Neivamyrmex wilsoni, Snelling, G. C. & Snelling, R. R., 2007

Snelling, G. C. & Snelling, R. R., 2007, New synonymy, new species, new keys to Neivamyrmex army ants of the United States., Advances in ant systematics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Homage to E. O. Wilson - 50 years of contributions. (Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80), pp. 459-550 : 491-492

Neivamyrmex wilsoni , new species

Figures 16, 26, 48, 61, 74, 87

DIAGNOSIS

Worker. Eye spot absent; front of head smooth and shiny, with scattered coarse punctures; subantennal lamella well developed; petiole longer than broad in dorsal view, sides anteriorly convergent; postpetiole distinctly wider than long, disc smooth and shiny, sides shiny and lightly sculptured. Queen and male unknown.

DESCRIPTION

Worker measurements (mm) (n = 12). HL 0.48 - 0.77 (0.77); HW 0.36 - 0.70 (0.70); SL 0.24 - 0.0.405 (0.405); SW 0.07 - 0.14 (0.14); PW 0.14 - 0.24 (0.24); PL 0.16 - 0.27 (0.27); PpL 0.12 - 0.23 (0.23); PpW 0.19 - 0.30 (0.30); HFL 0.34 - 0.62 (62); HFW 0.09 - 0.17 (0.17). Indices: CI 75 - 93 (90); FI 25 - 31 (28); SI 49 - 61 (52).

Head slightly longer than broad to distinctly longer than broad in minors, sides weakly convex; front of head smooth and shiny, with scattered coarse punctures; dorsolateral angle slightly developed, with strong preoccipital carina extending ventrad. Antennal scape about 2.9 × longer than broad, evenly tapering toward base. Subantennal lamella well-developed. Mandible triangular, outer face weakly longitudinally striate; inner margin sharply angulate with masticatory margin, latter with small indistinct teeth.

Mesosoma contiguously punctate, slightly shiny. Promesonotal suture indistinct. Mesonotum smooth and shiny. Dorsum of propodeum opaque, in profile distinctly longer than slightly concave declivitous face.

Petiole longer than broad in dorsal view and with sides convergent anteriorly, in profile dorsum evenly arched and abruptly descending anteriorly, disc shiny between sparse fine punctures; side punctate and opaque; subpetiolar process usually absent, but sometimes with small anteriorly directed tooth. Postpetiole distinctly wider than long, disc smooth and shiny, sides shiny and lightly sculptured.

Gaster smooth and shiny between small widely scattered punctures.

Pilosity about as usual in Neivamyrmex : a combination of sparse short to long, suberect to erect simple hairs.

TYPE MATERIAL

Holotype and numerous paratypes, U. S. A., California, San Diego Co., Elliot Reserve , Mira Mar (32.84 ° N 117.11 ° W), 28 March 1996 (A. Suarez). Holotype and most paratypes in LACM; paratypes also in BMNH, CASC, MCZC, and UCDC.

ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS

CALIFORNIA, Orange Co.: Starr Ranch , 520 m (33 ° 36 ' N 117 ° 33 ' W) (P. S. Ward, # 14325 - 3; UCDC), ex midden of Solenopsis xyloni . Riverside Co.: Lake Skinner , 462 m (33 ° 35 ' N 117 ° 02 ' W) (A. V. Suarez # 1378.7; UCDC), ex midden of Forelius sp . San Bernardino Co.: Caruthers Canyon (32.25 ° N 115.30 ° W), 1725 m (P. S. Ward, # 15175; UCDC), under stone .

ETYMOLOGY

We name this species in honor of Ed Wilson, a small recognition of his many achievements in ant systematics, sociobiology and ecology.

DISTRIBUTION (Map 2)

Presently known only from southern California.

DISCUSSION

This small species is most similar to N. nyensis and may be confused with that species. It may be separated by the shorter antennal scape (3.0 × as long as wide vs. 4.0 × as long as wide) and the opaque mesosomal dorsum. The only other local species with which N. wilsoni might be confused is N. leonardi , but in that species the mandibular teeth are better defined and the postpetiole is twice as wide as long. N. wilsoni is also a more hairy ant than other similar species. Large workers are further characterized by having the lower two-thirds or three-fourths of the head weakly longitudinally strigulose.

Known habitats include oak-pine-juniper woodland, chamise chaparral and coastal sage scrub.

Automontage images of this species (as Neivamyrmex CA- 01) are available at antweb. org.