Pseudolasius polymorphicus

Andretta, the type locality of this species falls within the Shivalik range of Northwest Himalaya and is devoid of leaf litter; surrounded on all sides by tea gardens and pine forests before they merge with the Dhauladhar ranges (a southern branch of the main Outer Himalayan chain of mountains). This species seems rare in Shivalik range of Northwest Himalaya and was encountered only once during the intensive surveys, found nesting under a stone below a shady tree.

Identification
Wachkoo and Bharti (2014) - Pseudolasius polymorphicus most resembles the Chinese species Pseudolasius cibdelus but can be easily distinguished from the latter. In P. polymorphicus scapes are short reaching only two-thirds of posterior margin of head in major and barely reaches posterior margin in minor whereas in P. cibdelus scapes are longer reaching three-fourths of posterior margin of head in major and surpassing the posterior margin in minor workers. Sides of head are subparallel in major of P. polymorphicus with head equally broad anteroposteriorly, and minor worker has only feebly emarginate posterior margin whilst, sides of head are strongly converging anteriorly in P. cibdelus with head distinctly narrowing in front and posterior margin of head is fairly emarginate in minor worker.

Key to Pseudolasius of India

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 *  polymorphicus. Pseudolasius polymorphicus Wachkoo & Bharti, 2014: 276, figs. 17-32 (s.w.q.m.) INDIA.

Worker
Holotype: HL 920; HW 800; HS 860; EL 72; SL 502; PW 521; WL 864; FL 498; FW 168; GL 1282; TL 3066. Indices: CI 0.87; SI 0.63; REL 0.08.

Paratypes: HL 515-926; HW 468-804; HS 502-864; EL 27-62; SL 360-506; PW 360-532; WL 570-874; FL 350-502; FW 110-174; GL 759-1034; TL 1850- 3094. Indices: CI 0.86-0.92; SI 0.61-0.80; REL 0.04-0.08 (n=24).

Head subrectangular in major worker, subquadrate in media and minor, relatively longer than wide in major as in media and minor workers. Posterior margin medially strongly impressed in major and media, only weakly so in minor; posterolateral corners rounded; sides subparallel in media, convex in minor and major, converging anteroposteriorly. Frontal carinae, divergent posteriorly, do not extend past posterior margin of eyes. Anterolateral corner of clypeus bluntly toothed; scape barely reaches posterolateral corner in minor worker, shorter in media reaching four-fifths and even short in major worker reaching two-thirds of posterolateral corner; antennal segments 3-9 wider than long; mandible with five teeth, fifth one mostly reduced.

In lateral view, promesonotum convex; metanotal groove strongly developed; metanotal area short but distinct. Propodeum low, nearly flat above with sides diverging basally; propodeal spiracle rounded; declivity steep. Petiole low triangular, inclined forward with posterior face longer than anterior face, dorsal margin weakly emarginate to transverse. First gastral segment with concave anterior face, receives the petiole.

Head and gaster covered with abundant appressed pubescence, mesosoma only sparsely pubescent; head, scape, legs and gaster with abundant short erect setae, denser on gaster; relatively longer erect setae cover clypeus and mesosoma. Mandibles with numerous, curved setae near masticatory borders; anterior clypeal margin with a few, longer, anteriorly directed setae medially and few short setae fringing margin laterally.

Full-grown workers yellow, with head and gaster usually yellowish brown, feebly microreticulate with smooth and feebly shiny cuticle; nanitic workers light yellow with superficial sculpturing and relatively shinier cuticle.

Queen
HL 782; HW 831; HS 806; EL 229; SL 622; WL 775; FL 661; FW 180; GL 2462; TL 4019. Indices: CI 1.06; SI 0.75; REL 0.30 (n=1).

Gyne similar to worker with usual differences indicating caste, including three ocelli, complete thoracic structure and wings. Head, trapezoidal with transverse posterior margin. Scape surpasses the posterior margin of head by about one-tenth its length. Propodeum indistinct. Head, mesosomal dorsum and gaster dark brown, antennae, legs and lateral mesosoma, brownish yellow; sculpture superficially microreticulate. Pubescence on body abundant and longer including mesosoma, erect setae shorter and sparser than in conspecific worker caste.

Male
Morphometric data of the males: HL 436-462; HW 441-462; HS 440-464; EL 170-202; SL 350-390; WL 752- 828; FL 450-512; FW 81-92; GL 841-904; TL 2027-2194. Indices: CI 1.00-1.03; SI 0.80-0.84; REL 0.38-0.44 (n=6).

Head broadly oval, as long as wide excluding large compound eyes; eyes subglobulose, bulging, projecting beyond head outline in full-face view; three prominent ocelli present. Antennae 13 segmented, filiform, scapes long, surpass posterior margin by about three-tenths their length. Anterolateral corner of clypeus bluntly toothed. Mandibles curved strap like, with acute pointed apical tooth, remainder of masticatory margin smooth, without any teeth or denticles; basal angle rounded, indistinct and seamlessly blends into inner mandibular margin; when closed their tips meet or overlap and the entire blades are tucked away under the clypeus in such a way that only their external margins show externally along the anterior clypeal border.

Mesosoma enlarged to accommodate flight muscles; in lateral view scutum and scutellum flat; propodeum indistinct, lower than remainder of notum with very short dorsal face and long declivitous face. Petiole as in worker; gaster elongated.

Parameres broad paddle-shaped, turning slightly inward toward midline of body posteriorly; long setae extending off parameres. Cuspi smaller, covered under parameres weakly paddle-shaped, slightly bent toward digiti; digiti as long as penis valves, weakly anvil-shaped; curved outward and covered with short peg-like teeth. Penis valves projecting.

Overall, body mostly smooth and shiny; erect setae shorter and sparser but pubescence as in worker caste. Head dark brown, mesosoma and gaster brown, antennae and legs yellowish brownish.

Type Material
Holotype (Major worker): India, Himachal Pradesh, Andretta, 32.0744°N 76.5856°E, 940m.a.s.l., 11.vi.2010, hand collecting (coll. Aijaz A. Wachkoo). Paratypes: 45 workers, 1 gyne and 6 males, with same data as holotype.

Etymology
The species is named for its polymorphic worker caste.