Prenolepis angularis

Identification
Williams and LaPolla (2016) - Obtusely angled propodeum with flat dorsal and posterior faces; erect setae on scapes and legs; light blue cuticular iridescence.

This species and Prenolepis naoroji are the only Prenolepis to have a light blue cuticular iridescence. Prenolepis angularis can most easily be distinguished from P. naoroji by its obtusely angled propodeum, smaller compound eyes that do not surpass the lateral margins of the head in full-face view, and erect setae on the scapes. Prenolepis angularis is also much less hirsute than P. naoroji and its macrosetae are shorter in length.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  angularis. Prenolepis angularis Zhou, 2001b: 173, 242, fig. 344 (w.) CHINA.

Worker
Williams and LaPolla (2016) - Worker. Measurements (n=4): CMC: 9–10; EL: 0.20–0.24; EW: 0.18–0.20; HL: 0.72–0.83; HLA: 0.38–0.41; HLP: 0.25–0.27; HW: 0.69–0.76; IOD: 0.48–0.50; LF1: 0.17–0.19; LF2: 0.10–0.11; LHT: 0.92– 0.95; MMC: 1–2; MTW: 0.40–0.44; MW: 0.24–0.29; PDH: 0.28–0.32; PMC: 5–8; PrCL: 0.45–0.47; PrCW: 0.24– 0.28; PrFL: 0.71–0.78; PrFW: 0.16–0.19; PTH: 0.31–0.35; PTL: 0.33–0.36; PTW: 0.23–0.26; PW: 0.45–0.49; SL: 0.92–1.03; TL: 2.80–3.17; WF1: 0.07–0.08; WF2: 0.06–0.07; WL: 0.98–1.12; BLI: 139–143; CI: 91–98; EPI: 145–153; FLI: 169–174; HTI: 126–134; PetHI: 109–112; PetWI: 70–73; PrCI: 55–57; PrFI: 23–24; REL: 27–30; REL2: 29–31; REL3: 43–47; SI: 131–136.

Medium to dark brown, with cuticle having a light blue iridescence; cuticle of head and pronotum smooth and shiny; cuticle of mesopleuron, propodeum, and gaster lightly reticulate; abundant erect setae on scapes and legs; abundant long, erect macrosetae on head, mesosoma, and gaster; head about as broad as long and square in shape with indistinct posterolateral corners and a weakly convex posterior margin; compound eyes moderately large and convex, but do not surpass the lateral margins of the head in full-face view; torulae overlap with the posterior border of the clypeus; anterior border of clypeus with a pair of prominent anterolateral lobes; mandibles with 6 teeth on the masticatory margin; ectal surface of mandibles with light longitudinal striations; in profile view, propodeum is obtusely angled with a flat dorsal face; dorsal apex of petiole scale is sharply angled and forward-inclined

Type Material
Williams and LaPolla (2016) - Holotype worker, China: Guangxi Province, Mao’er Mt. Nature Reserve, 25°44.21’N 110°19.25’E, 934.5m, 10.vii.1994 [examined].