Revision of Chinese species of the ant genus Parasyscia Emery, 1882 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dorylinae) Author Chen, Zhilin 0000-0001-6564-1528 Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin 541004, China. & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology (Guangxi Normal University), Guilin 541004, China. & chenzhilin 35 @ 163. com; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0001 - 6564 - 1528 Author Liang, Cuijun 0000-0002-4558-4244 Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin 541004, China. & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology (Guangxi Normal University), Guilin 541004, China. & 978563629 @ qq. com; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 4558 - 4244 978563629@qq.com Author Du, Congcong Key Laboratory of Ecology of Rare and Endangered Species and Environmental Protection (Guangxi Normal University), Ministry of Education, Guilin 541004, China. & Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology (Guangxi Normal University), Guilin 541004, China. text Zootaxa 2022 2022-10-20 5196 3 301 330 journal article 171223 10.11646/zootaxa.5196.3.1 56552faf-90c4-4db6-bfad-44abaa145bd1 1175-5326 7234963 AC077DDE-B1ED-4546-B8EB-2AE5AB57C083 Key to Asian species of Parasyscia based on the worker caste Notes. We follow Bharti & Akbar (2013) and treat P. keralensis (Karmaly, et al , 2012) as a species inquirenda, thus excluding it from this key. 1. Eye degenerate, small, its maximum diameter smaller than or equal to the width of basal funicular segment, not breaking the lateral margins of head ( Fig. 1A–B )....................................................................... 2 -. Eye large and protruding, its maximum diameter two times more than the width of basal funicular segment, breaking lateral margins of head ( Fig. 1C–D )............................................................................ 7 FIGURE 1. Head in full-face view. P. piochardi (From https://www.antweb.org, CASENT0281973, imaged by Shannon Hartman) (A), P. wittmeri (From https://www.antweb.org, paratype, CASENT0902708, imaged by Zach Lieberman) (B), P. muiri (Ant Image Database, image by Gary D. Alpert) (C), P. fossulata (from https://www.antweb.org, syntype, FOCOL0797, imaged by Christiana Klingenberg) (D). 2. Mid-dorsal portion of mesosoma smooth and shiny, without puncta ( Fig. 2A )...................................... 3 -. Mid-dorsal portion of mesosoma punctate ( Fig. 2B ).......................................................... 4 FIGURE 2. Mesosoma in dorsal view. P. piochardi (From https://www.antweb.org CASENT0281973, imaged by Shannon Hartman) (A), P. reticulata (imaged by Zhilin Chen) (B). 3. Maximum diameter of eye equal to the basal width of scape; ventral margin of subpetiolar process straight; in lateral view petiolar node subrectangular, the front and the back parallel ( Fig. 3A )................... P. wittmeri ( Collingwood, 1985 ) -. Maximum diameter of eye smaller than the basal width of scape; ventral margin of subpetiolar process concave; in lateral view petiolar node trapezoid, with top narrower than bottom ( Fig. 3B )............................ P. piochardi Emery, 1882 FIGURE 3 . Body in lateral view. P. wittmeri (From https://www.antweb.org, paratype, CASENT0902708, imaged by Zach Lieberman) (A), P. piochardi (From https://www.antweb.org, CASENT0281973, imaged by Shannon Hartman) (B). 4. Lateral surface of head and mesosoma densely and coarsely reticulate ( Fig. 4A ).................................... 5 -. Lateral surface of head and mesosoma smooth and shiny, or with small, sparse puncta, interspaces between puncta smooth and shiny ( Fig. 4B )....................................................................................... 6 FIGURE 4 . Body in lateral view. P. reticulata (imaged by Zhilin Chen) (A), P. wighti (holotype, imaged from Bharti & Akbar, 2013 ) (B). 5. In lateral view, anterodorsal corner of petiolar node angular, level with posterodorsal corner; in dorsal view, petiole subrectangular, lateral margins parallel ( Fig. 5A–B ).................................................. P. reticulata ( Emery, 1923 ) -. In lateral view, anterodorsal corner of petiolar node rounded, and lower than posterodorsal corner; in dorsal view, petiole trapezoid, broader posteriorly ( Fig. 5C–D )........................................ P. hashimotoi ( Terayama, 1996 ) FIGURE 5 . Petiole in lateral and dorsal view. P. reticulata (imaged by Zhilin Chen) (A, B), P. hashimotoi (Cited from Terayama, 1996 ) (C, D). 6. Antennae 12-segmented...................................................... P. wighti ( Bharti & Akbar, 2013 ) -. Antennae 11-segmented...................................................... P. ganeshaiahi Aswaj et al , 2021 7. In lateral view, petiole trapezoid, anterior and posterior faces convex ( Fig. 6A–B ).................................. 8 -. In lateral view, petiole subrectangular, anterior and posterior faces flat, parallel ( Fig. 6C–D )......................... 12 FIGURE 6 . Petiole in lateral view. P. rufithorax (From https://www.antweb.org, paratype, CASENT 0902743, imaged by Will Ericson) (A), P. fossulata (From https://www.antweb.org, syntype, CASENT0263910, imaged by Christiana Klingenberg) (B), P. rifati (From https://www.antweb.org, paratype, CASENT0263910, imaged by Will Ericson) (C), P. luteoviger (From https://www.antweb.org, paratype, CASENT0902744, imaged by Will Ericson) (D). 8. Abdomen clearly concolorous ( Fig. 7A )................................................................... 9 -. Abdomen clearly bicolored ( Fig. 7B )..................................................................... 10 FIGURE 7. Metasoma in lateral view. P. muiri (Ant Image Database, image by Gary D. Alpert) (A), P. fossulata (From https://www. antweb.org, syntype, CASENT0263910, imaged by Christiana Klingenberg) (B). 9. Body dark reddish-brown; in lateral view, dorsal outline of mesosoma strongly convex; in dorsal view, anterolateral margin of first gastral segment relatively more convex ( Fig. 8A–B )........................................................................................................................... P. muiri ( Wheeler & Chapman, 1925 ) -. Body light yellow; in lateral view, dorsal outline of mesosoma slightly convex; in dorsal view, anterolateral margin of first gastral segment relatively less convex, tapering more evenly to juncture with third abdominal segment ( Fig. 8C–D )................................................................................................ P. shii sp. nov. FIGURE 8 . Body in lateral and dorsal view. P. muiri (Ant Image Database, imaged by Gary D. Alpert) (A, B), P. shii sp. nov. (imaged by Zhilin Chen) (C, D). 10. In full-face view, head rounded, posterolateral corner broadly rounded ( Fig. 9A )............... P. fossulata ( Forel, 1895 ) -. In full-face view, head subrectangular, posterolateral corner narrowly rounded or clearly angular ( Fig. 9B–C )........... 11 FIGURE 9 . Head in full-face view. P. fossulata (From https://www.antweb.org, syntype, CASENT0263910, imaged by Christiana Klingenberg) (A), P. rufithorax (From https://www.antweb.org, paratype, CASENT 0902743, imaged by Will Ericson) (B), P. tibetana sp. nov. (imaged by Zhilin Chen) (C). 11. In full-face view, posterior margin of head slightly convex, posterolateral corner narrowly rounded ( Fig. 9B ); head with tiny piligerous puncta; posterodorsal margin of propodeum without carina; if carina present, it is extremely degraded ( Fig. 10A ).................................................................. P. rufithorax ( Wheeler & Chapman, 1925 ) -. In full-face view, posterior margin of head strongly concave, posterolateral corner clearly angular ( Fig. 9C ); head with coarse puncta; posterodorsal margin of propodeum with strong carina ( Fig. 10B ).......................... P. tibetana sp. nov. FIGURE 10 . Mesosoma in dorsal view. P. rufithorax (From https://www.antweb.org, paratype, CASENT 0902743, imaged by Will Ericson) (A), P. tibetana sp. nov. (imaged by Zhilin Chen) (B). 12. Abdomen clearly bicolored ( Fig. 11A ).................................................................... 13 -. Abdomen concolorous or nearly so ( Fig. 11B–C )........................................................... 14 FIGURE 11 . Metasoma in lateral view. P. aitkenii (From https://www.antweb.org, type, CASENT0907048, imaged by Zach Lieberman) (A), P. rifati (From https://www.antweb.org, paratype, CASENT0902743, imaged by Will Ericson) (B), P. salimani (From https://www. antweb.org, syntype, CASENT0916792, imaged by Zach Lieberman) (C). 13. In lateral view, posterodorsal corner of propodeum rounded; mesosoma and petiole with shallow puncta ( Fig. 12A )......................................................................................... P. aitkenii ( Forel, 1900 ) -. In lateral view, posterodorsal corner of propodeum angular; mesosoma and petiole with deep puncta ( Fig. 12B )................................................................................................ P. wilsoni sp. nov. FIGURE 12 . Body in lateral view. P. aitkenii (From https://www.antweb.org, type, CASENT0907048, imaged by Zach Lieberman) (A), P. wilsoni sp. nov. (imaged by Zhilin Chen) (B). 14. In full-face view, center of head with longitudinal groove, almost reaching to the posterior margin of the head ( Fig. 13A )............................................................................. P. conservata ( Viehmeyer, 1913 ) -. In full-face view, center of head without longitudinal groove ( Fig. 13B )......................................... 15 FIGURE 13 . Head in full-face view. P. conservata (From https://www.antweb.org, type, FOCOL0799, imaged by Christiana Klingenberg) (A), P. dohertyi (From https://www.antweb.org, syntype, CASENT0903776, imaged by Zach Lieberman) (B). 15. In dorsal view, petiole longer than wide ( Fig. 14A )........................................ P. indica ( Brown, 1975 ) -. In dorsal view, petiole broader than long ( Fig. 14B )......................................................... 16 FIGURE 14 . Petiole in dorsal view. P. indica (From https://www.antweb.org, type, CASENT0217387, imaged by Michele Esposito) (A), P. rifati (From https://www.antweb.org, paratype, CASENT0263910, imaged by Will Ericson) (B). 16. In full-face view, the front of head with a wide and deep arc-shaped groove ( Fig. 15A )....... P. kodecorum ( Brown, 1975 ) -. In full-face view, the front of head without a wide and deep arc-shaped groove ( Fig. 15B )........................... 17 FIGURE 15 . Head in full-face view. P. kodecorum (From https://www.antweb.org, paratype, CASENT0902722, imaged by Zach Lieberman) (A), P. salimani (From https://www.antweb.org, syntype, CASENT0916792, imaged by Zach Lieberman) (B). 17. In full-face view, head coarsely and densely punctate, margins of puncta partially connected to reticulation ( Fig. 16A–B )...................................................................................................... 18 -. In full-face view, head smooth and shiny, or, if punctate, with margins of puncta not connected to reticulation ( Fig. 16C–D ).................................................................................................... 21 FIGURE 16 . Head in full-face view. P. dohertyi (From https://www.antweb.org, syntype, CASENT0903776, imaged by Zach Lieberman) (A), P. foveolata (From https://www.antweb.org, holotype, CASENT0917354, imaged by Kate Martynova) (B), P. rufithorax (From https://www.antweb.org, paratype, CASENT 0902743, imaged by Will Ericson) (C), P. salimani (From https://www. antweb.org, syntype, CASENT0916792, imaged by Zach Lieberman) (D). 18. In lateral view, petiolar node higher than long ( Fig. 17A )............................. P. foveolata ( Radchenko, 1993 ) -. In lateral view, petiolar node longer than high ( Fig. 17B )..................................................... 19 FIGURE 17. Petiole in lateral view. P. foveolata (From https://www.antweb.org, holotype, CASENT0917354, imaged by Kate Martynova) (A), P. dohertyi (From https://www.antweb.org, syntype, CASENT 0903775, imaged by Zach Lieberman) (B). 19. In full-face view, posterolateral corner of head angular; in dorsal view, tergite of postpetiole with scattered shallow puncta ( Fig. 18A–B )................................................................................ P. nigrita sp. nov. -. In full-face view, posterolateral corner of head rounded; in dorsal view, tergite of postpetiole rugoso-reticulate ( Fig. 18C–F )................................................................................................... 20 FIGURE 18 . Head in full-face view and metasoma in dorsal view. P. nigrita sp. nov. (imaged by Zhilin Chen) (A, B), P. browni (From Bharti & Wachkoo, 2013 , holotype) (C, D), P. dohertyi (From https://www.antweb.org, syntype, CASENT 0903775, imaged by Zach Lieberman) (E, F). 20. The mid-dorsal portion of mesosoma with confluent puncta; posterior face of propodeum rugose ( Fig. 19A )................................................................................... P. browni ( Bharti & Wachkoo, 2013 ) -. The mid-dorsal portion of propodeum with separated puncta; posterior face of propodeum smooth and shiny ( Fig. 19B ).................................................................................... P. dohertyi ( Emery, 1902 ) FIGURE 19 . Mesosoma in dorsal view. P. browni From Bharti & Wachkoo, 2013 , holotype (A), P. dohertyi (From https://www. antweb.org, syntype, CASENT 0903775, imaged by Zach Lieberman) (B). 21. Small size (TL ≤ 2 mm )........................................................... P. bryanti ( Wheeler, 1919 ) -. Large size (TL> 2.8 mm ).............................................................................. 22 22. In full-face view, posterior margin of head distinctly concave, posterolateral corner forming prominent lobe; the maximum diameter of eye larger than the maximum diameter of the apical funicular segment; body black ( Fig. 20A–B )…….................................................................................... P. salimani ( Karavaiev, 1925 ) -. In full-face view, posterior margin of head straight, posterolateral corner not forming prominent lobe; the maximum diameter of eye slightly smaller than or equal to the maximum diameter of the apical funicular segment; body yellow to dark brown ( Fig. 20C–D )............................................................................................ 23 FIGURE 20 . Head in full-face view and body in lateral view. P. salimani (From https://www.antweb.org, syntype, CASENT0916792, imaged by Zach Lieberman) (A, B), P. rifati (From https://www.antweb.org, paratype, CASENT0263910, imaged by Will Ericson) (C, D). 23. In lateral view, posterodorsal margin of propodeum rounded; anterodorsal corner of petiole lower than posterodorsal corner; in dorsal view, posterodorsal margin of propodeum without carina ( Fig. 21A–B )............... P. luteoviger ( Brown, 1975 ) -. In lateral view, posterodorsal margin of propodeum angular; anterodorsal corner of petiole and posterodorsal corner at the same level; in dorsal view, posterodorsal margin of propodeum with carina ( Fig. 21C–D )................................ 24 FIGURE 21 . Mesosoma and petiole in lateral view, mesosoma in dorsal view. P. luteoviger (From https://www.antweb.org, paratype, CASENT0902744, imaged by Will Ericson) (A, B), P. rifati (From https://www.antweb.org, paratype, CASENT0263910, imaged by Will Ericson) (C, D). 24. Petiole slightly broader than long, PI=114–116; head subrectangular, lateral margins parallel ( Fig. 22A–B )...................................................................................... P. schoedli ( Bharti & Akbar, 2013 ) -. Petiole distinctly broader than long, PI>140; head lateral margins converging anteriorly and posteriorly ( Fig. 22C–D ).... 25 FIGURE 22 . Head in full-face view and petiole in dorsal view. P. schoedli (From Bharti & Wachkoo, 2013 , holotype) (A, B); P. seema (From Bharti & Wachkoo, 2013 , holotype) (C, D). 25. Eye small, its maximum diameter equal to the width of base of scape ( Fig. 23A )....... … P. seema ( Bharti & Akbar, 2013 ) -. Eye large, its maximum diameter almost two times more than width of the base of scape ( Fig. 23B–C )................. 26 FIGURE 23. Head in full-face view and petiole in dorsal view. P. seema (From Bharti & Wachkoo, 2013 , holotype) (A), P. rifati (From https://www.antweb.org, paratype, CASENT0263910, imaged by Will Ericson) (B), P. xui sp. nov. (imaged by Zhilin Chen) (C). 26. Lateral mesosoma with small puncta, their maximum diameter smaller than the diameter of spiracle of propodeum; declivity of propodeum straight ( Fig. 24A–B )................................................ P. rifati Sharaf & Akbar, 2018 -. Lateral mesosoma with large puncta, their maximum diameter equal to or larger than the diameter of spiracle of propodeum; declivity of propodeum concave ( Fig. 24C )....................................................... P. xui sp. nov.