Lepisiota chapmani

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

Nomenclature

 *  chapmani. Acantholepis chapmani Wheeler, W.M. 1935b: 47, fig. 2 (w.q.) PHILIPPINES. Combination in Lepisiota: Bolton, 1995b: 227.

Worker
Length 2.5-2.8 mm.

Head suborbicular, convex and rounded behind, including the mandibles slightly longer than broad. Eyes large, convex, somewhat behind the middle of the sides; ocelli large and widely separated. Mandibles moderately convex, 5-toothed, the first and fourth tooth from the apex larger than the others. Maxillary palpi very long. Clypeus large, evenly convex, ecarinate, with rounded, entire and projecting anterior border. Frontal area transversely triangular; frontal groove distinct. Antennae slender; scapes extending two-fifths their length beyond the posterior border of the head; all the funicular joints fully twice as long as broad. Thorax shaped as in Lepisiota frauenfeldi but the anterior portion of the mesometanotal constriction is broader, though decidedly longer and more slender than in Lepisiota aurea punctaticeps. Pronotum one and one-third times as long as broad, flattened or slightly concave above, with distinctly protuberant humeri. Mesometanotum twice as long as broad, narrowed in the middle and bearing at its posterior fourth the dorsally projecting spiracles which are separated by a space four times their diameter. Epinotum from above sub rectangular, nearly as broad as the pronotum and one-third broader than long, bearing on its anterior or basal half two large, thick, rapidly tapering, rather acute spines. Petiole long, with long posterior peduncle, the anteriorly placed scale inclined forward, convex anteriorly and posteriorly and moderately thick, bearing above at each corner of feebly concave, transverse summit a small, slender, acute spine which is directed upward, outward and slightly backward. Gaster rather large, subelliptical. Legs long and slender.

Shining and very finely and superficially reticulate or shagreened; meso- and epinotum more opaque and more coarsely reticulate or densely punctulate and also sharply longitudinally rugulose, the rugules faint or absent anteriorly on the dorsal surface of the mesonotum; neck and posterior peduncle of petiole finely rugulose. Scapes and legs very delicately and densely punctulate.

Hairs and pubescence white, the former sparse, erect and rather short, most numerous on the head and gaster, absent on the appendages which are instead invested with fine, appressed or subappressed pubescence.

Yellow; meso- and epinotum, neck and posterior peduncle of petiole brownish; funiculi beyond the first joint, apical halves of hind femora, except their tips, and the tibiae except their bases and tips, fuscous; mandibles, palpi and tarsi white; mandibular teeth reddish.

Queen
Length 4.5 mm.

Resembling the female of Lepisiota frauenfeldi, but the head is proportionately smaller and broader, broader than long, subtrapezoidal. Antennre shorter and stouter than in the worker. Thorax and petiole as in frauenfeldi, the former elliptical and depressed dorsally, with rounded, spineless epinotum, the latter with a decidedly thicker, spineless scale.

Opaque and much more sharply and densely punctulate throughout than the worker, except the thoracic sutures and an anteromedian impressed line on the mesonotum which are shining.

Pilosity much as in the worker but more abundant on the thoracic dorsum; pubescence distinct on the head, pronotum, gaster and legs; dense but rather short on the gaster.

Dull yellowish red; head somewhat paler; tarsi antennal scapes and first funicular joint yellow; remainder of funiculi brown; three broad, anteriorly fused vittae on the mesonotum, the mesopleurae, summit of petiolar scale, dorsum of gaster, except the anterior portion of the first segment, dark brown or blackish.

Type Material
Described from numerous workers and a single female taken by Dr. J. W. Chapman from two colonies nesting in galls on dead branches in the mountains near Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Chapman J. W. 1965.  Studies on the ecology of the army ants of the Philippines genus Aenictus Schuckard (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Philippine Journal of Science. 93: 551-595.