Trichomyrmex criniceps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India, Sri Lanka.

Nomenclature

 * . Holcomyrmex criniceps Mayr, 1879: 672 (w.) INDIA (Tamil Nadu).
 * Type-material: holotype worker.
 * Type-locality: India: Tranquebar (= Tharangambadi) (no collector’s name, “received from Drewsen”).
 * Type-depository: NHMW.
 * Bingham, 1903: 282 (s.). Radchenko, 1997f: 218 (q.m.).
 * Combination in Monomorium (Holcomyrmex): Emery, 1922e: 181;
 * combination in Trichomyrmex: Ward, et al. 2015: 76.
 * Status as species: Dalla Torre, 1893: 65; Forel, 1903a: 693; Bingham, 1903: 282; Forel, 1911i: 221; Forel, 1913k: 55; Emery, 1922e: 181; Menozzi, 1939a: 335; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 163; Ettershank, 1966: 88; Bolton, 1995b: 260; Radchenko, 1997f: 218; Tiwari, 1999: 56; Bharti, Guénard, et al. 2016: 47; Dias, R.K.S. et al. 2020: 98.
 * Senior synonym of niger: Radchenko, 1997f: 218.
 * Senior synonym of ruber: Radchenko, 1997f: 218.
 * Distribution: India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka.
 * niger. Holcomyrmex criniceps var. niger Forel, 1902c: 220 (w.) INDIA (Karnataka, Maharashtra).
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-localities: India: Kanara (Aitken), Poona (Wroughton).
 * Type-depository: MHNG.
 * Combination in Monomorium (Holcomyrmex): Emery, 1922e: 181.
 * Subspecies of criniceps: Forel, 1903a: 693; Emery, 1922e: 181; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 163; Ettershank, 1966: 91; Bolton, 1995b: 265.
 * Status as species: Tiwari, 1999: 56.
 * Junior synonym of criniceps: Radchenko, 1997f: 218.
 * ruber. Holcomyrmex criniceps var. ruber Forel, 1903a: 693 (w.) SRI LANKA.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Sri Lanka (“Ceylon”): (no further data) (Yerbury).
 * Type-depository: MHNG.
 * Combination in Monomorium (Holcomyrmex): Emery, 1922e: 181.
 * Subspecies of criniceps: Emery, 1922e: 181; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 163; Ettershank, 1966: 92; Bolton, 1995b: 266.
 * Junior synonym of criniceps: Radchenko, 1997f: 218.

Description
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description Bingham, (1903) page 282 as Holcomyrmex criniceps.

Worker

Major

Resembles in colour H. scabriceps, but seems to me more variable. Some specimens have the head and thorax dark chestnut-brown or even black, and the abdomen dark red. Between these latter and specimens with the head and thorax light ferruginous and abdomen black, nearly all gradations can be found. Differs from H. scabriceps in the head being striate only anteriorly; from about the middle of the head upwards it is somewhat distantly punctured, more densely so at the sides, the cheeks below being striate. Thorax: the pro-mesonotum finely longitudinally striate, the striae curving at the sides, the sculpture being distinctly finer and less rugose than in H. scabriceps; the basal portion of the metanotum shorter than the pro-mesonotum, finely transversely striate; the obtuse triangular tubercles at the posterior lateral angles of the metanotum distinctly larger than in H. scabriceps; legs as in that species, but proportionately a little shorter. Pedicel and abdomen as in the genus.

Minor

Closely resembles the major, much smaller, the head proportionately rather large, the thorax more finely sculptured, the striae on the anterior portion of the head almost obsolete.

Length - 3.5 - 5.5 mm

Queen

Radchenko (1997): Females (Figs 20-22). Head somewhat transverse (CI=0.90), with slightly convex sides, narrowly rounded occipital corners and slightly concave occipital margin. Eyes large (OI=3.49), round, situated in front of middle of sides of head. Antennae as in workers, scape short, not reaching occipital margin (SI=1,34). Anterior clypeal margin with deep concavity and with long acute denticles. Mandibles with broad masticatory margin and with three denticles on it. Head with numerous long curved subdecumbent hairs; outstanding hairs on ventral surface of head not j-shaped, not forming distinct psammophore. Antennal scape with dense pubescence. Head with numerous long curved subdecumbent hairs and dense large punctures (as in workers).

Alitrunk short and high (AI=1.53, Scl 1=1.62), somewhat flattened from above, mesonotum not hang ing over pronotum (see in profile). Scutum wider than long (ScI 2=0.96). Propodeum broadly rounded, its declivity flattened, without longitudinal impression. Petiolar node low, triangular and rounded on the top. Postpetiole low, subglobular. Alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole with numerous long outstanding hairs and dense short subdecumbent hairs. Gaster with numerous outstanding hairs and dense pubescence. Hind and middle tibiae and femora with dense subdecumbent pilosity.

Scutum and scutellum smooth and shining, with only sparse punctures; sides of alitrunk with dense shagreenate sculpture, submat or mat. Pedicel striated and densely shagreenate, mat. Body brown, only antennae, clypeus, mandibles and tarsi reddish-ochraceous.

Measurements: HL=1.53, HW=1.70, SL=1.10, AL-3.18 mm.

Male

Radchenko (1997): Males (Figs 23 - 26). Head somewhat elongate(CI=1.04-1.07), with broadly rounded temples and straight occipital margin. Anterior clypeal margin with shallow medial impression. Eyes very large (OI=1.85-1.89), round. Antennae 13-jointed, scape very short (SI=5.33-5.40), shorter than second funicular joint; first funicular joint globular, funiculus thread form, without distinct club. Mandibles narrow, bidentate. Head mainly smooth and shining, but cheeks, temples and posterior part of head densely punctured, submat. Dorsum and sides of head with long curved hairs, ventral surface of head with short curved hairs. Antennal joints with numerous short erect hairs.

Alitrunk short and high (AI=1.45-1.46, Scl 1=1.32-1.49), mesonotum convex, but not hanging over pronotum (see in profile). Scutum transverse (ScI 2=0.88-0.96). Propodeum broadly rounded, its decliv ity convex, without longitudinal impression. Petiole with long anterior peduncle, its node low, triangular and rounded on the top. Postpetiole low, subglobular. Alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole with rather sparse long outstanding hairs.

Gaster with numerous outstanding hairs and long, but sparse pubescence. Hind and middle tibiae with subdecum bent pilosity, femora with long hairs. Alitrunk, pedicel and gaster smooth and shining. Alitrunk, pedicel and gaster reddish-brown, head brown, antennae and legs reddish-ochraceous.

Measurements: HL=0.67-0.77, HW-0.63-0.73, SL-0.13-0.14, AL 1.79-2.18 mm.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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