Paratopula ceylonica

Paratopula ceylonica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Paratopula
Species:	P. ceylonica
Binomial name
Paratopula ceylonica (Emery, 1901) Specimen Labels
Synonyms
Leptothorax taylori Forel, 1902

Photo Gallery

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  Dealate queen. Photo by Manoj Vembayam.
• 

  Paratopula ceylonica queen. Photo by Martinho G. Marques.

Identification

Sheela (2008) - The main differences between Paratopula ceylonica and Paratopula intermedia (each numbered character is shown as the character state for P. ceylonica, a forward-slash, and a P. intermedia value). 1.) TL- 5.3mm / 6.8mm; 2.) Distance between propodeal spines at their base - 1.2 / 1.7x; 3.) Metasternal process at apex - rounded / tending to be hooked; 4.) Post petiole - broader than long / longer than broad.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Paratopula species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 22.675° to 22.675°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Philippines.
Oriental Region: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka (type locality), Taiwan.
Palaearctic Region: China.

Distribution based on AntMaps

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.

Biology

This species is found in grasslands where it feeds on dead cockroach bodies and bread pieces (Mohyuddin et al., 2020).

Castes

Queen

Images from AntWeb

Syntype of Paratopula ceylonica. Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0904714. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by MSNG, Genoa, Italy.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• ceylonica. Atopomyrmex ceylonicus Emery, 1901f: 114, fig. (q.) SRI LANKA.
  • Type-material: 2 syntype queens.
  • Type-locality: Sri Lanka: Negombo, 1899 (W. Horn).
  • Type-depository: MSNG.
  • [Misspelled as ceylonensis by Emery, 1912b: 104.]
  • Forel, 1913f: 196 (w.); Bolton, 1988b: 138 (m.).
  • Combination in Atopula: Emery, 1912b: 104; Emery, 1924d: 243;
  • combination in Leptothorax: Forel, 1916: 459;
  • combination in Paratopula: Wheeler, W.M. 1919e: 144; Bolton, 1988b: 138.
  • Status as species: Forel, 1903a: 698; Rothney, 1903: 98; Bingham, 1903: 190; Emery, 1912b: 104; Forel, 1913f: 196; Emery, 1924d: 243; Wheeler, W.M. 1929g: 61; Bernard, 1948: 177 (in key); Chapman & Capco, 1951: 118; Collingwood, 1962: 225; Baltazar, 1966: 254; Bolton, 1988b: 138 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 312; Lin & Wu, 2003: 64; Terayama, 2009: 174; Xu & Xu, 2011: 595 (in key); Guénard & Dunn, 2012: 49; Bharti, Guénard, et al. 2016: 41; Luo & Guénard, 2017: 10 (in key); Rasheed, et al. 2019: 433; Dias, R.K.S. et al. 2020: 80.
  • Senior synonym of taylori: Bolton, 1988b: 138; Bolton, 1995b: 312.
  • Distribution: China, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan.
• taylori. Leptothorax taylori Forel, 1902c: 228 (w.q.) INDIA (Odisha, West Bengal).
  • Type-material: 1 syntype worker, 1 syntype queen.
  • Type-localities: worker India: Orissa (Taylor), queen India: Barrackpore (Rothney).
  • Type-depository: MHNG.
  • Combination in Atopula: Forel, 1913f: 197; Emery, 1924d: 243;
  • combination in Leptothorax: Forel, 1916: 459;
  • combination in Paratopula: Bolton, 1988b: 138.
  • Status as species: Forel, 1903a: 698; Rothney, 1903: 98; Bingham, 1903: 216.
  • Subspecies of ceylonica: Forel, 1913f: 197; Emery, 1924d: 243; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 119.
  • Junior synonym of ceylonica: Bolton, 1988b: 138; Bolton, 1995b: 312.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Sheela (2008) - Described from a single queen, the following description is based on worker sampled in a sweep-net (Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, India. 13-iv-2006, Sheela, S. Reg. No. 10510/H3, specimen housed in the National Zoological Collections, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India).

TL-5.3 mm, HL-1.l8 mm, HW-O.98 mm, CI-83, SL-O.82 mm, SI-83, PW-O.65 mm, AL-1.66 mm, ED-O.24mm.

Colour: Golden yellow with scape, clypeus and legs lighter and mandibles darker but masticatory margin black; sparse, short, erect, brownish yellow hairs present on head, thorax and abdomen; mandibles, antennae, legs and gaster show a wide spread short appressed pubescence; flagellum of antennae, apex of coxae, trochanter and base of femur with a few short, decumbent setae. Head, thorax and abdomen uniformly rugose, reticulate; ground sculpture evenly punctate, conspicuous on head, thorax and petiole; mandibles, legs except coxae and gaster except base are smooth; coxae lightly punctate and base of gaster with longitudinal striations; whole insect shining.

Head: Mandibles with three teeth at apex, of which apical one acute and S or 6 ill-defined teeth towards base; c1ypeus longitudinally striate, convex; its anterior margin medially shallowly indented; frontal carinae not well defined; eyes prominent, lateral, placed in the middle, more anterior.

Thorax: Pronotal humeri almost rounded; pronotum (excluding collar) slightly broader than long; promesonotum shallowly convex; pro-mesonotal suture not distinct; meso-metanotal suture deeply impressed and base of propodeum convex and gradually sloping towards apex; spines slender, tips not sharp; slightly longer than distance between bases(6:5); metastemal process rounded.

Abdomen: Petiole node longer than its anterior peduncle; length and breadth of node subequal in dorsal view; post-petiole distinctly broader than long, 1.3 x breadth of petiole; gaster broadly oval.

Type Material

Sheela (2008) - Holotype female, SRI LANKA, Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Genoa. Leptothorax taylori: Syntype worker and female, INDIA: Orissa (Taylor), Barrakpur (Rothney Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève.

References

• Sheela, S. 2008. First record of the rare ant Paratopula ceylonica Wheeler (Hymentoptera:Formicidae) from Uttar Pradesh, India with a note to the genus. J. Exp. Zool. India 11(2): 423-425.
• Baltazar, C.R. 1966. A catalogue of Philippine Hymenoptera (with a bibliography, 1758-1963). Pacific Insects Monographs 8: 1-488. (page 254, listed)
• Bolton, B. 1988b. A review of Paratopula Wheeler, a forgotten genus of myrmicine ants (Hym., Formicidae). Entomol. Mon. Mag. 124: 125-143 (page 138, male described)
• Bolton, B. 1988b. A review of Paratopula Wheeler, a forgotten genus of myrmicine ants (Hym., Formicidae). Entomol. Mon. Mag. 124: 125-143 (page 138, Senior synonym of taylori)
• Cantone S. 2018. Winged Ants, The queen. Dichotomous key to genera of winged female ants in the World. The Wings of Ants: morphological and systematic relationships (self-published).
• Dias, R.K.S., Rajapaksa, R.P.K.C. 2017. Geographic records of subfamilies, genera and species of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the four climatic zones of Sri Lanka: A review. Journal of Science of the University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka 11, 23-45. (doi:10.4038/josuk.v11i2.7999).
• Emery, C. 1901h. Ameisen gesammelt in Ceylon von Dr. W. Horn 1899. Dtsch. Entomol. Z. 1901: 113-122 (page 114, fig. queen described)
• Emery, C. 1912b. Études sur les Myrmicinae. [I-IV.]. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 56: 94-105 (page 104, Combination in Atopula)
• Forel, A. 1913g. H. Sauter's Formosa-Ausbeute: Formicidae II. Arch. Naturgesch. (A)79(6 6: 183-202 (page 196, worker described)
• Forel, A. 1916. Fourmis du Congo et d'autres provenances récoltées par MM. Hermann Kohl, Luja, Mayné, etc. Rev. Suisse Zool. 24: 397-460 (page 459, Combination in Leptothorax)
• Khudadad, S., Rafi, M.A., Zia, A., Khan, M.S., Parveen, G., Sheikh, M.K., Naz, F., Qasim, M., Shah, S.W. 2021. Ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of District Mansehra, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Research 34: 664-671 (doi:10.17582/journal.pjar/2021/34.3.664.671).
• Luo, Y.Y., Guénard, B. 2016. Descriptions of a new species and the gyne in the rarely collected arboreal genera Paratopula and Rotastruma (Hymenopytera: Formicidae) from Hong Kong, with a discussion on their ecology. Asian Myrmecology 8: 1-16 (DOI:10.20362/am.008016).
• Mohyuddin, G., Bashir, A., Mahmood, A., Sharif, T., Waheed, I., Ahmed, S. 2020. Taxonomic studies of family (Formicidae: Hymenoptera) six genera from district Faisalabad Punjab Pakistan. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 8(1): 1384-1389.
• Rasheed, M.T., Bodlah, I., Fareen, A.G., Wachkoo, A.A., Huang, X., Akbar, S.A. 2019. A checklist of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Pakistan. Sociobiology 66(3), 426-439 (doi:10.13102/sociobiology.v66i3.4330).
• Wheeler, W. M. 1919f. The ants of Borneo. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 63: 43-147 (page 144, Combination in Paratopula)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Bolton B. 1988. A review of Paratopula Wheeler, a forgotten genus of myrmicine ants (Hym., Formicidae). Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 124: 125-143
• Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
• Collingwood C. A. 1962. Some ants (Hym. Formicidae) from north-east Asia. Entomologisk Tidskrift 83: 215-230.
• Dias R. K. S. 2002. Current knowledge on ants of Sri Lanka. ANeT Newsletter 4: 17- 21.
• Dias R. K. S. 2006. Current taxonomic status of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Sri Lanka. The Fauna of Sri Lanka: 43-52. Bambaradeniya, C.N.B. (Editor), 2006. Fauna of Sri Lanka: Status of Taxonomy, Research and Conservation. The World Conservation Union, Colombo, Sri Lanka & Government of Sri Lanka. viii + 308pp.
• Dias R. K. S., K. R. K. A. Kosgamage, and H. A. W. S. Peiris. 2012. The Taxonomy and Conservation Status of Ants (Order: Hymenoptera, Family: Formicidae) in Sri Lanka. In: The National Red List 2012 of Sri Lanka; Conservation Status of the Fauna and Flora. Weerakoon, D.K. & S. Wijesundara Eds., Ministry of Environment, Colombo, Sri Lanka. p11-19.
• Emery C. 1901. Ameisen gesammelt in Ceylon von Dr. W. Horn 1899. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift 1901: 113-122.
• Forel A. 1902. Myrmicinae nouveaux de l'Inde et de Ceylan. Rev. Suisse Zool. 10: 165-249.
• Forel A. 1903. Les Formicides de l'Empire des Indes et de Ceylan. Part X. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 14: 679-715.
• Forel A. 1913. H. Sauter's Formosa-Ausbeute: Formicidae II. Arch. Naturgesch. (A)79(6): 183-202
• Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
• Rasheed M. T., I. Bodlah, A. G. Fareen, A. A. Wachkoo, X. Huang, and S. A. Akbar. 2019. A checklist of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Pakistan. Sociobiology 66(3): 426-439.
• Sheela S., 2008. First record of the rare ant Paratopula ceylonica Wheeler (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Uttar Pradesh, India with a note to the genus. J. Exp. Zool. India 11(2): 423-425.
• Terayama M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University. Liberal Arts 17:81-266.
• Terayama Mamoru. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta, Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
• Terayama, M. 2009. A synopsis of the family Formicidae of Taiwan (Insecta; Hymenoptera). The Research Bulletin of Kanto Gakuen University 17: 81-266.
• Umair M., A. Zia, M. Naeem, and M. T. Chaudhry. 2012. Species composition of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Potohar Plateau of Punjab Province, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology 44(3): 669-705.
• Wheeler W. M. 1929. Ants collected by Professor F. Silvestri in Formosa, the Malay Peninsula and the Philippines. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della Reale Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura. Portici 24: 27-64.
• Xu Z. H., and G. L. Xu. 2011. A new species of the genus Paratopula Wheeler (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from Tibet. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 36(3): 595-57.