Cladomyrma nudidorsalis

This species has been collected from Drypetes longifolia and Ryparosa fasciculata. Cladomyrma nudidorsalis seems to be much less common than the syntopic Cladomyrma petalae, but this is based on the eclectic set of field collections and existing specimen records gathered for this study. (Agosti et al. 1999)

Identification
Agosti et al. (1999) placed Cladomyrma species into two groups based on the shape of the queen's petiole, raised (an erect node or scale) or depressed (dorsally truncate and low). Cladomyrma nudidorsalis belongs to the depressed petiole group.

This species is easily recognized in the queen by the lack of erect hairs on the dorsum of the alitrunk and the very short hairs on the gastral tergites, unique characters within the genus. However, other queen characters are very similar to those of Cladomyrma petalae (e.g., size, body color, petiole, pubescence), and the distinction from C. petalae is mainly based on the difference of the distribution of setae, a rather variable character in C. petalae. Another trait may prove to be of importance: the workers of C. nudidorsalis tend to be of a lighter body color than C. petalae, but a larger sample size is needed to assess possible variation.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia.

Nomenclature

 *  nudidorsalis. Cladomyrma nudidorsalis Agosti, Moog & Maschwitz, 1999: 13, figs. 15, 27 (s.w.q.) WEST MALAYSIA.

Worker
Major worker. AL 0.90–1.14, HL 0.94–1.14, HW 0.81–0.94, EL 0.18–0.22, SL 0.44–0.54, CI 86–92, EI 19–22, SI 49–54 (n 5 4).

Small body size; clypeus angulate with longitudinal striae; metapleural gland orifice small; body color brown with mandibles and other appendages slightly lighter colored; gastral pubescence long and dense.

Minor worker. AL 0.76–0.88, HL 0.67–0.76, HW 0.52–67, EL 0.13–0.16, SL 0.36–0.40, CI 78–90, EI 23–25, SI 54–69 (n = 7). Small body size; metapleural gland orifice small; body color brown to light yellowish brown; gastral pubescence long and dense.

Queen
Queen. AL 2.20–2.40, HL 1.38–1.58, HW 1.18–1.26, EL 0.46–0.49, SL 0.62–0.68, CI 80–86, EI 39, SI 53–54 (n = 2). Holotype: AL 2.40, HL 1.56, HW 1.24, EL 0.50, SL 0.70, CI 86, EI 39, SI 53.

Clypeus gently rounded in profile, otherwise slightly longitudinally striate laterally; head uniformly yellowish brown; dorsum of alitrunk without any erect hairs; metapleural gland orifice small, with a bunch of large setae in front of it; petiole low, dorsally truncated; gastral tergites 2 to 4 with erect hairs only on the posterior margin; erect hairs on gastral tergite 1 only; in the anterior face and along the posterior margin; body color bright yellowish brown with posterior parts of tergites black.

Type Material
Holotype: W-MALAYSIA, Perak, Gerik, Lake Temenggor, Belum, 3/1/1994, Joachim Moog, 94-086, ex: Ryparosa fasciculata, alt.: ca 650 m, colony size small,. Paratypes: W-MALAYSIA. Pahang, Fraser’s Hill, 2/22/1994, Joachim Moog, 94-070, ex: Drypetes longifolia, alt.: ca. 850 m, colony size: 660 worker in total,, , , and collections of the others.