Taxonomic revision of the Carebara oni species group, with descriptions of two new species from Vietnam (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae)

By

Matsuura, Kohei
Hosoishi, Shingo
Pham, Thai Hong

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-11-14

Original Publication

Deutsche entomologische Zeitschrift

Volume

72

Series / Issue

Issue: 2

Pages

377--393

Subjects

Ants , identification key , nest series , species group , subterranean , tropical Asia , Worker subcaste

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Berlin Nicolai'sche Verlags-Buchandlung 1881-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/dez.72.171173

 

Abstract

<br> The myrmicine genus<br> Carebara<br> is comprised of subterranean ants mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Based on morphological characters found in the major and minor worker subcastes, we established that the<br> Carebara oni<br> species group is comprised of three species:<br> C. eguchii<br> sp. nov.<br> ,<br> C. bifida<br> sp. nov.<br> , and<br> C. oni<br> (Terayama). The two new species were collected from Mt. Phansipan and Cuc Phuong National Park, respectively, in northern Vietnam. Members of this species group are distinguished from other congeners by the massive mesosoma in major workers, the pronounced median clypeal projections in minor workers, and the nine-segmented antennae and six-toothed mandibles in both worker subcastes. Herein, we describe the new species, provide diagnostic characters for the species group, and present a worker-based identification key to species.<br>