Nylanderia emmae

Identification
Williams and LaPolla (2016) - Based on both morphological (present study) and molecular data (Blaimer et al. 2015) we are able to move this species to Nylanderia. This species has deep and complete mesonotal and metanotal sutures, anteriorly-placed eyes, and macrosetae with thick setal bases all of which are characteristic of Nylanderia. This species was likely thought to be a Prenolepis because its elongate mesosoma appears to be constricted. However, this species does not have the depression in the dorsal surface of the mesonotum that is seen in Prenolepis species.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  emmae. Prenolepis emmae Forel, 1894c: 406 (footnote) (w.) CHINA (Hong Kong).
 * Combination in Prenolepis (Nylanderia): Emery, 1906b: 133.
 * Combination in Paratrechina (Euprenolepis): Emery, 1925b: 224.
 * Combination in Prenolepis: Brown, 1953h: 7.
 * [Note: Brown, 1953h: 7, wrongly rendered the name as P. geei; see Wheeler, W.M. 1930h: 80, for correspondence of data.]
 * Status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1921c: 542 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 364; Wu, J. & Wang, 1995: 136; Zhou, 2001b: 171.
 * Combination in Nylanderia: Williams & LaPolla, 2016: 246.

Worker
Williams and LaPolla (2016) - (n=9): CMC: 30–34; EL: 0.19–0.24; EW: 0.14–0.17; HL: 0.77–0.92; HLA: 0.33–0.40; HLP: 0.37–0.47; HW: 0.66–0.84; IOD: 0.44–0.48; LF1: 0.18–0.23; LF2: 0.09–0.14; LHT: 1.03–1.24; MMC: 2–3; MTW: 0.39–0.47; MW: 0.23–0.28; PDH: 0.30–0.38; PMC: 3–4; PrCL: 0.51–0.60; PrCW: 0.29–0.36; PrFL: 0.88–1.03; PrFW: 0.19–0.24; PTH: 0.29–0.38; PTL: 0.30–0.33; PTW: 0.17–0.21; PW: 0.48–0.54; SL: 1.09–1.35; TL: 2.64–3.49; WF1: 0.06–0.08; WF2: 0.06–0.07; WL: 1.14–1.41; BLI: 165–188; CI: 85–92; EPI: 82–90; FLI: 158–200; HTI: 142–155; PetHI: 91–100; PetWI: 62–68; PrCI: 56–61; PrFI: 22–25; REL: 24–27; REL2: 27–31; REL3: 40–49; SI: 158–165.

Yellow to light brown; cuticle of head lightly reticulate; cuticle of pronotum smooth and shiny; cuticle of mesonotum, metanotum, mesopleura, and propodeum with deep longitudinal striations; long, erect macrosetae with thick setal bases on head, pronotum, mesonotum, gaster, and legs; erect setae on scapes; macrosetae the same color as the rest of the cuticle; light, decumbent hairs on the dorsal face of the propodeum; head slightly longer than broad and oval in shape with indistinct posterolateral corners and a weakly convex posterior margin; compound eyes are positioned slightly anterior to the midline of the head (EPI < 100); compound eyes are moderately sized and convex, but do not surpass the lateral margins of the head in full-face view; mandibles with 6 teeth on the masticatory margin; cuticle of ectal surface of mandibles smooth and shiny; mesosoma is gracile; in profile view the dorsal surface of the mesonotum is flat and elongate; propodeum is highly domed with a rounded dorsal face; dorsal apex of petiole scale is sharply angled and forward-inclined; mesonotal and metanotal sutures are deep and complete.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Alcantara M. J., S. Modi, T. C. Ling, J. Monkai, H. Xu, S. Huang, and A. Nakamura. 2019. Differences in geographic distribution of ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) between forests and rubber plantations: a case study in Xishuangbanna, China, and a global meta-analysis. Myrmecological News 29: 135-145.
 * Fontanilla A. M., A. Nakamura, Z. Xu, M. Cao, R. L. Kitching, Y. Tang, and C. J. Burwell. 2019. Taxonomic and functional ant diversity along tropical, subtropical, and subalpine elevational transects in southwest China. Insects 10, 128; doi:10.3390/insects10050128
 * Guo X., Q. Lin, J. Cui, D. Gao, S. Xu, and Z. Sheng. 2014. Biodiversity and spatial distribution patterns of ant species in tea gardens of Chongqing. Chinese Journal of Eco-Agriculture DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1011.2014.31052
 * Ran H., and S. Y. Zhou. 2013. Checklist of Chinese Ants: Formicomorph Subfamilies ( Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (III). Journal of Guangxi Normal University : Natural Science Edition 31(1): 104-111.
 * Williams J. L., and J. S. LaPolla. 2016. Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the ant genus Prenolepis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 4200: 201-258.
 * Zhou S.-Y. 2001. Ants of Guangxi. Guangxi Normal University Press, Guilin, China, Guilin, China. 255 pp.