Prenolepis subopaca Emery 1900, stat. nov.
Creators: name: Williams, Jason L.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Formicidae
Prenolepis
Prenolepis subopaca

description: Prenolepis subopaca Emery, 1900, stat. nov.
(Figs 118–120)
Prenolepis jerdoni subopaca Emery, 1900: 699 (w.). Holotype worker, INDONESIA: Sumatra, Si-Rambé, 01.xii.1890 (E. Modigliani) (MSNG: CASENT0905792) [examined].
Worker diagnosis. Gracile with elongate legs (HTI> 185), antennae (SI> 185), and mesosoma (BLI> 175); in profile view, the mesosoma is especially slender and has a distinct shape, with the propodeum much taller than the pronotum (Fig 27); no erect macrosetae on the propodeum; petiole is narrow and elongate (PetWI <55); dorsal surface of pronotum, propodeum, and gaster covered in fine, dense pubescence; scale of petiole is rounded at its apex (Fig 56).
Most similar species. P. jacobsoni, P. jerdoni, P. naoroji
Morphology. Worker. Measurements (n=17): CMC: 7–18; EL: 0.24–0.31; EW: 0.18–0.26; HL: 0.71–0.98; HLA: 0.38–0.50; HLP: 0.25–0.33; HW: 0.58–0.85; IOD: 0.42–0.53; LF1: 0.21–0.28; LF2: 0.15–0.20; LHT: 1.17–1.80; MMC: 0–1; MTW: 0.40–0.51; MW: 0.24–0.38; PDH: 0.29–0.43; PMC: 2–4; PrCL: 0.50–0.69; PrCW: 0.24–0.35; PrFL: 0.92–1.35; PrFW: 0.18–0.25; PTH: 0.29–0.43; PTL: 0.44–0.56; PTW: 0.21–0.30; PW: 0.48–0.60; SL: 1.23– 1.67; TL: 2.74–4.29; WF1: 0.06–0.09; WF2: 0.06–0.08; WL: 1.04–1.59; BLI: 176–206; CI: 80–87; EPI: 150–160; FLI: 135–146; HTI: 202–222; PetHI: 95–102; PetWI: 49–53; PrCI: 48–53; PrFI: 17–21; REL: 30–34; REL2: 35–41; REL3: 54–62; SI: 188–214.
Medium to dark brown; entire cuticle finely reticulate and dull; abundant decumbent setae on scapes and legs; very long, erect macrosetae on head, mesosoma, and gaster; no erect macrosetae on propodeum; fine and dense pubescence covering the dorsal surface of the pronotum, propodeum, and gaster; head slightly longer than broad and oval in shape with indistinct posterolateral corners and a convex posterior margin; eyes large and strongly convex, surpassing the lateral margins of the head in full-face view; torulae do not touch the posterior border of the clypeus; clypeus strongly medially convex and without prominent anterolateral lobes (Fig 50); mandibles with 5–7 teeth (usually 6) on the masticatory margin; ectal surface of mandibles smooth and shiny; metatibia relatively elongate (HTI> 185); in profile view, propodeum is much taller than pronotum and domed with a rounded dorsal face (Fig 27); petiole is narrow and elongate (PetWI <55) with a rounded dorsal apex of the scale (Fig 56).
Notes. This species is most similar to P. jerdoni, but can be distinguished by its finely reticulate and dull cuticle and thick patches of pubescence on the dorsal surface of the pronotum, propodeum, and gaster. Prenolepis subopaca has very large compound eyes that are similar to those of P. naoroji, but P. naoroji has a distinct light blue cuticular iridescence and a shorter petiole than P. subopaca.
Other material examined. INDONESIA: Teluk Kabah Kutai N.P., 17.ix.1993 (S. Yamane); MALAYSIA: Sabah, Mt. Kinabalu N.P., 6.03N 116.32E, 17.x.1978 (B.B. Lowery); Sabah, Mt. Kinabalu N.P., Poring Hot Springs, 560m, 13.vii.1995 (C.A. Brühl); Sabah, Mt. Kinabalu N.P., 1500m, 09.x.1997 (T. Kikuta); Sabah, Crocker Range N.P., Mahua Waterfall, 1000m, 05.xi.2000 (S. Yamane); Sarawak, Sedong, Kampong Tapuh, 300–450m, 10.vii.1958 (T.C. Maa); Sarawak, Semengoh Forest Reserve, 1–4.vi.1968 (R.W. Taylor); Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Universiti Malaya, 10–12.vi.1996 (S.L. Heydon); Tenompok, 13.ii.1959 (T.C. Maa) SINGAPORE: Bukit Timah, 50m, 1°21'N 103°47'E, 7.iv.1989 (P.S. Ward); nr. Sambawang, 18.vi.1967 (D.H. Murphy). In: ANIC, MCZC, USNM.
description: Published as part of Williams, Jason L., 2016, Taxonomic revision and phylogeny of the ant genus Prenolepis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), pp. 201-258 in Zootaxa 4200 (2) on pages 242-244, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4200.2.1, http://zenodo.org/record/182052