Furcotanilla, a New Genus of the Ant Subfamily Leptanillinae from China with Descriptions of Two New Species of Protanilla and P. rafflesi Taylor (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Zheng-Hui Xu

doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v59i2.612

Abstract

A new genus of the ant subfamily Leptanillinae, Furcotanilla gen. nov., discovered in southwestern China is described. The new genus is distributed in the Oriental region and belongs to the tribe Anomalomyrmini of Leptanillinae. A key to the 4 known genera of Leptanillinae of the world based on the worker caste is provided. Two new species of Protanilla collected from southwestern China, P. gengma sp. nov. and P. tibeta sp. nov., are described. The type-species of Protanilla, P. rafflesi Taylor, is also described based on the AntWeb images. A key to the 7 known species of Protanilla of the world based on worker and queen castes is prepared.

Highlights

After the establishment of Protanilla Taylor and Anomalomyrma Taylor (Bolton, 1990, 1994), 6 new species of Protanilla were described in the world (Bolton, 1995, 2011; Xu, 2002; Xu & Zhang, 2002; Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2006; Terayama, 2009)
In order to understand the differentiation between the new genus and other ones, a key to the 4 known genera of Leptanillinae of the world based on the worker caste is provided
After a re-observation of the species, I realized that P. furcomandibula represented a new genus of Leptanillinae, Furcotanilla gen

Summary

INTRODUCTION

After the establishment of Protanilla Taylor and Anomalomyrma Taylor (Bolton, 1990, 1994), 6 new species of Protanilla were described in the world (Bolton, 1995, 2011; Xu, 2002; Xu & Zhang, 2002; Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2006; Terayama, 2009). Borowiec et al (2011) described 2 new species of Anomalomyrma from the Phillipines and Malaysia, and the first discovery of the worker caste has provided sufficient knowledge for the identification of Anomalomyrma. Nov., based on the type species Protanilla furcomandibula Xu et Zhang (2002) from southwestern China is erected. In order to understand the differentiation between the new genus and other ones, a key to the 4 known genera of Leptanillinae of the world based on the worker caste is provided. The type species of Protanilla, P. rafflesi Taylor, is described based on the AntWeb images. A key to the 7 known species of Protanilla of the world based on worker and queen castes is prepared

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Discussion