Pseudomyrmex exoratus, Ward & Branstetter, 2022

Ward, Philip S. & Branstetter, Michael G., 2022, Species Paraphyly and Social Parasitism: Phylogenomics, Morphology, and Geography Clarify the Evolution of the Pseudomyrmex elongatulus Group (Hymenoptera:, Insect Systematics and Diversity 6 (1), pp. 1-31 : 24

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.1093/isd/ixab025

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9A5C0805-FFB3-0827-F1A3-FC79C9ABFC00

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Pseudomyrmex exoratus
status

sp. nov.

Pseudomyrmex exoratus sp. nov.

Figs. 14 View Fig and 24 View Fig

Zoobank LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8D3D17CF-131E-4E3F-9C67-B9B67E475B1D

Pseudomyrmex View in CoL psw041; Chomicki et al. 2015: 4. Placement in molecular phylogeny.

Holotype Worker. MEXICO Oaxaca: Temascal, 25 m, 2 Feb 1964, at house, D. H. Janzen ( UNAM) ( CASENT0863539 ) . Paratypes: series of workers, same data as holotype ( CASC, CZUG, IEXA, JTLC, LACM, MCZC, PSWC, UCDC, USNM).

Other material examined ( LACM, MZLU, PSWC, UCDC). Honduras: Atlántida: Lancetilla, Tela (Cave, R.) ; Mexico: Chiapas: Palenque ruins, 170 m (Cox, D. J.) ; Oaxaca: 5 mi E Temascal (Janzen, D. H.) ; Temascal , 25 m (Janzen, D. H.) ; Temascal (Janzen, D. H.) .

Worker measurements (n = 6). HW 0.83–0.86, HL 1.19–1.28, MFC 0.043 –0.049, LHT 0.78–0.84, CI 0.67–0.69, FCI 0.050 –0.058, REL 0.42–0.45, REL2 0.62–0.66, FI 0.46–0.49, PLI 0.52–0.56, PWI 0.49–0.55, MSC 3–4.

Worker Diagnosis. Medium-sized species ( LHT 0.78–0.84), with notably elongate head (CI 0.67–0.69) and eyes (see REL and REL2 values); frontal carinae separated by basal scape width or slightly less; ocelli prominent ( Fig. 14 View Fig ); metanotal groove conspicuously impressed; dorsal face of propodeum rounding insensibly into declivitous face, the two subequal in length; petiole relatively slender ( PLI 0.52–0.56, PL/HL 0.51–0.52), in profile the weakly convex anterodorsal face of petiole ascending gradually to summit in the posterior half of node, then rounding into steeper posterior face; profemur relatively robust (FI 0.46–0.49); hind leg short, relative to head length ( LHT /HL 0.65–0.67). Head sublucid, anterior half densely punctulate with shiny interspaces, becoming sparsely punctulate-coriarious on vertex. Standing pilosity sparse, absent from propodeum and mesonotum ( MSC 3–4). Light orange-brown, with dark brown anterolateral patches on abdominal tergite 4 (first gastric tergite) and a transverse band on abdominal tergite 6 (gastric tergite 3); distal half of anterior face of metafemur weakly infuscated.

Comments. This light orange-brown species is easily recognized by its exceptionally elongate head (worker CI 0.67–0.69, queen CI 0.55– 0.59), which is unlike that of any other species in the P. elongatulus group. Pseudomyrmex exoratus also has a rather robust profemur (worker FI 0.46–0.49, queen FI 0.47–0.49) and distinctive maculation on the gaster: dark anterolateral patches on abdominal tergite 4 and a transverse band on abdominal tergite 6. Our UCE phylogeny shows P. exoratus to be closely related to the more common and widespread species, P. elongatulus (Fig. 1). Both species occur sympatrically at the type locality of P. exoratus .

Distribution and Biology. Pseudomyrmex exoratus is known from only three low-elevation localities in southern Mexico (in Oaxaca and Chiapas) and one collection from Honduras. Janzen collected two series at Temascal, Oaxaca, labeled 2.ii.1964 II and 2.ii.1964 IV (the latter including alate queens and males), plus a single queen on 10 Jan 1964, for which the label states ‘flew into car, at house’. Little is known about the biology of this species although it is presumed to nest in dead twigs, like most other members of the P. elongatulus group. The robust profemur suggests that it might occupy rather hard dead wood.

UNAM

Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico

CZUG

Universidad de Guadalajara,Centro de Estudios en Zoologia, Entomologia

LACM

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

UCDC

R. M. Bohart Museum of Entomology

USNM

Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History

MZLU

Lund University

LHT

Lahti City Museum

MSC

Michigan State University

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Insecta

Order

Hymenoptera

Family

Formicidae

Genus

Pseudomyrmex

Loc

Pseudomyrmex exoratus

Ward, Philip S. & Branstetter, Michael G. 2022
2022
Loc

Pseudomyrmex

Chomicki, G. & P. S. Ward & S. Renner 2015: 4
2015
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