Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
Range
Brazil (Bahia, Minas Gerais, Paran‡, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, S‹o Paulo), Paraguay.
Comment
This species is very similar to P. hylaeus. The discovery of sympatric populations of the two forms in Agudos, S‹o Paulo, led Kempf to consider them distinct species (Kempf, 1964). Longino and Snelling (2002) examined additional material and provided updated records for both species. They showed that P. goeldii and P. hylaeus were potentially sympatric over much of P. goeldii's range. Further research is needed on whether there are habitat preferences or other aspects of natural history that distinguish the two species.
In P. goeldii the anterodorsal face of the petiole is smooth and shining while in P. hylaeus it is transversely striate. This character appears to be consistent in these species, even though it is variable in other species of Procryptocerus. Other characters that distinguish P. goeldii from P. hylaeus relate to vertex sculpture and pilosity. Procryptocerus goeldii usually has transverse striae on the vertex, underlain with microareolate sculpture, which gives a somewhat granular appearance. Sometimes the striae are longitudinally oriented medially. Procryptocerus hylaeus often has the vertex nearly smooth, with a few short longitudinal striae medially, and the interspaces smooth and shining. Procryptocerus goeldii has very short, sparse, stiff setae on the face, mesosomal dorsum, and first gastral tergite. These setae are relatively longer, thinner, and more abundant on P. hylaeus.
HW=1.04 on the lectotype worker.
Types and Synonymy
Procryptocerus goeldii Forel, 1899:45. Lectotype worker: Brazil, State of Santa Catarina, Blumenau (Mšller) [MHNG]. Forel, 1907:12 (description of queen); Kempf, 1951:46-50, fig. 16, 27, 57, 72, 74, 79, 80, 84, 89, 92 (description of nontype worker, queen, male); Longino and Snelling 2002 (designation of lectotype).
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA. longinoj@evergreen.edu
Date of this version: 6 December 2002.
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