Sains Malaysiana 40(4)(2011): 301–304

Anochetus maryatiae, a New Species of Ponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

(Anochetus maryatiae, Satu Spesies Baru daripada Ponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae))

K.I. Nuril Aida & A.B. Idris*

Centre for Insect Systematics, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

43600 Bangi, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

Received: 19 June 2010 / Accepted: 15 July 2010

ABSTRACT

Anochetus maryatiae, a new species of Formicidae from the subfamily Ponerinae, tribe Ponerini from Ulu Gombak was described and illustrated. This ant genus was last studied in Malaysia by Brown in 1978. Observations were made on morphometric characters which included parameter measurements of total length, head length, head width, mandible length, scape length, antenna length, maximum eye length, oculomandibular distance, funicular length segment 1 to 4, pronotum width, propodeum height, petiole length, petiole height, dorsal petiole width, cephalix index and mandibular index. It was followed by a brief diagnosis, description of morphological structure, microsculpture, pilosity and discussion. Although it has resemblance with Anochetus tua, it could be easily distinguished from other species in having reticulate pronotum. This is the only species from Malaysia with such microsculpture on the pronotum. In addition to that, A. maryatie varies with A. tua in having smaller total length, less than 7.5 mm and lighter colour.

Keywords: Ants; Anochetus; Formicidae; Malaysia; Ponerinae; Ponerini

ABSTRAK

Satu spesies baru Formicidae iaituAnochetus maryatiae daripada subfamili Ponerinae dan tribus Ponerini yang dijumpai di Ulu Gombak telah dikenalpasti dan diperihalkan. Kali terakhir genus semut ini dikaji ialah pada tahun 1978. Pemerhatian dilakukan pada ciri-siri morfologi termasuklah ukuran-ukuran parameter jumlah panjangnya, panjang kepala, lebar kepala, panjang mandibel, panjang skap, panjang antena, panjang maksimum mata, jarak okulomandibel, panjang funikul pada segmen 1 hingga 4, lebar pronotom, ketinggian propodeum, panjang petiol, ketinggian petiol, lebar dorsal petiol, indeks cephaliks dan indeks mandibul. Ia diikuti oleh diagnosis ringkas, penghuraian struktur morfologi, mikroskulptur, pilositi dan perbincangan. Walaupun A. maryatiae seakan-akan serupa denganAnochetus tua, ia boleh dibezakan daripada spesies lain kerana ia mempunyai pronotum yang retikulat. Ia merupakan satu spesies yang mengandungi mikroskulptur pada pronotum. Selain itu A. maryatiaeberlainan dengan A. tuakerana A. tuamempunyai panjang badan yang lebih pendek iaitu kurang daripada 7.5 mm dan berwarna lebih cerah.

Kata kunci: Anochetus; Formicidae; Malaysia; Ponerinae; Ponerini; semut

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*Corresponding author; email: idrisgh@ukm.my