Three Crematogaster ant species, C. (Orthocrema) javanica Menozzi, C. (O.) myops Forel and C. (O.)masukoi sp. nov., share reduced compound eyes which characterizes them among Asian species of the subgenus Orthocrema. The new species is described based on material from Borneo. It can be distinguished from C. javanica and C. myops by its smooth surface of clypeus and acutely produced subpetiolar process. Reduced compound eyes and yellowish body suggest that these three species are subterranean.
The subgenus Physocrema of the genus Crematogaster is revised. Twelve species are recognized in the subgenus, of which two are new to science: C. (Physocrema) tanakai sp. nov. and C. (P.) yamanei sp. nov. An identification key based on the worker caste is provided. Taxonomic relationships between C. (P.) difformis and similar species are clarified. Crematogaster (P.) vacca Forel 1911 is raised to species level. The following new synonymies are proposed: C. (P.) inflata F. Smith 1857 = C. (P.) moorei Donisthorpe 1941 syn. nov.; C. (P.) mucronata Emery 1900 = C. (P.) fulmeki Forel 1922 syn. nov.; C. (P.) vacca Forel 1911 = C. (P.) stethogompha Wheeler 1919 syn. nov. = C. (P.) stethogompha detritinodis Wheeler 1919 syn. nov. Crematogaster (P.) onusta Stitz 1925 is referred to the subgenus Physocrema. C. tumidula Emery 1900 is transferred to the subgenus Oxygyne from Physocrema.
To understand the complex relationships that exist between ant assemblages and their habitats, we performed a self-organizing map (SOM) analysis to clarify the interactions among ant diversity, spatial distribution, and land use types in Fukuoka City, Japan. A total of 52 species from 12 study sites with nine land use types were collected from 1998 to 2012. A SOM was used to classify the collected data into three clusters based on the similarities between the ant communities. Consequently, each cluster reflected both the species composition and habitat characteristics in the study area. A detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) corroborated these findings, but removal of unique and duplicate species from the dataset in order to avoid sampling errors had a marked effect on the results; specifically, the clusters produced by DCA before and after the exclusion of specific data points were very different, while the clusters produced by the SOM were consistent. In addition, while the indicator value associated with SOMs clearly illustrated the importance of individual species in each cluster, the DCA scatterplot generated for species was not clear. The results suggested that SOM analysis was better suited for understanding the relationships between ant communities and species and habitat characteristics.
Weaver ant, Oecophylla smaragdina is distributed from India through SE Asia to North Australia including many tropical western pacific Islands. A recent phylogenetic study of O. smaragdina revealed the central Bangladesh population as SE Asian mainland clade despite of its geographical proximity to India. However, the sample analyzed was limited and the geographical border between the two groups has not been presented. In this study, several samples collected from western parts of Bangladesh have been used to examine the phylogenetic position. A total of 20 O. smaragdina colonies were sampled from 12 Districts during 2013 to 2014. Their haplotype and phylogenetic relationships were determined by analyzing mitochondrial Cytochrome b gene (Cytb) of 606 bp and Cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) of 775bp. Bayesian analysis inferred that the western parts of Bangladesh were occupied by Indian type, which is the first record in the country. The present study suggested that, although the Ganges river has no border effect, both Indian type and SE Asian types occur in Bangladesh.
The Asian members of the Crematogaster ranavalonae-group are revised and twelve species, including two new species, C. hashimi sp. n. and C. imperfecta sp. n. are recognized. The members are distinguished from the other Asian Crematogaster in having smooth, shiny bodies with short appressed setae on the surface. Crematogaster sikkimensis Forel, 1904 is raised to the species level, and the following new synonyms are established: C. aberrans Forel, 1892 = C. aberrans assmuthi Forel, 1913, syn. n. = C. aberrans inglebyi Forel, 1902, syn. n. = C. soror Forel, 1902, syn. n.; C. ebenina Forel, 1902 = C. ebenina corax Forel, 1902, syn. n. A key to the species based on the worker caste is provided.
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