Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Image catalogue, worker (click here).
Image catalogue, worker, sem (click here).
Range
Brazil (Amap‡, Amazonas, Bahia, Mato Grosso, Par‡, Rondonia), Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Trinidad.
Description of worker
Worker measurements (n=1, Brazil, Benjamin Constant): HW 1.278, HL 1.222, SL 0.665, EL 0.305, MeL 1.507, MeW 0.889, PrW 0.692, PrL 0.434, PrS 0.242, PrT 0.676, MTL 0.805, MFL 0.841, MFW 0.317, PtL 0.489, PtW 0.370, PpW 0.477, PtH 0.371, AL 1.440, AW 1.177.
Similar to P. impressus, P. paleatus, and P. tortuguero; differing in the following combination of characters: face very shallowly sculptured, irregular longitudinal rugae usually absent or barely visible; foveae small and shallow, becoming increasingly effaced anteriorly; clypeus with faint longitudinal striae; clypeus and interspaces on frons sericeous, with silky luster; vertex relatively more concave and meeting face at more acute angle than other species; mesonotum not strongly sloping; propodeal suture moderately impressed; lateral lobes of mesonotum angulate, projecting, but not concealing propodeal suture in side view; posterior face of forefemur completely smooth and shining; petiole elongate (PTL/PTH 1.3 versus 1.2 or less in the other species); first gastral tergite longitudinally striate, striae usually slightly irregular, anastomosing, gradually fading posteriorly, with posterior 0.06mm smooth and shining (Vilhena specimen with more regular, pronounced striae on first gastral tergite); microareolate sculpture between striae, giving a granular appearance to gaster; first gastral sternite anterolaterally striate, strongly shining elsewhere; disc of face with two very short setae centrally, a longer pair near occipital border, otherwise devoid of setae; variably flattened, moderately abundant setae evenly dispersed on dorsum of mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole, and first gastral tergite; setae on first gastral tergite which lie on the same longitudinal line barely overlap.
Description of queen (based on one alate queen from Kartabo, Guyana):
Queen measurements (n=1, Guyana, barcode: LACM ENT 144271): HW 1.391, HL 1.314, SL 0.694, EL 0.352, MeL 1.960, MeW 1.160, MTL 0.901, PtL 0.587, PtW 0.421, PpW 0.568, AL 1.780, AW 1.398.
Similar to worker in most respects; face as in worker; pronotum closely foveate laterally, each fovea with stiff, flattened seta; fovea density lower medially, with broad interspaces, with a few large foveae scattered across medial pronotum; mesoscutum, axillae, and scutellum with a mixture of elongate foveae and longitudinal striae; relatively sparse setae on mesoscutum, axillae, and scutellum; dorsal face of propodeum longitudinally striate.
Types and Synonymy
Meranoplus subpilosus F. Smith, 1860:78. Syntype workers: Brasil, Amazonas: Ega (= Tefˇ) (H.W.Bates) [BMNH].
Cataulacus subpilosus: Mayr, 1886:361.
Procryptocerus subpilosus: Emery, 1887:470; Kempf, 1951:60-61; Kempf, 1964a:435-436 (part).
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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