Adelomyrmex anxiocalor Longino

Longino, John T., 2012, A review of the ant genus Adelomyrmex Emery 1897 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Central America, Zootaxa 3456, pp. 1-35 : 11-13

Adelomyrmex anxiocalor Longino , sp. nov.

( Figs 12 , 21 )

Type material. Holotype worker. Honduras, Olancho: 11km N Catacamas, 14.94949 −85.91559 ± 20 m, 2080 m, 8 May 2010 ( LLAMA Wa-C- 02-2-07) [ CAS, unique specimen identifier CASENT 0615104]. Paratypes (workers): Honduras, Olancho: 12km N Catacamas, 14.95307 −85.91669 ± 20 m, 2190 m, 13 May 2010 (R.S.Anderson 2010- 028) [ BMNH, CASENT 0628586], [ EAPZ, CASENT 0628587], [ECOSCE, CASENT 0628588], [ ICN, CASENT 0628590], [ INBIO, CASENT 0628591], [ LACM, CASENT 0628594], [ MCZC, CASENT 0628583], [ MZSP, CASENT 0628584], [ UCD, CASENT 0628589], [ UNAM, CASENT 0628592], [ USNM, CASENT 0628585], [ UVGC, CASENT 0628593].

Geographic range. Honduras.

Diagnosis. Face largely smooth and shining, without prominent rugae or large foveae; promesonotal dorsum uniformly sculptured with linear, longitudinal rugae (promesonotal dorsum is smooth and shiny on the similar A. micans ).

Description. Worker. HW 0.65–0.76 (n=5); mandible with differentiated masticatory and basal margins; masticatory margin with 5–6 teeth; basal margin sinuous with a distinct basal tooth and notch between tooth and condyle; dorsal surface of mandible with 2–3 faint longitudinal striae and several large piligerous puncta; in full face view, lateral clypeal teeth project from beneath clypeal shelf; lateral clypeal teeth located on anterior (ventral) margin of clypeus and separate from transverse carina that forms clypeal shelf; hypostomal tooth present as a minute denticle; compound eye composed of 8–11 ommatidia; face largely smooth and shining, with clusters of thin, weak, longitudinal rugae near frontal carinae and medial to compound eye.

Short anterior face of pronotum weakly separated from dorsal face, a low transverse ruga irregularly present; promesonotum evenly and shallowly convex; metanotal groove impressed; propodeal spines well-developed, spiniform, slightly upturned; space between propodeal spines a broad concavity without distinct dorsal and posterior faces, smooth and shiny with 2–5 transverse rugae; dorsal promesonotum and side of mesosoma more or less uniformly covered with linear, longitudinal rugae; petiolar and postpetiolar nodes rounded, posterior face of petiole variably rounded to subquadrate; petiole and postpetiole coarsely rugose; postpetiole in dorsal view about as long as wide, evenly rounded posteriorly; gastral dorsum smooth and shining.

Scape with abundant subdecumbent pubescence; clypeus and frontal carinae with long erect setae; posterior and posterolateral margins of head with long erect setae; mid and hind tibia with abundant long subdecumbent setae and 2–3 differentiated erect setae that are longer than width of tibia; in profile, dorsal surfaces of head, mesosoma, and gaster with relatively sparse, long, erect setae; FSH 0.08 mm, FSI 0.10.

Color dark brown to black.

Queen. Similar to worker except for queen-specific characters of large compound eyes, ocelli, and enlarged mesosoma with queen-typical sclerites; pronotum smooth medially, laterally with coarse parallel rugae; mesonotum entirely smooth and shining; scutellum with longitudinal parallel rugae, weaker medially; katepisternum smooth and shining except for short longitudinal rugae along posterior margin; lower half of anepisternum smooth and shining, upper half with longitudinal parallel rugae; side of propodeum with longitudinal parallel rugae.

Biology. This species is known exclusively from La Picucha, the highest peak in the Sierra de Agalta in eastern Honduras. It occurs only above 2000 m elevation, in the wet cloud forest around the peak and in the short dwarf forest on the peak itself. It did not occur in multiple Winkler samples taken between 1500–1700 m on the same slope. Most collections are from sifted litter; two collections are workers that came to baits. The species was abundant, occurring in 80% of miniWinkler samples. This is a mountain top endemic threatened by climate change.

Etymology. Fearing heat, in reference to its vulnerability to climate change.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Adelomyrmex anxiocalor sp. nov., holotype (Honduras, CASENT 0615104). Scale bars are 0.5 mm for face and dorsal views, 1.0 mm for lateral view.

FIGURE 21. Distribution of material examined in this study: Adelomyrmex anxiocalor sp. nov., A. betoi, A. bispeculum sp. nov., A. brenesi, A. laevigatus, A. mackayi, A. marginodus sp. nov., A. metzabok sp. nov., A. micans, A. microps, A. minimus, A. paratristani sp. nov., A. quetzal sp. nov., A. tristani.