Crematogaster inflata

Specimens from Sabah were collected from secondary wet forest, in carton on a tree trunk, and from rainforest, on low vegetation. Heterick & Kitching (2022) collected this species in the canopy of a lowland dipterocarp forest in Brunei.

Identification
A member of the Crematogaster inflata species-group. Hosoishi and Ogata (2009) - The bicolored pattern of yellow and red-brown is distinctive and unique to this species. This coloration is possibly a model in Batesian mimicry with other arthropods (Maruyama et al. 2003; Ito et al., 2004).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore. Oriental Region: India, Thailand.

Nomenclature

 * . Crematogaster inflatus Smith, F. 1857a: 76, pl. 2, fig. 2 (w.) SINGAPORE, BORNEO (East Malaysia: Sarawak).
 * Type-material: lectotype worker (by designation of Hosoishi & Ogata, 2009b: 23), 4 paralectotype workers.
 * Type-locality: lectotype Singapore: “Sing. 27” (A.R. Wallace); paralectotypes: with same data, and paralectotypes Malaysia: Sarawak, “Sar.”, “Sar. 9” (A.R. Wallace).
 * [Note: Hosoishi & Ogata, 2009b: 23, record only lectotype + 4 paralectotypes; but original syntypes are 8 in number: 5 in OXUM, and 3 in BMNH.]
 * Type-depositories: BMNH, OXUM.
 * Santschi, 1928h: 128 (q.).
 * Combination in C. (Physocrema): Forel, 1912f: 220.
 * Status as species: Smith, F. 1858b: 136; Mayr, 1862: 767; Mayr, 1863: 404; Roger, 1863b: 37; Mayr, 1867a: 106 (redescription); Smith, F. 1871a: 329; Mayr, 1872: 153; Mayr, 1879: 680 (in key); Emery, 1887b: 466; Dalla Torre, 1893: 82; Emery, 1900d: 691; Forel, 1903a: 682; Bingham, 1903: 145; Wheeler, W.M. 1908d: 390; Forel, 1915a: 28; Viehmeyer, 1916a: 126; Wheeler, W.M. 1919e: 75; Emery, 1922e: 140; Santschi, 1928h: 128; Donisthorpe, 1932c: 450; Menozzi, 1932d: 6; Donisthorpe, 1941l: 226 (in key); Chapman & Capco, 1951: 103; Bolton, 1995b: 154; Jaitrong & Nabhitabhata, 2005: 19; Hosoishi & Ogata, 2009a: 5 (redescription); Hosoishi & Ogata, 2009b: 23 (redescription); Pfeiffer, et al. 2011: 45; Bharti, Guénard, et al. 2016: 36; Khachonpisitsak, et al. 2020: 90.
 * Senior synonym of moorei: Hosoishi & Ogata, 2009b: 23.
 * Distribution: India, Indonesia (Java, Kalimantan), Malaysia (Peninsula, Sabah, Sarawak), Myanmar, Philippines (Luzon), Singapore, Thailand.
 * moorei. Crematogaster (Physocrema) moorei Donisthorpe, 1941l: 225 (w.) PHILIPPINES (Luzon I.).
 * Type-material: holotype worker.
 * Type-locality: Philippines: Luzon, Bagnio, 25.ii.1920, BM1922.101 (A. Moore).
 * Type-depository: BMNH.
 * Status as species: Chapman & Capco, 1951: 98; Baltazar, 1966: 251; Bolton, 1995b: 158.
 * Junior synonym of inflata: Hosoishi & Ogata, 2009b: 23.

Worker
Hosoishi and Ogata (2009) - 0.86–1.08; HL 0.85–1.05; CI 101–103; SL 0.85–0.96; SI 89–98; EL 0.20–0.22; PW 0.61–0.66; WL 1.18–1.34; PSL 0; PtL 0.32–0.38; PtW 0.23–0.27; PtH 0.16–0.19; PpL 0.18–0.20; PpW 0.24–0.30; PtHI 46–50; PtWI 67–71; PpWI 139–147; WI 106–110 (Three workers measured).

Workers polymorphic in size.

Scape exceeding posterior corner of head even for large workers.

In lateral view, pronotum convex; mesonotum and propodeum forming a single convexity. Anterior margin of pronotal collar distinctly concave in dorsal view. Metanotal groove slightly convex in dorsal median portion, not so deep and situated almost in the same line with the posterior ridge of pronotum in lateral view; thorax not strongly constricted in middle in dorsal view. In dorsal view, no longitudinal rugulae connecting between mesonotum and propodeum; the boundary distinct except for median portion. Propodeal spiracle situated near the metapleural gland orifice, the distance between them about the same as the propodeal spiracle diameter. Propodeal spines absent.

Clypeus smooth and shining without longitudinal rugulae. Integument smooth and shining.

Standing pilosity sparse, some pairs on dorsal face of head and dorsal portion of mesonotum. Dorsal face of head with appressed setae. Clypeus with abundant short and long setae. Fourth abdominal tergite with abundant appressed setae.

Body bicolored with head, promesonotum, petiole, postpetiole, gaster and legs red-brown and with metanotal and propodeal area yellow.

Type Material
Hosoishi and Ogata (2009) - LECTOTYPE worker from SINGAPORE (left worker of TYPE HYM: 1016 3-4 / 5) (by present designation) and four paralectotype workers: one paralectotype worker from SINGAPORE  and three paralectotype workers from MALAYSIA: Sarawak, Borneo  [examined].

Crematogaster inflatus

Five worker syntypes in, 3 worker syntypes in. Labelled “Sar.” “Sar. 9.” and “Sing. 27.” Sarawak and Singapore are both recorded by Smith.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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 * Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
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