Six New Species of Carebara Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with Restructuring of World Species Groups and a Key to Indian Species

Abstract

 Six new species of the myrmicine ants Carebara Westwood are described: The monomorphic C. carinata sp. nov. and C. propomegata sp. nov. and the dimorphic C. dentata sp. nov., C. hornata sp. nov., C. rectangulata sp. nov. and C. spinata sp. nov. Carebara carinata sp. nov. has a central long clypeal hair as an inusual trait, also present in other foreign Carebara. Some of these new species support the previous synonymy of Oligomyrmex and Parvimyrma under Carebara and show mixed attributes that recall the restructuring of existing World species groups. Separate keys for major worker, worker and gyne are provided for Indian species.