Nylanderia himalayana

Known from the Shivalik range of Northwest Himalaya. It appears to be rare and was collected underneath a stone from a non-forested region along the edge of Rewalsar Lake.

Identification
Wachkoo and Bharti (2015) - The uniform dark body color and a layer of pubescence resemble those of Nylanderia bourbonica, but N. himalayana can be easily distinguished by propodeum lower than remainder of dorsum in lateral view with dorsal face of propodeum shorter than declivitous face whilst in N. bourbonica propodeum is on the same plane to remainder of dorsum with dorsal face of propodeum about the same length as declivitous face. N. himalayana is characterized by a thick layer of pubescence hiding the sculpture of the body, whilst in N. bourbonica pubescence is relatively thin and does not hide the sculpture. In N. himalayana scape surpasses posterior margin by one-third their length and eyes distinctly occupy less than one-third of lateral cephalic margin whilst, in N. bourbonica scape surpasses posterior margin by two-fifths their length and eyes occupy one-third lateral cephalic margins.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  himalayana. Nylanderia himalayana Wachkoo & Bharti, 2015: 111, fig. 7 (w.) INDIA.

Worker
HL 0.66e0.74 mm; HW 0.58-0.66 mm; EL 0.16-0.18 mm; SL 0.66-0.73 mm; PW 0.43-0.48 mm; PrFL 0.55-0.63 mm; PrFW 0.15-0.18 mm; WL 0.77-0.87 mm. Indices: CI 88.33-92.31; SI 108.33-114.23; REL 23.88-25.00 (n = 5).

Head is subquadrate; slightly longer than wide, narrowed anteriorly, lateral margins strongly convex, posterior margin almost straight to convex with rounded posterolateral corners. Clypeus carinate in the middle; anterior clypeal margin weakly concave in middle. Eyes round, flattened to weakly convex, moderately large, covering approximately three-tenths of lateral cephalic margin; three small ocelli present. Antennae relatively shorter, scape surpasses posterior margin by about one-third their length.

Metanotal groove strongly developed, in lateral view interrupts the regular promesonotal convexity from propodeum; metanotal area long. Dorsal face of propodeum shorter than declivitous face; in lateral view, propodeum lower than remainder of dorsum; dorsally gently rounded, declivity steep. Petiole low triangular, inclined forward with posterior face longer than anterior face, dorsum rounded.

Overall cuticle dull and opaque covered with fine punctulae. Body covered by a dense layer of pubescence hiding sculpture, giving a pruinose appearance to the head and gaster, less so to the mesosoma; mesopleuron and propodeum smooth and shining. Macrosetae shorter on head, posterior to eyes and gaster, longer on anterior of head. Scape with scattered erect macrosetae and a dense layer of pubescence (SMC = 10-15). Pronotum and mesonotum with scattered erect to suberect macrosetae (PMC = 3-5; MMC = 2-4).

Body is uniformly dark brown.

Type Material
Holotype: worker, Rewalsar, Himachal Pradesh, India (1360 m, 31.6345_N 76.8343_E), 30 vi 2010, hand collecting (leg. AA Wachkoo). Paratypes: 4 workers, same data as holotype (PUAC, ).

Etymology
The species is named after the collection area, Himalaya.