Pseudomyrmex laevifrons Ward

Ward, Philip S., 2017, A review of the Pseudomyrmex ferrugineus and Pseudomyrmex goeldii species groups: acacia-ants and relatives (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 4227 (4), pp. 524-542 : 535-536

Pseudomyrmex laevifrons Ward

( Fig. 5 )

Pseudomyrma laeviceps F. Smith 1877: 63 . Lectotype worker (designated by Ward 1989: 440), Para, Brazil ( BMNH) [Examined] [Also imaged on AntWeb: CASENT0902923] [Preoccupied by Pseudomyrmex laeviceps F. Smith 1859 = Tetraponera laeviceps (F. Smith) ].

Pseudomyrmex laevifrons Ward 1989: 440 . Replacement name.

Other material examined ( ALWC, BMNH, CASC, CPDC, CUIC, FSCA, INBC, INPA, IZAV, JTLC, KWJC, LACM, MCZC, MNHN, MPEG, MZLU, MZSP, PSWC, UCDC, USNM). BOLIVIA Beni: 46 km SSW San Borja, 300 m (P. S. Ward) ; BRAZIL Amapá: Oiapoque (W. L. Overal) ; Amazonas: Faz. Esteio, 80 km NNE Manaus, 80 m (P. S. Ward); High Falls, Rio Tarumã (W. L. Brown); Tefé [as " Ega "] (c.u.) ; Bahia: C. das Almas, Fz. Capivari (M. R. B. Smith) ; Canavieiras (V. L. Mello); Guarajuba, Camacari (J. Delabie); Ilhéus (V. L. Mello); Ilhéus-Cepec (J. D. Majer); Ilhéus-Cepec (H. J. Santos); Itacaré (V. L. Mello); São Miguel, Ilheus (A. Batista); São Miguel, Ilheus (I. C. Nascimento) ; Para: Monte Dourado, Area 75 (C. J. Marsh) ; COLOMBIA San Andrés y Providencia : San Andrés Isla, Massalli Hill (F. Castellanos) ; COSTA RICA Alajuela: 11 mi N Florencia (D. H. Janzen) ; Heredia: Est. Biol. La Selva, 50–150 m ( INBio /OET) ; Limón: La Lola (D. H. Janzen) ; Puntarenas: 19 km S Cuidad Neily , 20 m (P. S. Ward); Sirena, Penin. Osa, 50 m (J. T. Longino); Golfito, 5 m (P. S. Ward) ; ECUADOR Los Ríos: Jauneche , 19 km WSW Mocache, 60 m (P. S. Ward) ; Napo: 1 km SW Archidona, W side Río Misahuallí , 550 m (A. L. Wild) ; 3 km NNE Archidona , 650 m (A. L. Wild); Jatun Sacha , 7 km ESE Pto. Misahuallí, 400 m (P. S. Ward); Orellana: Tiputini Biodiversity Station (T. Erwin) ; Sucumbios: Cuyabeno, Destacamento Patria , 200 m (D. A. Donoso); Sacha Lodge [as " Sacha "] (L. Huggert) ; FRENCH GUIANA Cayenne: Kaw Mountains , 325 m (K. Sarv); Petit Saut [as " Petit Saux "] (Estelle); Sinnamary (G. Délye); Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni: Haut-Itany (R. Garrouste) ; GUYANA Cuyuni-Mazaruni: Kartabo (W. M. Wheeler) ; East Berbice-Corentyne: New River , 750 ft. (C. A. Hudson) ; Essequibo Islands-West Demerara: Timehri , 0–50 m (J. T. Longino) ; Wales, 0–50 m (J. T.

Longino); NICARAGUA Madriz: 12.1 mi N Condega, Hwy. 1 (D. H. Janzen) ; PANAMA Colón: Pipeline Rd. (G. G. Montgomery; Y.Lubin) ; PERU Huánuco: Tingo Maria, Cueva de las Pavas (L. Huggert) ; Junín: Satipo (L. Huggert) ; Loreto: Iquitos, Barillal (L. Huggert) ; Madre de Dios : Cuzco Amazónico, 15 km NE Pto. Maldonado (S. P. Cover; J. E. Tobin); Pakitza, Rio Manu , 250 m (Erwin; Farrell) ; San Martín: 24 km NNE Tarapoto , 220 m (P. S. Ward); Convento , 26 km NNE Tarapoto , 220 m (P. S. Ward) ; Ucayali: Yurac, 67 mi E Tingo Maria (E. I. Schlinger; E. S. Ross) ; TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Couva-Tabaquite-Talparo: 2 km SE Las Lomas (J. K. Wetterer) ; Sangre Grande: Tapana (J. K. Wetterer) ; Siparia: La Brea (H. Morrison) ; Tobago: 1 1/ 8 mi ESE Adelphi (P. Feinsinger); Tunapuna-Piarco : 2 km E Carmichael (J. K. Wetterer) ; 2 km NW Howson, (J. K. Wetterer); Heights of Guanapo (J. K. Wetterer); Waller Field , 10 m (P. Feinsinger); Waller Field (J. K. Wetterer) ; VENEZUELA Aragua: Ocumare de la Costa , 20 m (P. S. Ward) ; Barinas : 10 km WNW Santa Barbara, 280 m (P. S. Ward) ; Bolívar: 49 km ENE Tumeremo , 200 m (P. S. Ward) ; Campamento Río Grande, 250 m (P. S. Ward); Rio Akanan , 470 m (J. Lattke); Miranda: Cúpira , 15 m (W. Goitia); Padron, Est. Exp. de Caucagua, ca. R. Tuy & R. Cuira (Brandão et al.) ; Trujillo: 19 km E Boconó , 600 m (P. S. Ward);

Worker measurements (n = 16). HL 0.65–0.75, HW 0.47–0.55, MFC 0.005–0.010, LHT 0.36–0.41, CI 0.69– 0.78, REL 0.57–0.64, REL2 0.79–0.87, FCI 0.010–0.019, FI 0.50–0.56, PLI 0.66–0.80, PWI 0.54–0.66.

Worker diagnosis. Small species (HL 0.65–0.75, HW 0.47–0.55) with elongate head and eyes (CI 0.69–0.78, REL 0.57–0.64, REL2 0.79–0.87); masticatory margin of mandible with 5 teeth; palp formula 4,3; juncture between dorsal and declivitous faces of propodeum usually notably angulate, sometimes producing slight tubercles laterally; anterodorsal face of petiole usually ascending relatively steeply ( Fig. 5 b). Head smooth and shiny with scattered fine punctulae; pronotum similar centrally, but remainder of mesosoma becoming sublucid, with coriarious-imbricate sculpture on most surfaces including mesopleuron, metapleuron and propodeum; petiole, postpetiole and gaster with moderately dense pubescence. Standing pilosity sparse (MSC 2); paired erect setae present on pronotal humeri, petiole and postpetiole. Dark brown, mandibles, frontoclypeal complex and tarsi lighter; pronotum, petiole and postpetiole often a contrastingly lighter medium- to yellowish-brown.

Comments. Workers of this species can be recognized by their small size (HW 0.47–0.55), shiny puncticulate head, angulate propodeum, and the presence of a single pair of erect setae on the pronotal humeri, petiole and postpetiole. P. obtusus and P. parvulus have a more densely sculptured head and less standing pilosity (lacking at least on the petiole). Differences between P. laeviceps and the closely similar P. micans are discussed under the latter species.

Distribution and biology. This species is distributed from Nicaragua to Bolivia and central Brazil, and has been recorded from tropical moist forest, rainforest, second-growth rainforest, and rainforest edge. Most collections consist of scattered foragers on low vegetation and on recent treefalls. I have collected seven nest series, all from dead twigs of woody plants: two from vines, three from Melastomataceae trees, and two from unidentified plants.

Figures

FIGURES 4 – 6. Pseudomyrmex goeldii group, workers, full-face dorsal view of head (a) and lateral profile of body (b). 4, P. goeldii, Brazil (CASENT 0907543); 5, P. laevifrons, Bolivia (CASENT 0762973); 6, P. micans, Peru (CASENT 0794101). Images from AntWeb (www. antweb. org); photographers Will Ericson (4) and Matthew Prebus (5, 6).