Anochetus leyticus

Identification
Zettel (2012) - TL 5.5-5.7 mm. Head with deeply emarginated vertex; longitudinal striation covering a large area on frons and vertex. Eye moderately large, glabrous. Mandible long, MdI = 73-75; shaft medianly with two edges, dorsal one smooth, ventral one minutely serrate; intercalary tooth absent. Pronotum with distinct longitudinal striation. Propodeum with transverse costulae. Petiole with narrow node in lateral aspect, its apex narrowly rounded when seen laterally and in anterior aspect; peduncle moderately developed. Gaster tergite 1 with sparse punctures. Whole dorsum with sparse setiferation.

Anochetus leyticus belongs to the A. risii species group as defined by Brown (1978). In his key this species goes to couplet 10, with Anochetus tua from West Malaysia and Anochetus incultus from Luzon Island. It differs from A. incultus by size and sculpture (see Philippines key). Anochetus tua is much larger (TL 7.6-8.2 mm vs. 5.5-5.7 mm) and has relatively large eyes and a thick petiolar node.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Philippines.

Nomenclature

 *  leyticus. Anochetus leyticus Zettel, 2012: 159, figs. 7-11 (w.) PHILIPPINES (Leyte I.).

Worker
Holotype: TL 5.64; HL 1.35; HW 1.20; CI 89; MdL 1.01; MdI 75; SL 1.22; SI 102; MsL 1.91; PnW 0.66; PtH 0.42; PtL 0.50; PtW 0.22. Measurements of paratype with smallest HW: TL 5.50; HL 1.34; HW 1.19; CI 89; MdL 0.99; MdI 74; SL 1.22; SI 103; MsL 1.85; PnW 0.64; PtH 0.44; PtL 0.47; PtW 0.21. Measurements of paratype with largest HW: TL 5.70; HL 1.38; HW 1.24; CI 90; MdL 1.03; MdI 75; SL 1.27; SI 102; MsL 1.92; PnW 0.66; PtH 0.44; PtL 0.51; PtW 0.22.

Colour: Medium brown; centre of head dorsum, mesosoma, and tergites 2-3 slightly infuscated; mandibles, antennae, tarsi, and apex of abdomen pale brown.

Structures: Head with moderately developed ocular and temporal prominences and deeply emarginated vertex; frontal striation extended posteriorly onto vertex, almost reaching nuchal carina. Eye medium-sized, glabrous. Mandible moderately long, stout, medial plane terminating in a large tooth, ventral edge of plane weakly serrate; intercalary tooth absent. Antenna long and slender; scape strongly curved, distal part narrowed; flagellum slender, antennomere 3 slightly shorter than antennomeres 2 and 4, following antennomeres steadily increasing in length.

Mesosoma slender. Disc of pronotum with coarse, longitudinally orientated costae. Mesonotum smooth, metanotum with longitudinal costae. Propodeum with 24-29 transverse costae, counted along midline. Sides of thorax mostly striate, but mesopleura smooth except for some, variably developed, short striae anteriorly and posteroventrally. Petiole with short peduncle and narrow node; its apex in lateral aspect narrowly rounded, in anterior aspect almost pointed. Gaster smooth and shiny except for sparse setae-bearing punctures.

Type Material
Holotype (worker, ) and six paratypes (workers,, ) from Leyte Island, Leyte Province, Baybay, slopes of Mt. Pangasugan, behind Leyte State University, banks of Calbiga-a River, 50-100 m a.s.l., 20.-21.III.2005, leg. H. Zettel & C.V. Pangantihon (# 422)

Etymology
This species is named after the island of origin, Leyte.