Maritime trap-jaw ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Ponerinae) of the Indo-Australian region – redescription of Odontomachus malignus Smith and description of a related new species from Singapore, including first descriptions of males

Abstract

The maritime trap-jaw ant Odontomachus malignus Smith, 1859 is thought to be widespread throughout islands in the Indo-Pacific and parts of the Oriental realm. Because of its unique nesting preference for harsh littoral habitat and distinct morphology, O. malignus has usually been assumed to consist of only one species. We, however, describe a new species similar to O. malignus found in the mangroves of Singapore, Southeast Asia – Odontomachus litoralissp. nov. We find strong evidence of both species existing in (near) sympatry, and also distinct morphological differences between O. malignus and the new species. Additional complementary DNA evidence in the form of COI barcodes (313 bp) supporting putative species identification and delimitation is provided. Defining morphological characteristics for the O. malignus species group (nested within the larger O. infandus clade) are given in detail for the first time. The worker and queen castes of the new species are described; a redescription of the worker caste of O. malignus, based on specimens from Singapore and the Philippines in addition to the holotype, is also given. The males of both species are also described for the first time, including male genitalia. A preliminary key to most known species of the O. infandus group based on the worker caste is provided.

ONTbarcoder and MinION barcodes aid biodiversity discovery and identification by everyone, for everyone

“…Barcodes even helped with the conservation of charismatic taxa when they were used to identify the larval habitats for more than half of Singapore’s damsel- and dragonfly species [ 42 ] and facilitated species interaction research and biodiversity surveys based on eDNA [ 43 , 44 ]. Biodiversity appreciation by the public was fostered by featuring newly discovered species and their species interactions on “Biodiversity of Singapore” (BOS > 15,000 species: [ 45 ]), dozens of new species have been described, and the descriptions of another 150 species are being finalized [ 46 – 54 ].…”

MinION barcodes: biodiversity discovery and identification by everyone, for everyone

“…In Singapore, many of the putative species are featured on the BOS website where they are discovered by taxonomic specialists who borrow material for follow-up study. The use of the reverse workflow in Singapore has thus led to an acceleration of biodiversity discovery and description, with dozens of new species already described and the descriptions of another 150 species being finalized (Grootaert 2018, Tang, Grootaert et al 2018, Tang, Yang et al 2018, Wang, Yamada et al 2018, Wang, Yong et al 2018, Grootaert 2019, Ismay and Ang 2019, Samoh, Satasook et al 2019, Wang, Yamada et al 2020).…”

“…Barcodes even helped with the conservation of charismatic taxa when they were used to identify the larval habitats for more than half of Singapore’s damsel- and dragonfly species [40] and facilitated species interaction research and biodiversity surveys based on eDNA [41, 42]. Biodiversity appreciation by the public was fostered by featuring newly discovered species and their species interactions on “Biodiversity of Singapore” (BOS >15,000 species: https://singapore.biodiversity.online/), dozens of new species have been described, and the descriptions of another 150 species are being finalized [43–51].…”