Prenolepis fisheri, an intriguing new ant species, with a re-description of Prenolepis naoroji (Hymenoptera: Formicidae ) from India

Abstract

The taxonomy of Indian Prenolepis is discussed here for the first time in detail. Prenolepis fisheri sp. n., an intriguing species described as new, is the second species of the genus known from India, with only Prenolepis naoroji Forel, 1902 reported earlier. P. fisheri sp. n. resembles the Antillean Prenolepis albimaculata Santschi, 1930; Prenolepis gibberosa Roger, 1863 and Prenolepis karstica Fontenla, 2000, sharing with them the presence of ocelli in the worker caste. All castes of Prenolepis naoroji are addressed and a key is provided to separate the Indian species.