Chrysapace costatus

This species seems to be rare in the Shivalik range of Northwest Himalaya: the only known specimen was found in Forest Research Institute, Uttarakhand during intensive surveys. The species was found in leaf litter within a primary, subtropical, semi-evergreen forest with a good annual precipitation.

Identification
Bharti & Akbar (2013) - This is an interesting species with remarkable costate sculpture, a character shared with only two Oriental species: Chrysapace jacobsoni and Chrysapace sauteri. Chrysapace costatus can be easily distinguished from C. jacobsoni by longitudinal costate sculpture of mesosoma and foveate gaster whereas latter is characterized by transverse costate sculupture on mesosoma and longitudinal costate sculpture on gaster. It separates from C. sauteri by rectangular head with porcate-sinuate sculpture and longitudinal costate sculpture on postpetiole while in C. sauteri head is subtriangular and sculpture is regular transverse costate on head and postpetiole.

Distribution
Guangxi, China; India

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India. Palaearctic Region: China.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  costatus. Cerapachys costatus Bharti & Wachkoo, 2013: 1191, figs. 4-6 (w.) INDIA.

Worker
TL 7.13; HL 1.23; HW 1.14; EL 0.28; WL 2.23; PL1 0.86; PW1 0.75; PL2 0.61; PW2 1.12; SL 0.80; GL 2.20. Indices: CI 92; SI 70; PI 87 (n = 1).

Head. Rectangular, slightly longer than broad, sides gently convex; vertex shallowly concave. Mandibles subtriangular, edentate. Antennae 12 segmented; scapes short and clavate; reaching up to 5/7th of posterior margin of head. Eyesmoderate, globular, protruded placed above the middle of head; 3 ocelli present. Anterior clypeal margin entire and convex; posterior margin deflexed and flat.

Mesosoma. Trunk shaped, wider posteriorly; dorsal profile convex; sutures absent except for distinct lateropronotal mesopleural suture. Propodeal declivity truncate; anterior border of dorsopronotum and propodeal junction marginate; mid and hind tibiae each have a large and small apical spur.

Metasoma. Petiole dorsally rectangular, longer than broad with convex sides; anterior face straight; dorsal profile convex. Postpetiole broader than long. Gaster elongate; base of cintus of first gastral tergite with cross ribs.

Sculpture. Head porcate-sinuate; malar space drab, clathrate; mandibles and scape covered with fine reticulations and scattered foveolae; funiculus microreticulate. Vertex, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole costate-sulcate. Gaster foveate; gastral segments microreticulate.

Vestiture. Pilosity sparse, suberect; denser on scapes and legs; funiculus pubescent.

Color. Black with mandibles, antennae and legs castaneous.

Etymology
The species epithet is Latin for costate, in reference to the distinguishing sculpture on mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole.