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

Pseudomyrmex exoratus sp. nov.

Figs. 14 and 24

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

Pseudomyrmex 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 ); 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.

Figures

Fig. 13–15. Pseudomyrmex elongatulus group, workers, full-face dorsal view of head (a), and lateral profile of body (b). 13, P. capillatus, holotype, Mexico (CASENT0863535); 14, P. exoratus, holotype worker, Mexico (CASENT0863539); 15, P. fasciatus, holotype, Costa Rica (CASENT0863540). Images from AntWeb (www.antweb.org); photographer PhilWard.

Fig. 19–26. Pseudomyrmex elongatulus group: distribution maps. 19, P. apache; 20, P. arcanus (circles), P. fasciatus (triangles); 21, P. championi; 22, P. capillatus (triangles), P. cognatus (circles); 23, P. elongatulus (circles), probable introduced populations (stars); 24, P. comitator (square), P. ereptor (triangle), P. exoratus (circles); 25, P.salvini; 26, P. nimbus (circles), P. veracruzensis (triangle).