Lepisiota pusaensis

Lepisiota pusaensis has been found at the base of the Ficus religiosa L. tree where they made a nest in soil with small entrance holes. The workers were slowly foraging on the tree trunk and ground around their nest. Workers are seen to be collecting dead dry insects and taking them to nest. Workers were also observed tending aphids on the grass, Bothriochloa sp. at IARI, New Delhi. (Harshana & Dey, 2022)

Identification
Lepisiota binghami differs from L. pusaensis based on the distribution of setae on body, size, and colouration. In L. pusaensis, the posterior margin of the head has 4–5 erect setae as compared to 2–3 erect setae in L. binghami. Mesosoma of L. pusaensis abundantly covered with erect setae while L. binghami have very less pilosity. L. pusaensis is a comparatively larger (HL 0.58–0.59, WL 0.83–0.85) species than L. binghami (HL 0.51–0.56, WL 0.69–0.76). The first gastral segment in L. binghami is yellowish-brown to brown while the remaining segments are black while L. pusaensis have completely dark gaster in most specimens. L. pusaensis distinctly differs from another similar species Lepisiota pulchella in the sculpture of the body. The head and pronotum of L. pulchella are reticulate-punctate whereas L. pusaensis has microreticulate sculpture. The gaster of L. pulchella is subopaque while shiny in L. pusaensis.

Lepisiota pusaensis was possibly misidentified as Lepisiota opaca in Wachkoo et al. (2021). Lepisiota pusaensis distinctly differs from L. opaca in the sculpture of the body. Lepisiota opaca is entirely dull with the reticulate-punctate sculpture on the head and mesosoma (Forel 1892) whereas the head of L. pusaensis is microreticulate and shiny; the dorsum of pronotum is microreticulate and subopaque, propleuron shiny.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 * . Lepisiota pusaensis Harshana & Dey, 2022: 9, fig. 2 (w.) INDIA (Delhi).

Type Material

 * Holotype worker. INDIA: Delhi: IARI (Pusa campus), 28°38ʹ18”N 77° 09ʹ07”E, 219 m, 13.XI.2021, Coll. A. Harshana.
 * Paratype workers. 11 workers with the same data as holotype; 3 workers, 17.VII.2010, Coll. Mir Samim Akhatar. (type specimens deposited in NPC, New Delhi)