New records of ant taxa (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in four subfamilies from Sri Lanka.

Abstract

Ants belonging to 11 subfamilies have been recorded from Sri Lanka. In subfamily Amblyoponinae two genera, Stigmatomma and Myopopone, were previously known from the country. We report here new records of two genera and four species to Sri Lanka, deposited at the ant repository of the first author’s Department. Ants were identified using a Low Power Stereo-microscope at suitable magnifications with reference to relevant literature. A Prionopelta Mayr, 1866 worker in amblyoponinae was identified in the samples collected by soil sifting in November, 2004 from “Pompekelle” (PF), Ratnapura. Among the amblyoponines, Prionopelta is characterized by the possession of narrowly triangular mandibles with only 3 teeth in the masticatory margin, with the smallest median tooth; no space between the masticatory margins and clypeus when mandibles are fully closed. Dorylinae was redefined by amalgamating several subfamilies and resurrecting some generic names recently. Specimens of the doryline genera, Aenictus, Dorylus and Cerapachys recorded previously from Sri Lanka were re-examined using a Low Power Stereo-microscope with reference to the recent resurrection of generic names. Lioponera Mayr, 1879 was identified among the doryline workers collected from Kumbukwewa Forest, Kurunegala District in February, 2010 and a coconut plantation in Ihakuluwewa, Polonnaruwa District in November, 2008. Both genera are widely distributed across tropics but this the first record of Prionopelta and Lioponera to Sri Lanka. the first record of the genus to the country. Amongst dorylines, Lioponera has a pair of compound eyes and 12-segmented antennae and lacks the promesonotal suture; mesosoma is distinctly marginate dorso-laterally, mesotibia has a single spur and the metacoxa has a postero-dorsal cuticular flange that forms a vertical lamella. Also, ant species, Stigmatomma belli in subfamily Amblyoponinae collected from PF in March, 2004, Ooceraea alii (Bharti & Akbar, 2013) in subfamily Dorylinae collected from a coconut plantation in Ihakuluwewa, Polonnaruwa District in November, 2008, Camponotus opaciventris Mayr, 1879 in subfamily Formicinae collected from Watinapaha, Gampaha District in April, 2017 and Protanilla concolor Xu, 2002 in subfamily Leptanillinae collected from Anuradhapura Sanctuary in Anuradhapura District were identified as new species records to Sri Lanka.