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| Recurvidris lekakuli
Jaitrong, Tokeeree & Pitaktunsakul, 2019
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Abstract
Recurvidris Bolton, 1992 is a small myrmicine genus of the tribe Crematogastrini. Until now, eleven species are known in this genus from Asia. A new species, Recurvidris lekakuli sp. n., is here described from Thailand based on the worker caste. The type series of the new species was collected from leaf litter in a dry evergreen forest. A key to the Asian species of Recurvidris based on the worker caste is provided.
Keywords: Formicidae, ants, Recurvidris, new species, taxonomy, Thailand
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| Figures 1–5. Recurvidris lekakuli sp. n., holotype worker (THNHM-I-01219) 1 body in profile 2 head in full-face view 3 body in dorsal view 4 mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole in profile 5 right mandible showing mandibular dentition. |
Recurvidris lekakuli sp. n.
Diagnosis: Head in full-face view round, almost as long as broad; masticatory margin of mandible with four sharp teeth, fourth (basal) tooth almost as large as third tooth; basal margin with a small tooth; propodeal declivity lacking infradental lamella or ridge linking propodeal spine to metapleural lobe; head, promesonotum, propodeum, petiolar node, postpetiole and gaster entirely smooth and shiny; mesopleuron and peduncle of petiole superficially reticulate with slightly smooth and shiny interspaces; propodeal dorsum with a pair of very short appressed hairs in front of spiracles.
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| Figure 6. Type locality of Recurvidris lekakuli sp. n. at Ban Sahakhon Nikhom, Kanchanaburi Province, Thong Phaphum District, West Thailand, dry evergreen forest. |
Etymology: The specific name is dedicated to the late Dr. Boonsong Lekakul, who was the most excellent specialist in zoological sciences in Thailand and helped and inspired many young biologists.
Bionomics: The type series was collected from leaf litter on the forest floor in a dry evergreen forest (Figure 6) near a stream.
Distribution: Recurvidris lekakuli has been known only from the type locality. The most closely related species, R. chanapaithooni was recorded from eastern and southern Thailand (Jaitrong and Wiwatwitaya 2015). This species is very probably sympatric with R. lekakuli in at least the dry evergreen forest in western and/or southern Thailand.
Weeyawat Jaitrong, Yuppayao Tokeeree and Piyaporn Pitaktunsakul. 2019. A New Species of the Ant Genus Recurvidris Bolton, 1992 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) from Thailand. ZooKeys. 830: 53-61. DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.830.31147
