01_Subedi-1.indd UDC 595.796(541.35) FIRST RECORD OF THE ANT SUBGENUS ORTHONOTOMYRMEX OF THE GENUS CAMPONOTUS FROM NEPAL (HYMENOPTERA, FORMICIDAE) I. P. Subedi1*, P. B. Budha1, H. Bharti2, L. Alonso3, S. Yamane4 1Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal 2Department of Zoology and Environmental Sciences, Punjabi University, Patiala, India 3Global Wildlife Conservation, Austin, USA 4Professor Emeritus, Kagoshima University, Faculty of Science, Kagoshima, Japan *Corresponding author E-mail: ipsubedi@cdztu.edu.np I. P. Subedi (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3385-2018) P. B. Budha (https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0205-0979) First Record of the Ant Subgenus Orthonotomyrmex of the Genus Camponotus from Nepal (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Subedi, I. P., Budha, P. B., Bharti, H., Alonso, L., Yamane, S. — Th e ant subgenus Orthonotomyrmex Ashmead, 1906 of the genus Camponotus is reported for the fi rst time from Nepal. Five species from this subgenus are recognized as new records for Nepal, namely Camponotus mutilarius Emery, 1893, C. opaciventris Mayr, 1879, C. sericeus (Fabricius, 1798), C. lasiselene Wang & Wu, 1994 and C. selene (Emery, 1889). An identifi cation key to all known Nepalese species of Camponotus (Orthonotomyrmex) based on the worker caste is presented. K e y w o r d s : Ant survey, Himalaya, new record, pitfall, taxonomic notes. Introduction Camponotus Mayr, 1861 is the world largest ant genus comprising over 1053 species, 443 subspecies, and 31 fossil species (Bolton, 2021) with hundreds of undescribed taxa (AntWeb, 2021). Th is widespread genus is known from all biogeographical regions (Hölldobler & Wilson 1990; Bolton, 2021; AntWeb, 2021). In Nepal, only eight species belonging to fi ve subgenera have been formally recorded for this genus (Subedi et al., 2020). Th us, our knowledge of this genus in Nepal is incomplete, with many more species expected to be documented as additional ant surveys are undertaken. Zoodiversity, 55(4): 279–284, 2021 DOI 10.15407/zoo2021.04.279 Fauna and Systematics 280 I. P. Subedi, P. B. Budha, H. Bharti, L. Alonso, S. Yamane Orthonotomyrmex is one of the 45 subgenera of the genus Camponotus, with 18 species and 9 subspecies (AntWeb, 2021). Ashmead (1905) named the genus Orthonotus (type Formica sericea Fabr.) under the tribe Camponotini. Orthonotomyrmex is the replacement name for the junior homonym Orthonotus Ashmead, 1905 (Ashmead, 1906). Its subgeneric status was assigned by Forel (1913) and followed by subsequent authors (such as Wheeler, 1922; Emery, 1925; Bolton, 2003). Since then, this subgenus has been taxonomically neglected and there is little information about the subgenus in Nepal. Species level revision is essential to further our understanding of this unique and less studied group. Th e distribution of this subgenus is limited to the Afrotropics, India, Sri Lanka and Indochina (AntWiki, 2021). Orthonotomyrmex can be diagnosed by medium to small size; heavily built body; somewhat marked caste dimorphism; head large, wider than long, posteriorly truncated in majors and more or less rounded in minors; clypeus short with anterior lobe rounded, sometimes notched medially; mesosoma robust, with strong impression or notch anterior to propodeum or more or less rounded in workers; pronotum usually rounded; whole mesosomal dorsum marginate and pronotal shoulders extended into strong teeth; petiole nodiform, prominently rounded, coarsely punctate-foveolate; cuticle matte, oft en covered with coarse punctation (Emery, 1925). Here we provide taxonomic notes and distribution data for fi ve species of the subgenus Orthonotomyrmex based upon our collections, which are recorded in Nepal for the fi rst time. Further we present an identifi cation key for all known Nepalese species of Camponotus (Orthonotomyrmex) based on the worker caste. Material and methods Specimens were collected using pitfall trapping, vegetation beating, or hand collecting in 2013, 2019, 2020 and 2021 at ten diff erent sites in Nepal. Specifi c site locations are given in the results section below. Th e morphological examination of specimens was done with a Coslab MSZ-115 stereomicroscope. Digital images were taken by Samsung SM-J730F camera under the same microscope. Th e images were processed with Adobe Photoshop CS6. Specimens examined are deposited at the Central Department Zoology Museum of Tribhuvan University (CDZMTU). Our identifi cations are based on available keys and/or original description (see Results section) and comparison with type images available on AntWeb (http://www.antweb.org). Global distribution of the recorded species was taken from antmaps.org (Guenard et al., 2017). Results and discussion Th e ant subgenus Orthonotomyrmex is reported for the fi rst time from Nepal. Five species from this subgenus are recognized to be new records for Nepal, namely Camponotus mutilarius Emery, 1893, C. opaciventris Mayr, 1879, C. sericeus (Fabricius, 1798), C. lasiselene Wang & Wu, 1994 and C. selene (Emery, 1889). Th e distribution of each species and taxonomic notes are given below: Camponotus mutilarius Emery 1893 (fi g. 1) M a t e r i a l s e x a m i n e d . Nepal: Baglung, Kalika Bhagwati Temple [28.25548N 83.61359E], hand collection, 7.03.2013, 1 } worker (IP Subedi) (CDZMTU); Darchula, Bet, Sal forest [29.7693N 80.40364 E], 734–819 m, 8.10.2020, 2 } workers (PB Budha & P Shrestha) (CDZMTU); Lamjung, Ngyadi, Bombax ceiba [28.32311 N 84.40139 E], 962 m, 1.10.2020, 2 } workers (PB Budha & B Shrestha) (CDZMTU). D i s t r i b u t i o n . Nepal (new record), India, Myanmar, Th ailand, Vietnam. T a x o n o m i c n o t e s . Th is species is diagnosed by the red thorax and distinct red blotch on either side of the fi rst gastral segment (Collingwood, 1962). Our worker specimens from Nepal well agree with the re- description of the species in Wachkoo (2015), and the colour pattern seems constant in Nepalese specimens. Th is species closely resembles C. wasmanni but can be diagnosed by the presence of reddish mesosoma, petiole and fi rst gastral tergite. Fig. 1. Camponotus mutilarius. 281First Record of the Ant Subgenus Orthonotomyrmex of the Genus Camponotus from Nepal Camponotus opaciventris Mayr, 1879 (fi g. 2) M a t e r i a l s e x a m i n e d . Nepal: Chitwan, Maize Research Farm, Rampur [27.65397 N 84.35666 E], 175 m, hand collection, 09.03.2013, 1  } worker (IP Subedi) (CDZMTU); Dang, Chhilikot hill [28.1489 N 82.4010 E], 800 m, pitfall trap, 23.10.2019, 3  } workers (K Chaudhary) (CDZMTU). D i s t r i b u t i o n . Nepal (new record), Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka. T a x o n o m i c n o t e s . Th e worker has a robust body, coarse sculpture in the head and mesosoma; the pubescence of the gaster is short, sparse and much lighter in colour than C. sericeus, so that the extremely dense, very fi ne, thimble-like punctures are visible without removing hair. Our identifi cation is based on the worker description in Mayr (1879), key in Bharti & Wachkoo (2014) and taxon discussion in Wachkoo & Akbar (2016). Th is species is very similar in size, shape and colour of the body, and pilosity (with protruding hairs) to C. sericeus (Mayr, 1879), but is diff erent from the latter in the condition of pubescence on the body, especially on the gaster (see ‘Taxonomic notes’ under C. sericeus). Camponotus sericeus (Fabricius, 1798) (fi g. 3) M a t e r i a l s e x a m i n e d . Nepal: Sarlahi, Sagarnath [26.99428 N 85.67252 E], 115 m, Eucalyptus camaldulensis plantation, 21.10.2020, 2 } workers (B Shrestha & T Sherpa); Tanahun, Ratanpur [28.08777  N 84.39275  E], 859 m, Champ (Magnolia champaca) plantation, 29.11.2020, 1  } worker (PB Budha & P Shrestha). D i s t r i b u t i o n . Nepal (new record), India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Th ailand, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Ivory coast, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Nigeria, Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Congo, Zaire, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa. T a x o n o m i c n o t e s . Th e worker has a robust body, coarse sculpture on the head and mesosoma; the gaster is covered by thick, apprised, golden mossy pubescence, so that cuticular sculpture is not visible without removing hair. We identifi ed our materials as C. sericeus based on the key in Ionescu-Hirsch (2009) and taxon discussion in Wachkoo & Akbar (2016). Th is species closely resembles C. opaciventris but can be distinguished from the latter by the gaster having a dense layer of pubescence (Wachkoo & Akbar, 2016). Camponotus lasiselene Wang & Wu, 1994 (fi g. 4) M a t e r i a l s e x a m i n e d . Nepal: Kathmandu, Ranibari Community Forest [27.729444 N 85.3205555 E], 1310 m, pitfall collection, 13–15.10.2019, 1 } worker (IP Subedi, RP Pokhrel, S Subedi & A Subedi) (CDZMTU); idem, hand collection, 14.04.2021, 2 } workers (IP Subedi, I Pandit & A Subedi) (CDZMTU). Fig. 2. Camponotus opaciventris. Fig. 3. Camponotus sericeus. 282 I. P. Subedi, P. B. Budha, H. Bharti, L. Alonso, S. Yamane D i s t r i b u t i o n . Nepal (new record), China, Th ailand, Vietnam. T a x o n o m i c n o t e s . Our worker specimen has an opaque black body with extremely abundant whitish short hairs, brownish red mandibles, antennae and tarsus, square-shaped head, short, broad and dorsally margined alitrunk, pronotum with acute margin, two plier-shaped propodeal spines and large, cylindrical gaster. Th e specimen was identifi ed as C. lasiselene based on the species description and key in Wang & Wu (1994). C. lasiselene is very close to C. selene in the color, shape and sculpture of the body but has abundant whitish erect hair on the body (Wang & Wu, 1994). Camponotus selene (Emery, 1889) (fi g. 5) M a t e r i a l s e x a m i n e d . Nepal: Kathmandu, Tribhuvan University Campus, Kirtipur [27.68250 N 85.284166 E], 1320 m, pitfall collection, 9-11.05.2019, 2 } workers (IP Subedi & S Adhikari) (CDZMTU); Sundarijal forest, Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park [27.77139N 85.42639E], 1600 m, hand collection, 10.10.2020, 2 } workers (IP Subedi) (CDZMTU). D i s t r i b u t i o n . Nepal (new record), India, China, Myanmar. T a x o n o m i c n o t e s . Our worker specimens have an opaque black body with few hairs, square-shaped head, short, broad and dorsally margined alitrunk, pronotum with acute margin, two plier- shaped propodeal spines and large, broad, cylindrical gaster. Our material was identifi ed as C. selene based on the key in Wang & Wu (1994). It is closely related to C. lasiselene in color, shape and sculpture but has sparsely distributed short hair. Key to the Nepalese species of Camponotus (Orthonotomyrmex) (workers) (Th e species wasmanni is included for comparison though it is not reported from Nepal.) 1. Propodeum with two plier-shaped spines, petiole very thick and is truncated posteriorly in profi le view with concave dorsal face. ....................................................................................................................................2 — Propodeum without plier-shaped spines, petiole nodiform and is knob-like in profi le with uniform anteroposterior width and rounded dorsal face. ............................................................................................ 3 2. Pilosity sparse. ......................................................................................................................................... C. selene — Pilosity abundant. .............................................................................................................................. C. lasiselene 3. Pronotum dentate; body very densely pilose; hind tibia without spiny bristles on ventral margin. ........ 4 — Pronotum edentate; body sparsely pilose; hind tibia with spiny bristles on ventral margin. ....................5 4. Mesosoma and petiole reddish; distinct red blotch present on either side of the fi rst gastral segment. ............................................................................................................................................ C. mutilarius — Entirely black in colour. ................................................................................................................ C. wasmanni 5. Gastral pubescence thick, apressed, golden mossy. ....................................................................... C. sericeus — Gastral pubescence short, sparse and much lighter in colour. .............................................. C. opaciventris Fig. 4. Camponotus lasiselene. Fig. 5. Camponotus selene. 283First Record of the Ant Subgenus Orthonotomyrmex of the Genus Camponotus from Nepal Conclusions Th e ant subgenus Orthonotomyrmex along with its fi ve species, namely Camponotus mutilarius, C. opaciventris, C. sericeus, C. lasiselene and C. selene are recorded for the fi rst time from Nepal. With the addition of these fi ve species, the number of Camponotus species known from Nepal raises to 13. However, many more species are expected to be recorded with the accomplishment of future fi eld surveys in the country. Authors acknowledge the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (835/075-76eco75, 713/076-77eco65) and Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park offi ce (311/075-76, 247/2076-77) for providing ant collection permission inside the national park. We are thankful to A. Subedi, I Pandit, T Sherpa, RP Pokhrel, K Chaudhary, S Subedi, P Shrestha, and B Shrestha for assisting in collection of ants during our surveys in diff erent sites. 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