Paratopula

Luo and Guénard (2016) - The ecology of Paratopula remains enigmatic due to the rarity of collection events. In the past, three species (Paratopula demeta; Paratopula intermedia; Paratopula zhengi) were described on the basis of a single worker specimen only. The rarity of Paratopula collection translates into an absence of knowledge on the ecology of the genus, although the genus is thought to possess an arboreal or sub-arboreal lifestyle (Bolton 1988; Eguchi et al. 2011).

Identification
Eguchi, Bui and Yamane (2011) - The worker of Paratopula is somewhat similar to that of Tetramorium. However, in the latter, the lateral portion of clypeus is modified into a distinct ridge or wall in front of antennal insertion, the apex of sting bears a small lamellate appendage, and the body is much smaller.

Distribution
Luo and Guénard (2016) - The distribution of Paratopula is restricted to the Indomalayan biogeographic region, with a patchy and largely incomplete distribution ranging from Pakistan to the West and the Philippines to the East and from Shanghai to Sulawesi along a North-South axis (www.antmaps.org) (Janicki et al. 2016). Paratopula diversity peaks in Borneo with five species recorded, most other regions include a single species recorded with the exception of the Philippines and the Peninsular Malaysia, both with three species recorded.

Species richness
Species richness by country based on regional taxon lists (countries with darker colours are more species-rich). View Data



Biology
Luo and Guénard (2016) - Despite Paratopula’s relatively large size (it is the largest Myrmicinae known from Hong Kong), it is still rarely collected. Previous Paratopula specimens had been collected either on or near trees; which suggests an arboreal or sub-arboreal lifestyle (Bolton 1988, Eguchi et al. 2011). The collection times for Paratopula bauhinia were at night, approximately 2 to 3 hours after sunset. This timing and their collection from raised man-made structures, suggests they may forage near the ground nocturnally, potentially to limit competition with dominant species more active during daytime.

Nomenclature

 *  PARATOPULA [Myrmicinae: Paratopulini]
 * Paratopula Wheeler, W.M. 1919e: 144. Type-species: Atopomyrmex ceylonicus, by original designation.

Eguchi, Bui and Yamane (2011) - The genus was revised by Bolton (1988b). The worker of the single Vietnamese species has the following features. Worker monomorphic; head in full-face view subrectangular; frontal carina indistinct or absent; antennal scrobe absent; anterior clypeal margin feebly emarginated medially, lacking an isolated median seta; posteromedian portion of clypeus very broadly inserted between frontal lobes; mandible triangular; masticatory margin with 9 teeth decreasing in size from apex to base; antennae 12-segmented, with distinct 3-segmented club; eye large, in full-face view strongly convex laterad; mesosoma in lateral view elongate and low; promesonotum in lateral view not domed; promesonotal suture absent dorsally; metanotal groove distinctly impressed dorsally; propodeal spine long and spinose; propodeal lobe extending well posteriad; petiole consisting of elongate peduncle and cubic node, with small anteroventral process; postpetiole in lateral view compressed dorsoventrally, lower than long; gastral shoulder absent; sting simple and strong; head and mesosoma strongly sculptured with rugation or rugoreticulation; body bearing moderately dense hairs that are short and blunt apically.

Luo and Guénard (2016) - Paratopula Wheeler is a rare genus of ants, whose type species, Paratopula ceylonica, was first described as part of the genus Atopomyrmex by Emery (1901), and later erected as Paratopula by Wheeler (1919). In 1988, Bolton revised the genus, bringing the total number of Paratopula species at the time to nine, with four species known only from the reproductive caste – Paratopula andamanensis, Paratopula longispina, Paratopula oculata and Paratopula sumatrensis, with P. andamensis described only from the male caste. Since then, two additional species have been described, Paratopula intermedia from Kerala (India) and Paratopula zhengi from Xizang (China). The discovery of Paratopula bauhinia from Hong Kong brings the total number of Paratopula species to twelve.