Pachycondyla kipyatkovi

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Dubovikoff (2013) - The new species differs from all known species of the P. wasmannii-group by its extensive yellow colouration and relatively small size of body.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  kipyatkovi. Pachycondyla kipyatkovi Dubovikoff, 2013: 37, figs. 1-4 (w.) MADAGASCAR. Combination in Euponera: Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014: 87.

Worker
Head elongate, its sides almost straight. Scape not reaching posterior margin of head at least on half of scape maximum diameter. Segments of flagellum enlarging towards end, apical five segments larger and wider than basal segments. Occipital margin of head noticeably concave medially, with broad rounded angles. Eyes moderately small, their diameter not exceeding basal width of scape. Anterior margin of clypeus almost straight. Mandibles triangular, finely striate, with interspersed shallow piligerious pits, with four teeth and without or with one denticles. Mesosoma in lateral view with dorsal margin forming continuous convexity. Propodeal dorsum and declivity separated by distinct angle, mesopleural suture distinct. Propodeum slightly compressed laterally). Node of petiole in lateral view with subparallel sides. Petiole in dorsal view with node somewhat broader than long, its anterior margin broadly convex and posterior margin concave.

Head densely and finely punctate. Dorsum of mesosoma covered with dense and coarse pits. Sides of mesosoma finely rugulose, without coarse pits. Sides and dorsal surface of petiole covered with closely spaced, large and shallow pits. First and second gastral tergites with dense, fine and shallow punctures which become sparser and irregularly scattered on posterior tergites.

Dorsum of body with pilosity, setae becoming longer on petiole dorsum and gaster. Whole body densely pubescent.

Body and appendages yellow. Mandibles brown.

holotype: HL – 1.50; HW – 1.28; CI – 0.86; SL – 1.00; SI – 0.78; PW – 0.92; WL – 2.00; NW – 0.80; NH – 0.88; NL – 0.67; LNI – 1.33; DNI – 1.20; EL – 0.13; OI – 0.10.

Type Material
Holotype: worker, “MD38, Madagascar, Ranomafana NP, Talatakely, 7-9.6.2004, Ilkka Hanski leg.” (Finnish Museum of Natural History, Helsinki, Finland).

Etymology
This species is named after the late Prof. Vladilen Evgenievich Kipyatkov, my supervisor during student time, well-known Russian expert in ants and other social insects.