Systematic studies on Pseudomyrmex acacia-ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Pseudomyrmecinae)
Author
Ward, Philip S.
text
Journal of Hymenoptera Research
1993
2
117
168
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.10150
2958
80669360-1DB2-4B74-9F4B-99DD3E7EBBFA
Pseudomyrmex peperi (
Forel 1913
)
(Figs. 12,24, 58,71)
Pseudomyrma peperi
Forel 1913:213
.
Syntype
workers
,
Patulul
,
Guatemala
(
Peper
) (
MHNG
) [Examined].
One
syntype here designated LECOTYPE
.
Pseudomyrma
spinicola race convarians
Forel 1913:214
.
Syntype
worker
,
Patulul
,
Guatemala
(
Peper
) (
MHNG
) [Examined] [Synonymy by
Ward 1989:452
]
,
Pseudomyrma sabanica[sic] var. saffordi
Enzmann 1945:89
.
Syntype
workers
,
Yerba Santa
,
Chiapas
,
Mexico
(
G. N.
Collins
) (
MCZC
) [Examined]
One syntype here designated LECTOTYPE. [Synonymy by
Ward 1989:452
],
Pseudomyrmex peperi (Forel)
;
Kempf 1972:222
.
Worker measurements (n = 53). - HL 0.86-1.13, HW 0.76-0.90, MFC 0.034-0.064, Cl 0.76-0.89, REL 0.45-0.50, REL2 0.54-0.62, OOI 1.15-2.06, VI 0.59-0.79, FCI 0.042-0.071, SI 0.44-0.49, SI2 0.76-0.88, NI 0.62-0.71, PLI 0.54-0.65, PWI 0.63- 0.75, PPWI 1.41-1.83.
Worker diagnosis. - Small species (HW <0.92) with moderately elongate head (Fig. 12); anterior margin of median clypeal lobe straight or slightly produced medially, laterally rounded or subangulate (never sharply angulate as in
P. spinicola
and
P. satanicus
). Palp formula 4,3, rarely 5p4,3. Frontal carinae separated by about basal scape width. Mesosomal and petiolar profile typically as in Fig. 24, but in some workers basal and declivitous faces of propodeum less well differentiated and/or anteroventral tooth of petiole more prominent. Petiole and postpetiole broad, the former subtriangular in dorsal view with well developed posterolateral angles (Fig. 24). Dorsum of head obscurely punctulate-coriarious, matte. Remainder of body with finely punctulate to punctulate-coriarious sculpture, opaque to sublucid; propodeum lacking overlying rugulo-punctate sculpture seen in
P. ferrugineus
. Standing pilosity not especially abundant, sometimes lacking (worn?) on mesonotum. Appressed pubescence abundant but very fine. Light to medium brown, rarely dark brown, the gaster sometimes darker than the rest of body; appendages lighter.
Comments. -
P. peperi
is recognized by the features mentioned above and in the key. The combination of small elongate head, broad posterolaterally angulate petiole, and matte head surface is found in no other acacia ant workers or queens.
Distribution and biology. - This species has a rather wide distribution, from eastern Mexico to Nicaragua (Fig. 71). It has been collected from
Acacia chiapensis
,
A. collinsii
,
A. cornigera
,
A. gentlei
,
A. globulifera
and
A. hindsii
.
P. peperi
is apparently polygynous over much of its range, and often occurs sympatrically with the commoner
P. ferrugineus
. Some aspects of its biology in Mexico are discussed by
Janzen (1967b)
under the name "
P. nigrocincta
".
Material examined (
AMNH
,
BMNH
,
CASC
,
INHS
,
LACM
,
MCZC
,
MNHG
,
MZSP
,
NHMV
,
PSWC
,
SEMC
,
UCDC
,
USNM
). -
BELIZE
Belize'.
16mi
SW Belize, rd. to Cayo
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
5.5mi
NW Belize, rd. to Chetumal
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Cayo
:
20km
S Augustine
,
300m
(
G.D.Alpert
)
;
Sanlgnacio
(
S.E.Schoenig
)
;
Corozal
:
15mi
S Sta.Elena (Louisville)
(
D.H.Janzen
)
.
EL SALVADOR
Ahuachapan
:
7.8mi
S Hachadura
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Chalatenango
:
2.5mi
N Tejutla, rd. to La Palma
,
580m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
4.7mi
NW La Palma
,
880m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
5.5mi
SE La Palma
,
1130m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
7.5mi
SE Tejutla
,
320m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
La Libertad
:
2-4km
S Quezaltepeque
(
W.L.Brown
)
;
2mi
E La Libertad
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
5mi
N Quezaltepeque
(
M.E.Irwin
)
;
7.4miNLaLibertad
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Hda. Capolinas, 5kmNW Quezaltepeque
,
450m
(
M.E.Irwin
)
;
Quezaltepeque
(
M.E.Irwin
)
;
Santa Tecla [=Nueva San Salvador]
(
P.Berry
)
;
La Union
:
7.1mi
W Amatillo
,
190m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
between La Union & San Miguel
,
100m
[=
22.3mi
S Sirama]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
between La Union &
Usulatan
,
150m
[=
2.6mi
S Sirama]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Lapaz
:
11.6mi
W Zacatecoluca
,
0m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
San Miguel
:
between La Union & San Miguel
,
110m
[=
22.3mi
E Usulutan]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Santa Ana
:
5.3mi
NW Santa Ana
,
660m
(on Hwy.1)
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Sonsonate
:
24.2mi
SE Hachadura
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
4.5mi
S Sonsonate
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
41.4mi
NW La Libertad
,
10m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
.
GUATEMALA
Alta Verapaz
:
San Joaquin, nr. San Cristobal Verapaz
,
1080m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
El Progreso
:
24.5mi
NE Cd. Guatemala [on CA-9]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Escuintla
:
1.7mi
S Escuintla
,
370m
[on CA-2]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
43km
S Cd. Guatemala [=
15km
E Escuintla]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Escuintla
(
W.M. Wheeler
)
;
San Jose
(
E.S.Ross
;
E.I.Schlinger
&
E.S.Ross
)
;
Guatemala
:
19km
S Cd. Guatemala
[
on CA-9]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
20mi
SE Cd. Guatemala
,
1060m
[on CA-1]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
7.9mi
S Cd. Guatemala
,
1360m
[onCA-9]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Escuintla-Cd.Guatemala [=
19km
S Cd. Guatemala]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Izabal
:
9.9mi
SW
Quirigua
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Lago Izabal,
1.5km
NE El Estor
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Quirigua
(
D.H.Janzen
;
W.M. Wheeler
)
;
nr. Mariscos
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Jutiapa
:
11.5mi
W Jutiapa
,
900m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
12.3mi
E
Guazacapan
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
2.3mi
NW Pijiji [=Pijije]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
23mi
E Taxisco
(
G.F. & S.Hevel
)
;
3.4mi
N San Cristobal, rd. to Jutiapa
,
400m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
47mi
SE Escuintla
,
250m
[=
47mi
S Escuintla]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
6.9mi
N San Cristobal
,
290m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
8.4mi
N San Cristobal
,
280m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
9.7mi
E Jutiapa
,
750m
(hwy.to San Cristobal) [=9.3miNE Jutiapa]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Peten
:
70km
NW Tikal
(
W.R.Tschinkel
)
;
Tikal
(
D.H.Janzen
;
W.R.Tschinkel
)
; Retalhuleu
:
2miNE Champerico
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
5mi
W Retalhuleu
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
5mi
W Retalhuleu, Hwy.CA-2, at Rio Nil
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Santa Rosa
:
6mi
S
Guazacapan
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Suchitepequez
:
Patulul
(
Peper
)
;
Zacapa
:
10mi SW El Lobo
,
170m
[on CA- 9] [=
9.2mi
NE Piedras de Afilar]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
2.0mi NE Rio Hondo
,
190m
[on CA-9]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
2.6mi
SW El Lobo
,
100m
[on CA-9] [=
16.6mi
NE Piedras de Afilar]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
5.6mi
NE Rio Hondo
,
250m
[on CA-9]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
8. lmi SW Los Amates
,
160m
[on CA-9] [=8.0mi NE El Lobo]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
9.7mi
NE Piedras de Afilar
,
150m
[on CA-9] [=
9.5mi
SW El Lobo]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Zacapa
(
W.M.Wheeler
)
;
kml42 on Guatemala-Pto.Barrios Rd. nr. Los Amates
(
D.H.Janzen
)
.
HONDURAS
Choluteca
:
19.3mi
SW San Marcos de Colon, on Hwy.1
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
19mi
NE Choluteca
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
20.4mi
SW San Marcos de Colon
,
490m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
3.6mi
W Choluteca
,
200m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
7.4mi
NE Choluteca
,
150m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Colon
:
Trujillo
,
80m
(
Echtemacht
)
;
Comayagua
:
11.7mi
S San Antonio
,
830m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
4mi
N Comayagua
,
500m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Cortes'.
24.6mi
SW San Pedro Sula
,
240m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Francisco
Morazan
:
24.3mi
S
Camayagueela
(=Tegucigalpa)
,
1000m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
30.4mi
S
Camayagueela
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
30.5mi
S
Camayagueela
,
930m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Ocotepeque
:
2.3mi
E [Nueva] Ocotepeque
,
1090m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Nueva Ocotepeque
,
910m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Santa Barbara
:
13.7mi
SW
Quimistan
,
320m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Valle
:
18.5mi
W Jicaro Galan
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
4.6mi
E Jicaro Galan
,
190m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
.
MEXICO
Camp.
:
0.1mi S Tenabo, rd. to Becal
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
0.8mi
E Campeche
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
29mi
E &
12mi
S Campeche (Ruinas Edzna)
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
29mi
E Campeche
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
48mi
NE Puerto Real (Isla Aguada), Hwy.180
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
5mi
S Tenabo (Campeche-Becal Rd.)
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Campeche
(
N.L.H.Krauss
)
;
Chis.
:
2.4mi
E Chiapa de Corzo, Hwy.
190,
580m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
2kmN Yxhuatan [
Ixhuatan
], "2miN Tapilula"
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
32mi
W [San] Cristobal de las Casas, Hwy.190
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
3km
ENE Chiapa de Corzo
,
500m
(
P.S.Ward
)
;
3mi
N Soyalo [on Hwy.195]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
42.5mi
S
Comitan
, Hwy.
190,
680m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
5.4mi
E Chiapa de Corzo, Hwy.
190,
770m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
56.9mi
NE [NW?] Tapachula [on Hwy.200?]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
7.0mi NE [NW?] Tapachula [on Hwy. 200?]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
7.5mi
NW Cd.Cuauhtemoc, Hwy.190
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
8.5mi
S La Trinitaria, Hwy.190
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
FincaEsmeralda
(
R.Nettel F.
)
;
Puerto de San Benito [=Puerto Madero]
(
R.Nettel F.
)
;
Tonala
,
40m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Yerba Santa
(
G.N.
Collins
)
;
Hgo.
:
2km
W
Orizatlan
,
245m
(
W.MacKay
)
;
Oax.
:
11.4-17.0mi W Tehuantepec
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
19km
N San Pedro Pochutla
,
200m
(
W.MacKay
)
;
3.9mi
E Tehuantepec
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
5.7mi
W
"Tapanapec"
[=Tapanatepec]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
6.0mi E Niltepec,Hwy.
190,
100m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
8.1mi W Niltepec, Hwy.
190,
60m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Temascal
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Temascal
,
25m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Q.Roo
:
12.2mi
S Peto, Q.Roo-Yucatan border
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
26.6mi
S Felipe Carillo Puerto
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
5.4mi
E Polyuc
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Cancun
(
A.Dejean
)
;
Cenote de Las Ruinas,
8km
NW Polyuc
(
J.Red et al.
)
;
Chetumal
(
J.C. & D.Pallister
)
;
San Miguel
,
Cozumel I.
(
N.L.H.Krauss
)
;
Sian
Ka'
an
(
A.Dejean
)
;
Sian
Ka'
an Reserve, nr. Felipe Carillo Puerto
(
A.Dejean
)
;
S.L.P.
:
2mi
N Rio Amahac, Tamazunchale
,
400ft
. (
W.S.Creighton
)
;
6mi
NW Tamazunchale
,
600ft
.(
Univ.Kansas Mex.Exped.
)
;
8mi
W San Joachin
(
W. J.Gertsch
)
;
El Bonito,
7mi
S Cd. Valles
,
300
ft
. (
P.H. &M.Amaud
)
;
El Salto
(
W.E.LaBerge
)
;
Tamazunchale
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Tamazunchale
,
600ft
. (
W.S.Creighton
)
;
Ver.
:
29.5mi
NW Tuxpan, Hwy. 122 [actually Hwy. 127]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Alazan
(
F.Parker
&
D.Miller
)
;
Cordoba
(
W.M.Mann
)
;
Cotaxtla Exp. Sta.,Cotaxtla
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Mirador
(
E.Skwarra
)
;
Veracruz
(
E.Skwarra
)
;
Yuc.
:
30mi
S Merida
(
P.J.Spangler
)
;
8mi
E Merida (rd. to Pto. Juarez)
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Itzimna
(
J.C. & D.Pallister
)
;
Merida
(
D.H.Janzen
;
N.L.H.Krauss
)
;
Oxkutzcab
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Sta. Elena, S of Ticul,
"Hwy.180"
[prob.Hwy.261]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
state unknown
:
"
Mex
"("
Norton
"
)
.
NICARAGUA
Esteli
:
1mi N Condega
,
500m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
2.5mi
N Condega
,
620m
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Leon
:
San Jacinto
(
J.M.Maes
)
;
Madriz
:
3mi
WSomoto
,
650m
[=
2.5mi
WSomoto]
(
D.H.Janzen
)
;
Nueva Segovia
:
7.1mi W Amatillo
(
D.H.Janzen
)
.