Ishakidris hastifera Baptista, Keller, Hamer, Guénard & Garcia, 2026, sp. nov.

Ishakidris hastifera sp. nov. Figs 3, 7 –9 Type material examined. Holotype, pinned worker, Malaysia • Pahang, Cameron Highlands, 4.483333°N, 101.38333°E, 1400 m, 27.III.1993, leg. I. Löbl & F. G. Calame (NHMUK: CASENT 0235144). Cybertype, the cybertype dataset of the holotype (CASENT 0235144) is publicly available at Zenodo (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18712405). It includes the volumetric raw data (in DICOM format), a full body 3 D surface model (in PLY format), and still images of various body parts from surface volume renderings of 3 D models (in PNG and TIFF format) (Figs 7, 8, 9), as well as stacked digital color images of the head in full-face view, along with profile and dorsal views of the body (in TIFF format). In addition to the data at Zenodo, an interactive 3 D surface model is also publicly accessible at Sketchfab (https://skfb.ly/pxzzV). Non-type material examined. 1 pinned disarticulated worker, MALAYSIA, Pahang, Cameron Highlands, 4.483333, 101.38333, 1400 m, 27. iii. 1993, leg. I. Löbl & F. G. Calame (NHMUK: CASENT 0235145). [Photographs of another specimen from the same collection are available on AntWeb (CASENT 0235131). However, this specimen was examined only through the available digital images, as it was unavailable for physical examination, and is therefore excluded from the type series.] Diagnosis. Worker. Mandibles with 9 teeth and a single denticle between tooth 2 (preapical) and tooth 3 (Fig. 10 A). Dorsal surface of mandibles nearly smooth basally (Fig. 10 A). Gena below antennal scrobe smooth and shiny (Figs 3 A, 7 G). Frontal lobes with little to no sculpture (Figs 3 C, 7 A). Subgenal carina present only on the anterior third of the head (Figs 7 E, 7 F, 11 A). Occipital carina raised and distinct (Figs 3 A, 7 G). Occiput smooth, lacking ridges (Fig. 12 A). Occipital margin shallowly concave in full-face view (Figs 3 C, 7 A). Postgenal bridge weakly produced ventrally (Fig. 4 G; Fig. 11 A). Pronotal plateau margin broad and rugose laterally, and anteriorly not overlapping the anterior portion of the pronotum (Fig. 8 A, B). Dorsum of mesosoma bearing a prominent, unpaired blunt spine at the anterior pronotal margin, preceded by two smaller tubercles arranged in sequence at the mesonotum and metanotal groove (Figs 3 A, 8 A – D). Propodeal dorsum leveled with the promesonotum anteriorly (Figs 3 A, 8 A – C). Propodeal dorsum not clearly separated into distinct dorsal and posterior areas; its slope marked by several transverse carinae (Fig. 8 C). First gastral sternite with a long longitudinal median carina, extending across approximately half of the sternite (Figs 3 A, 9 E, 9 F). Description. Worker. Head. In full-face view the head is slightly longer than broad, with the lateral margin forming a distinct convex arc separated from the margin of the large frontal lobe by a shallow inward inflection. Posterior corners are slightly rounded, and the occipital margin is shallowly concave. In profile, the dorsal surface of the head is evenly convex, and the occipital carina is noticeably raised. Frontal lobes shiny and with reduced sculpture. The frontal carinae expand anterolaterally into huge frontal lobes that fully conceal the antennal insertions in full-face view. Antennal scrobes are deep and extensive, with the antennal sockets positioned dorsally, appearing inverted within the “ ceiling ” of the scrobes. Antennae 9 - segmented, the scape slightly curved at the base and terminating in a 2 - segmented club. Gena mostly smooth and shiny. Eyes small, lateral, and positioned medially on the gena, close to the subgenal carina, within the posterior portion of the antennal scrobes. Clypeus broad, its median anterior margin evenly convex. Labrum elongated and bilobed anteriorly. Mandibles massive and downcurved, partially overlapping when closed; dorsal surfaces nearly smooth at the base but rugose apically, armed with 10 prominent teeth and denticles, some teeth becoming progressively elongated toward the basal margin. Palp formula 3, 2. Sharp subgenal carina present on the anterior third of the head. Postgenal bridge weakly produced ventrally, with a pronounced ventral depression before rising steeply toward the occipital margin; occiput smooth. Pilosity scarce, with only a few scattered hairs present on both dorsal and ventral surfaces. Mesosoma. Pronotum bearing a raised dorsal plateau with broad, thickened margins, connected to the anterior section of the pronotum by a distinctly vertical slope. The anterior margin of the plateau features a small, pointed medial projection. Along the mesosomal dorsum, a prominent blunt median spine arises at the anterior propodeal margin and is preceded by two smaller tubercle-like swellings on the mesonotum and the metanotal groove, together forming a distinctive triad of medial dorsal projections. Each mesopleuron bears a “ hairwheel ”: a circular anterior excavation lined with small setae directed toward the central point of the cavity, with a subtending open groove. Overall surface shiny, with some scattered hairs dorsally. The dorsal face of the propodeum lies nearly leveled with the promesonotum, producing a continuous dorsal profile. The prominent paired propodeal spines fuse with the propodeal lobes, creating arched, continuous structures flanking the propodeum. The propodeal declivity is indistinct, with several transverse carinae. Metasoma. Petiole with a short, rugose peduncle; the anterior face meets the dorsal surface at a steep angle. Postpetiole distinctly wider than the petiole and bearing longitudinal ridges. Both petiole and postpetiole possess short erect hairs on their dorsal surfaces. Gaster elliptical, smooth, and shiny, nearly devoid of pilosity except for a few scattered hairs on the sternites. First gastral sternite with a longitudinal median carina extending across approximately half its length. Coloration. Body overall dark reddish-brown, with fairly uniform coloration across most surfaces. Distal portions of both legs and gaster slightly more yellowish-brown. Propodeal lobes and the carina of the first gastral sternite appearing yellow-hyaline. Measurements and indices. Etymology. The specific epithet “ hastifera ” is derived from the Latin hasta meaning “ spear ” and ferre meaning “ to bear ” or “ to carry, ” forming the compound “ hastifera ”, meaning “ spear-bearing ”. Distribution. Ishakidris hastifera has so far only been recorded from one collection event at the Cameron Highlands at 1400 m in Pahang, Malaysa (Fig. 13). Morphological remarks. Virtual dissection of the holotype of the new species and of a non-type worker of I. ascitaspis showed that in both species the propodeum invaginates anteriorly to form a shelf-like structure inside the mesosomal cavity (Fig. 14).