Rhopalothrix andersoni Longino & Boudinot

Longino, John T. & Boudinot, Brendon E., 2013, New species of Central American Rhopalothrix Mayr, 1870 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), Zootaxa 3616 (4), pp. 301-324 : 308-309

Rhopalothrix andersoni Longino & Boudinot , sp. nov.

( Figs 1 A, 2B, 3F, 5, 16)

Type material. Holotype, worker: HONDURAS, Olancho: 9 km N Catacamas, 14.93512 -85.90739 ± 20 m, 1350 m, 11 May 2010, tropical montane forest, ex sifted leaf litter (R.S.Anderson#2010-025) [CAS, unique specimen identifier CASENT0629582]. Paratype (worker): same data, but 14.93849 -85.90665 ± 20 m, 1440 m, 10 May 2010, mixed hardwood forest, ex sifted leaf litter (R.S.Anderson#2010-022) [JTLC, CASENT0629580].

Geographic range. Honduras.

Diagnosis. Anterior labral lobe bilobed, with lateral lobule longer than medial lobule; masticatory margin of mandible with three teeth; squamiform setae of first gastral tergite abundant, short, 2 × longer than wide; HW 0.63–0.70.

Description. Worker. HW 0.63–0.70 (n=3); mandible with three teeth on masticatory margin, second tooth from base largest; subapical tooth with distinct reclinate denticle at base; subapical tooth about 3 × as long as apical tooth; intercalary teeth distinct, one closest to apical tooth about half as long as apical tooth; labrum trapezoidal, anterior margin bilobed, lateral lobule triangular, longer than medial lobule, medial lobules rounded, flanking semicircular median notch; arcuate promesonotal groove and metanotal groove distinctly impressed; propodeal tooth large, acute, infradental lamella wide and forming a secondary convex lobe below tooth; squamiform setae abundant on first gastral tergite, uniformly covering entire tergite; gastral setae relatively short, 2 × longer than wide, tapering evenly from apex to base.

The queen and male are unknown.

Biology. This species occurs in cloud forest, from 1300–1440 m elevation. It is known from two montane sites: Sierra de Agalta in eastern Honduras, where it is sympatric with R. therion , and Cusuco National Park in northwestern Honduras. The three known specimens are from Winkler samples of sifted leaf litter.

Etymology. Referring to Robert S. Anderson, coleopterist extraordinaire.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Diagrammatic representation of Rhopalothrix mandibles. A. R. andersoni, R. isthmica, R. megisthmica (part), R. therion. B. R. atitlanica, R. megisthmica (part), R. triumphalis. C. R. stannardi. D. R. nubilosa, R. subspatulata. E. R. weberi. F. R. apertor.