarinate; mesonotum very narrow with a clear prominence above; pro-meso and meso-metanotal grooves deep; propodeal spines long, with a slight bend downwards; spine 1.4x dorsum of propodeum in profile.

Metasoma. Petiole with a long peduncle, which is 1.4x length of node in profile; node vertical in front; rounded above; in dorsal view its anterior margin transverse and submargined; post petiole broader than petiole.

Type Material
Holotype: Worker, India: Arunachal Pradesh, Tirap District, Changlang, 30-x-1971, G. S. Arora. (NZC, ZSI, Regn. No. 10513/ H3). Paratype: 1 Worker, with same data as that of holotype (NZC, ZSI, Regn. No. 10514/ H3). National Zoological Collections, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata all types were deposited there.

Etymology
The species epithet is after the type locality, Changlang.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Sheela S., and S. N. Ghosh. 2009. A new species of Lophomyrmex Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from India with a key to Indian species. Biosystematica 2(2): 17-20.