Boudinot, B.E., Wachkoo, A.A. & Bharti, H.

The first ergatoid male of Platythyrea (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae), with contribution to colony labor suggested by observation and comparative morphology

The first ergatoid male for the ant genus Platythyrea is discovered and described. The male of P. sagei Forel, 1900, in addition to being apterous, is unique among Platythyrea species for bearing elongate scapes. In the field, males of P. sagei were observed leaving and returning to a nest with workers, some with debris in their mandibles. The male morphology of P. sagei is contrasted with the worker and with female / male sets for eight Platythyrea species. Although based on limited observation, a role in colonial labor for the ergatoid males is supported by the elongate scapes, anteroposteriorly long pronotum, and robust scapes. A lectotype of Platythyrea sagei is designated.

Open access, licensed under CC BY 4.0. © 2016 The Author(s).

Taxonomy, lectotype designation, morphology, colony life cycle, convergent evolution, winglessness.