Corrieopone nouragues, Esteves & Fisher, 2021

Esteves, Flavia A. & Fisher, Brian L., 2021, Corrieopone nouragues gen. nov., sp. nov., a new Ponerinae from French Guiana (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), ZooKeys 1074, pp. 83-173 : 83

Corrieopone nouragues sp. nov.

Figs 7 , 8 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 52A , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57

Type locality.

French Guiana: Cayenne, Nouragues Natural Reserve, Nouragues Research Station, Inselberg Station, Petit Plateau grid; 4.08354° N, 52.68368° W, ± 5 m; alt. 145 m; old-growth lowland terra-firme equatorial evergreen forest; in leaf litter at the base of an Astrocaryum palm ( Arecaceae ).

Type specimens.

Holotype: worker, pinned; "French Guiana: Rés. Nouragues, Inselberg Stn; 4.08354°, -52.68368°, ± 5m; 145m; rainforest; hand collection; 29 Aug. 2018; B.L. Fisher, M. Fichaux leg.; BLF41460"; CASC, CASENT0830464. Paratypes: French Guiana • 1 worker; same data as for holotype; JTLC, CASENT0645962 • 1 worker; same data as for holotype; MNHN, CASENT0872028 • 1 worker; same data as for holotype; MZSP, CASENT0872029 • 3 workers; same data as for holotype; CASC, CASENT0830465, CASENT0923158, CASENT0872031 • 1 dealated queen; same data as for holotype; CASC, CASENT0923157.

Worker description.

Measurements (N = 4; holotype values within parentheses): HL: 1.54-1.57 (1.57); HW: 1.33-1.41 (1.41); SL: 1.59-1.67 (1.67); WL: 2.14-2.26 (2.26); TL: 6.54-7.10 (7.06); CI: 87-90 (89); SI: 119-120 (119).

Medium-sized, slender ants (TL 6.54-7.1 mm) with characters as described for Corrieopone and the following:

Color: reddish brown; lateral surfaces of clypeus and appendages slightly lighter; apex of gaster yellowish (Fig. 37 ).

General vestiture: Head, mesosoma, petiole, and gaster vested with densely arranged, short, subdecumbent to suberect filiform setae, and with much sparser, longer, suberect to erect filiform setae; posterior region of abdominal segment VII with abundant longer setae (Figs 38A, B , 40A , 43A, C ). Dorsal face of mandible with sparse, appressed, filiform setae, grading laterad to buoyant, flexuous, longer filiform setae (Fig. 38A, E ). Legs dressed with densely arranged, short, subdecumbent to suberect filiform setae.

Sculpture: Head in dorsal view mostly punctate (Fig. 8D ). Mandibles sparsely punctate, with shallow fossulae skirting the apical two-thirds of the dorsal face of the masticatory margin (Fig. 8C ). Clypeus mostly smooth; region adjacent to median area weakly costulate. Pronotum weakly punctate dorsally, grading to costulate laterally (Fig. 8B ). Mesonotum weakly punctate. Anepisternum mostly smooth to sparsely costulate (Fig. 40B ). Katepisternum costulate dorsally, grading to obliquely strigulate ventrally (Fig. 40B ). In profile, metapleuron obliquely strigulate (Fig. 40C ). Propodeum strigulate-punctate dorsally; obliquely strigulate laterally (Fig. 40C ); declivitous face strigulate laterally, mostly smooth medially (Fig. 8F ). Petiolar tergite anterior face mostly smooth; lateral face mostly smooth, sparsely costulate, or confused rugose (Figs 8E , 43A ); posterior face mostly smooth dorsally, grading to strigate ventrally (Figs 8F , 43A ). Gaster weakly punctate; mostly smooth (Fig. 43C ).

Head: Head slightly longer than broad (CI: 87-90). In dorsal view, posterior margin of the head slightly concave medially (Figs 37B , 38A ). In profile, posteroventral curve of the head without a projecting flange (Figs 37C , 38B ). Mandibles triangular, edentate, devoid of basolateral and dorsal pits or dorsolateral and dorsomasticatory sulci (Figs 37B , 38A, E ). Basal three-fourths of the mandibular masticatory margin skirted ventrally by two rows of long, flexuous, helicoid setae, with a row of filiform setae present in between. Mandible with a row of filiform setae running obliquely from the basolateral area of the ventral face to the apex of the lateral face; with setae increasing in length towards mandibular apex; apicalmost seta helicoid. Torular lobes closely approximated (Fig. 38A, F ); torular lateral arches visible in dorsal view (Fig. 38F ). In profile, torular lobes located at the dorsalmost part of a prominence formed by the clypeal median area and the frontal carinae (Fig. 38B ). Lateral arch of the torulus projected dorsad, with a somewhat constricted rim (Fig. 38D, F ). Twelve antennomeres (Fig. 54A ); bulbus hemispherical, notched on the lateral margin (Fig. 54B ); bulbus neck tubular (Fig. 54C, D ). Antennal scape (antennomere I) surpassing the posterior margin of the head (SI: 119-120); antennomeres III and IV longer than all other preapical antennomeres save the scape; antennomere III almost as long as the apicalmost antennomere (Fig. 54A ). Compound eyes present, located just anterior to the midlength of the head, surrounded by a sulcus; widest diameter of compound eyes: six or seven ommatidia (Fig. 38A, B, D ). Ocelli absent. Labrum apically bilobed, with lobes broadly rounded apicolaterally (Fig. 39E ); long, acute cleft at midpoint of apical margin. Middle of outer face of the labrum bulging transversely, with a short, median carina extending basad from the median cleft; the carina may be a weak, blunt protrusion or a somewhat developed ridge (Fig. 55A, B ). Palpal formula 4,4 (Fig. 55C ); basalmost maxillary palpomere short, bulbous. Outer face of maxillary stipes without a transverse sulcus (Fig. 55C ). Galeal comb present (Fig. 55D ). Galeal crown armed with two or three elliptic setae (Fig. 55D ); inner face without a translucid comb of setae (Fig. 55C, D ). Premental shield without a transverse sulcus (Fig. 55C ).

Mesosoma: In dorsal view, mesonotum round, wider than the dorsal face of the propodeum but narrower than the pronotum (Fig. 37A ); metanotal sulcus mostly smooth, conspicuous. In profile, mesonotum dome-shaped; notopleural suture separating mesonotum from mesopleuron; promesonotum higher than propodeum; metanotal sulcus deeply impressed (Figs 37C , 40A ). In profile, mesopleuron divided into anepisternum and katepisternum (Fig. 40A, B ). Mesometapleural suture present (Fig. 40A-C ). Metathoracic spiracle concealed by a spiracular lobe (Fig. 40A, B ). Posterolateral surface of the metapleuron devoid of a longitudinal flange (Fig. 40A, C ). Orifice of the metapleural gland round, opening posterolaterad, with ventral margin atop a carina located on the posterolateral margin of the metapleuron (= metapleural carina; Fig. 40C, D ). Propodeal dorsum devoid of a median longitudinal impression, propodeal spines absent (Fig. 40A ), propodeal posterolateral margin not carinate (Fig. 40A, C ). In profile, propodeal lobe rounded, not surpassing posteriorly the dorsoposterior-most point of the rim of the propodeal foramen (Fig. 40C ); propodeal spiracle slit-shaped (Fig. 40A, C ). Mesosternal process bidentate; metasternal process bilobate, long (Fig. 40F ). Metacoxal cavities tightly encircled by unfused annuli (Fig. 40E ).

Legs: Apico-anterior portion of protibia with a brush of spatulate-costate setae, next to calcar of strigil (Fig. 41A ); apicoposterior portion of protibia devoid of stout, spine-like setae (Fig. 41B ). Basal third of the ventral margin of the calcar lamellate; lamella glabrous, devoid of any notch (Fig. 41B ). From base to apex, microtrichia on anterior face of calcar grades from tubiform to spatulate (Fig. 56A ); posterior face of calcar with lanceolate microtrichia (Fig. 41B ). Anterior and ventral faces of probasitarsus densely vested with spatulate-costate setae (Fig. 41A ), except for the area immediately anterior to the comb of strigil, which bears shorter, spatulate-bicuspid setae (Fig. 56B ). Comb of strigil skirted posteriorly by a sulcus (Fig. 56C ). Row of stout, spine-like setae on posterior face of probasitarsal notch, parallel to comb of strigil (Fig. 56C ). Counting from base to apex: anterior face of the second tarsomere of foreleg with spatulate-costate setae; ventral faces of second, third, and fourth tarsomeres with stout, spine-like setae (Fig. 42C ); fourth tarsomere cylindrical. Mesotibia with two spurs (Fig. 41C ); anterior spur simple (Fig. 56D ); posterior spur serrate, with lanceolate microtrichia on dorsal face (Fig. 41D ). Mesobasitarsus devoid of any longitudinal sulcus (Fig. 56D ); two rows of spine-like setae present along apical half of ventral face of mesobasitarsus and along entire ventral face of second, third, and fourth tarsomeres (Fig. 42D ). Metacoxal dorsum devoid of any spine-like projection. Posterior portion of metatibial apex with a glabrous, yellowish, oblong, weakly colliculate cuticular patch (Figs 41E , 57A, B ); cuticular patch with densely arranged, minute pores (visible under magnifications above 4700 ×; Fig. 57B ); pores round to slit-shaped (~0.29 um length; visible at 8500 × magnification); cuticle surrounding oblong cuticular patch with sparser, longer slit-shaped pores (~0.45 um length). Ventral face of metatibial apex with two spurs (Fig. 57D ); anterior spur simple and glabrous. Metatibial posterior spur pectinate; with lanceolate microtrichia on anterior face; with mostly glabrous posterior face, except for lanceolate microtrichia on dorsal surface (Fig. 57C, D ). Metabasitarsus devoid of any longitudinal sulcus (Fig. 57D ). Midline of the ventrobasal portion of metabasitarsus with a short, longitudinal carina armed with a row of short, spine-like setae (Fig. 57E ); the carina is followed apically by a longitudinal row of spatulate setae that extends to the midlength of the segment (Fig. 57F ); ventral face of metabasitarsus with the apical two-thirds bearing two rows of spine-like setae that skirt the midline row of spatulate setae. Dorsal faces of the mid- and hindlegs devoid of stout, spine-like setae (Fig. 42A, B ). Ventral faces of the second, third, and fourth tarsomeres with two rows of spine-like setae that skirt the midline of each segment (Fig. 42E ). Simple pretarsal claws on fore-, mid-, and hindlegs (Fig. 42C-F ). Arolium indistinct on pro-, meso-, and metapretarsi (Fig. 42C-F ).

Petiole: Sessile; surmounted by a high, unarmed, conic scale-like node that is narrow in profile and in dorsal view (Figs 37A, C , 43A ). Anteroventral portion of the tergite with a lateral carina (Fig. 43A ); spiracle orifice directed dorsolaterally; posterior face of the tergite with the ventral portion strigate; laterotergite delineated by a longitudinal suture (Fig. 43B ). Subpetiolar process keel-like, with a round anteroventral projection (Fig. 43A ), fenestra absent. Anterior disc of sternite with a round proprioceptor zone (Fig. 43B ). Sternite without a posterior spatulate projection (Fig. 43B ), articulation with the helcium visible in ventral view.

Gaster: Helcium infra-axial: positioned ventrad to the midheight of the anterior face of abdominal segment III (Fig. 43C ). Prora well-developed on the anterior face of the sternite of abdominal segment III, lip-shaped (Fig. 43C, D ). Abdominal segment IV tubular: tergite and sternite with similar lengths, tergite not arched (Fig. 43C ). Presclerites of the abdominal segment IV forming an even surface with postsclerites (Fig. 43C ), no girdling constriction. Small stridulitrum present on the pretergite of the abdominal segment IV (Fig. 43E, F ). Pygidium not armed with spine-like setae, no acute cuticular projections, dorsum convex. Hypopygium as described for the genus (Fig. 44 ).

Queen description.

Measurements (N = 1): HL: 1.65; HW: 1.54; SL: 1.74; WL: 2.51; TL: 8.48; CI: 93; SI: 113.

Dealate. Color dark brown; clypeus and appendages lighter, reddish; apex of gaster yellowish (Fig. 53A-D ). Similar to the worker caste but for the darker body color and slightly larger body length (TL 8.48), larger compound eyes, presence of ocelli, and differences in the mesosoma due to the presence of wings (Fig. 53 ). As described for the genus.

Etymology.

The specific epithet Corrieopone nouragues is a non-Latin noun in apposition. It honors the Nouragues (or Norak) people, a Tupi Amerindian population who once inhabited the area ( Grenand 1982), and the Nouragues Natural Reserve and Research Station.

Figures

Figure 7. Glossary of terminology, part IV: vestiture. Individual parts show SEM images taken from Corrieopone nouragues; paratypes, worker caste. Distinct types of seta and microtrichium are highlighted in orange A buoyant seta B elliptic seta C filiform seta D helicoid seta E hook-shaped seta F lanceolate microtrichium G spatulate seta H spatulate microtrichium I spatulate-costate seta J spatulate-bicuspid seta K stout, spine-like seta L tubiform microtrichium. Specimens imaged: CASENT 0872031 (A, C, D, K) and CASENT 0923158 (B, E-J, L). Images by FA Esteves; available at AntWeb. org. Scale bars: 0.01 mm.

Figure 8. Glossary of terminology, part V: sculpture. Individual parts show SEM images taken from Corrieopone nouragues; holotype, worker (CASENT 0830464) A rectangle encloses the colliculate sculpture on the metatibial apicoposterior surface B rectangle encloses the costulate lateral surface of the pronotum C arrows indicate the fossulae on the dorsal face of the mandible D punctate sculpture on the dorsoposterior area of the head E rectangle encloses the confused rugose sculpture on the petiolar profile F declivitous face of the propodeum and petiole in dorsal view; arrow indicates the strigulate sculpture; star highlights the strigate sculpture. Images by M Esposito (A, E) and FA Esteves (B-D, F); available at AntWeb. org. Scale bars: 0.1 mm (A, D); 0.2 mm (B, C, E, F).

Figure 37. Corrieopone nouragues, holotype, worker (CASENT 0830464) A body in dorsal view B head in full-face view C body in profile. Images by W Lee; available at AntWeb. org.

Figure 38. Corrieopone nouragues, paratype, worker (CASENT 0872031) A head in full-face view B head in profile; arrow indicates the torular lobes atop a prominence formed by the clypeal median area and the frontal carinae C dorsolateral face of the mandible D clypeus and torulus in profile; the arrowhead indicates the discontinuity between the posterior margins of the median and lateral arches of the torulus E dorsal face of clypeus and mandibles F torular lobes in dorsal view; the arrow points to the exposed lateral arch of the torulus. Images by FA Esteves; available at AntWeb. org. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (A, B); 0.3 mm (C, D, E, F).

Figure 39. Corrieopone nouragues, paratype, worker caste A clypeus in profile; mandible removed B anterior part of the head in oblique anterior view; mandibles and maxilla-labial complex removed C clypeus in oblique anterior view; mandibles and maxilla-labial complex removed D anterior part of the head in ventral view; mandibles and maxilla-labial complex removed E outer face of the labrum; basal towards the top of the image F outer face of the maxillolabial complex; basal towards the bottom of the image; Roman numerals indicate the count of maxillary and labial palpomeres. Specimens imaged: CASENT 0923158 (E, F); CASENT 0872031 (A-D). Images by FA Esteves; available at AntWeb. org. Abbreviations: avf, clypeal anteroventral face; df, clypeal dorsal face; vf, clypeal ventral face. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 40. Corrieopone nouragues, paratypes, worker caste A mesosoma in profile B mesopleuron and part of metapleuron and propodeum in profile C katepisternum, metapleuron, and propodeum in profile D metapleural gland orifice in posterolateral view E metapleuron (and posterior part of the mesopleuron) in ventral view; arrowhead indicates the unfused annulus around the metacoxal cavity F mesosternal and metasternal processes in posterolateral view, highlighted by arrowhead and star, respectively. Specimens imaged: CASENT 0872031 (A); CASENT 0923158 (B-F). Images by FA Esteves; available at AntWeb. org. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Figure 41. Corrieopone nouragues, worker caste A protibia and protarsus in anterior view B protibial apex and probasitarsus in posteroventral view C mesotibial apex and basal portion of the mesobasitarsus in ventral view D mesotibial apex and basal portion of the mesobasitarsus in posterior view E metatibial apex in posterior view; note the lighter, colliculate cuticular patch next to the posterior metatibial spur F metatibial spurs in anterior view. Specimens imaged: holotype CASENT 0830464 (E); paratype CASENT 0923158 (A, C, D, F); paratype CASENT 0872031 (B). Images by FA Esteves (A-D, F) and M Esposito (E); available at AntWeb. org. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 42. Corrieopone nouragues, paratypes, worker caste A midleg (minus coxa) in posterior view B hindleg (minus coxa) in anterior view C apex of the foreleg in anteroventral view D apex of the midleg in anteroventral view E apex of the hindleg in anteroventral view F apicalmost tarsomere and pretarsus of the foreleg in anteroventral view. Specimens imaged: CASENT 0923158 (A-C, E, F); CASENT 0872031 (B). Images by FA Esteves; available at AntWeb. org. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 43. Corrieopone nouragues, paratypes, worker caste A petiole in profile; arrowhead indicates the anteroventral lateral carina of the petiolar tergite B petiolar sternite in postlateroventral view; arrow indicates the proprioceptor zone on the anterior disc of the sternite C gaster in profile D helcium and prora in anterior view E the posterior portion of the abdominal tergite III and the anterior portion of the abdominal tergite IV in dorsal view; arrowhead indicates the stridulitrum F stridulitrum on abdominal pretergite IV. Specimens imaged: CASENT 0923158 (A, B, D); CASENT 0872031 (C, E, F). Images by FA Esteves; available at AntWeb. org. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 44. Corrieopone nouragues, worker caste A the concave ventral face of the hypopygium armed with stout, hook-shaped setae (see arrowheads) on its posteriormost portion B hypopygium in ventrolateral view C close-up of the median carina (see arrowhead) and hook-shaped setae of the hypopygium in ventrolateral view D hook-shaped setae of the hypopygium in posteroventral view. Specimens imaged: holotype CASENT 0830464 (A); paratype CASENT 0923158 (B-D). Images by FA Esteves; available at AntWeb. org. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 52. A Corrieopone nouragues; holotype, worker (CASENT 0830464) B Asphinctopone silvestrii; worker (CASENT 0406793) C Brachyponera arcuata; syntype, worker (CASENT 0916828) D Hagensia peringueyi; worker (CASENT 0256487) E Mayaponera constricta; worker (CASENT 0249137) F Mesoponera cf. ambigua; worker (CASENT 0629612). Images by W Lee (A), A Nobile (B), K Martynova (C), B Reynolds (D), R Perry (E), and JT Longino (F); available at AntWeb. org. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figure 53. Corrieopone nouragues, paratype, dealated queen (CASENT 0923157) A head in full-face view B body in profile C mesosoma in profile D body in dorsal view E metatibial apex and basal portion of the metabasitarsus in posterior view F medial area of abdominal segments III and IV in dorsal view. Images by M Esposito (A, B, D, F) and FA Esteves (C, E); available at AntWeb. org. Numbers: 1, mesoscutum; 2, indentation of the scutoscutellar sulcus; 3, mesoscutellum; 4, metanotum; 5, anepisternum; 6, katepisternum; 7, upper section of the metapleuron; 8, lower section of the metapleuron; 9, parapsidal line. Scale bars: 1 mm (A, B, D); 0.2 mm (C, E, F).

Figure 54. Antenna of Corrieopone nouragues; paratypes, worker caste A right antenna in ventral view (CASENT 0923158) B lateral face of the bulbus, bulbus neck, and basal portion of the main shaft of the scape; arrow indicates the notched lateral margin of the bulbus (CASENT 0872031) C bulbus (arrowhead) and bulbus neck (arrow) in anterior view, with the lateral side facing the right of the image (CASENT 0923158) D bulbus (indicated by arrowhead) and bulbus neck (indicated by arrow) in dorsal view with lateral side facing the right of the image (CASENT 0923158). Images by FA Esteves; available at AntWeb. org. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 55. Labrum and maxillolabial complex of Corrieopone nouragues; paratypes, worker caste A outer face of the labrum in ventrolateral view (CASENT 0872031); arrow indicates transverse protrusion; arrowhead indicate median carina B outer face of the labrum in apical view (CASENT 0923158); arrow indicates transverse protrusion; arrowhead indicate weak median carina C outer face of the maxillolabial complex (CASENT 0923158); basal towards the bottom of the image; Roman numerals indicate the count of maxillary and labial palpomeres D outer face of the galea (CASENT 0923158); galeal comb in orange; arrows indicate elliptic seta on the galeal crown; Roman numerals indicate maxillary palpomeres. Images by FA Esteves; available at AntWeb. org. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 56. Leg of Corrieopone nouragues; paratypes, worker caste A calcar of strigil in anterior view (CASENT 0872031) B probasitarsus in ventroanterior view (CASENT 0923158) C probasitarsal notch in posterior view (CASENT 0923158); arrow indicates longitudinal sulcus next to comb of strigil D ventral area of the mesotibia apical half and mesobasitarsus (CASENT 0872031). Images by FA Esteves; available at AntWeb. org. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

Figure 57. Leg of Corrieopone nouragues; paratypes, worker caste A colliculate cuticular patch on the posterior face of the metatibial apex (CASENT 0872031) B close-up of the colliculate cuticular patch on the metatibia (CASENT 0872031) C posterior metatibial spur in posterior view (CASENT 0872031) D metatibial spurs and metabasitarsus in anterior view (CASENT 0923158) E basal portion of the metabasitarsus in anterior view (CASENT 0923158); note the short, median carina (arrowhead) armed with a row of short, spine-like setae (colored in orange) F portion of the metabasitarsus anterior to its midlength, in anterior view (CASENT 0923158). Images by FA Esteves; available at AntWeb. org. Scale bars: 0.05 mm (A, B); 0.2 mm (C, D); 0.1 mm (E, F).