Dohrniphora ecitophila Borgmeier

Brown, Brian V. & Kung, Giar-Ann, 2010, 2699, Zootaxa 2699, pp. 1-142 : 23-24

Dohrniphora ecitophila Borgmeier

( Figs 33–34, 329)

Dohrniphora ecitophila Borgmeier 1960: 271–272 , fig. 18.

Dohrniphora geminata Borgmeier 1960: 283 , fig. 37. Synonymized by Borgmeier 1968: 33.

Holotype. ♀, BRAZIL: Goiás: Campinas , 13.xi.1933, R. Schwarzmaier, with Eciton dulcius [ LACM ENT 212914 ] ( MZSP; examined).

Recognition. This species is somewhat similar to D. buscki , but that species has a prominent sensory structure on the forefemur, has more widely spaced and dorsally placed peglike setae, and is generally darker in color.

Borgmeier (1968) synonymized two Brazilian species, D. geminata , known only from male specimens, with D. ecitophila , known only from females, with no discussion. Possibly, this decision was based on a later collection of D. geminata males with army ants in Panama, after which Borgmeier might have concluded that “the” army-ant-associated Dohrniphora was D. ecitophila . As has been shown by recent authors, however, many species of Dohrniphora are associated with army ants ( Disney & Kistner, 1998; Disney & Berghoff, 2005, 2007; Disney & Rettenmeyer, 2007). Additionally, association of male Dohrniphora with females based only on structure and color is highly questionable in most cases. To investigate whether this synonymy is valid, Mr. John Hash is sequencing both to compare base pair similarities.

Description. Body length: 2.34–3 mm. Head: Frons dark brown, second row of setae slightly concave. Flagellomere 1 pyriform, brown, lighter basally. Palpus of normal size, yellow. Thorax: Scutum light brown to brown. Scutellum light brown to brown, with 2 pairs of setae; anterior seta one-quarter length of posterior seta. Pleuron light brown to brown. Mean costal length 0.54 wing length, range 0.51–0.56. Halter yellow. Legs yellowish-brown, hind femur darker. Forecoxa in lateral view yellowish-brown. Foretibia with 4 dorsal setae. Foretarsomeres slender, elongate ( Fig. 329). Midcoxa brown. Hind coxa yellowish-brown. Hind coxal lobe yellow, elongate, narrow, posteriorly pointed. Posterior face of hind femur with row of peglike setae close to ventral margin of hind femur and several minute setulae more dorsally; more distally with small, rounded lobe ( Figs 33–34). Abdomen: Abdominal tergite 1 brown, tergites 2–6 brown, tergite 2 yellow anteriorly and all tergites with yellow posterior seam; tergite 6 deeply emarginate posteriorly. Venter of abdomen yellow, with few longer setae on segment 5. Male terminalia with epandrium yellowish-brown, hypandrium brown, and cercus yellow.

Other material examined. 145♂ specimens from the following localities: ARGENTINA: Misiones: Urugua-í. BOLIVIA: La Paz: Cumbre Alto Beni. BRAZIL: Amazonas: Manaus; Minas Gerais: Caraça; Rio de Janeiro: Rio de Janeiro. COLOMBIA: Amazonas: Amacayacu NP, Cgto. La Pedrera; Bolivar: SFF Colorados; Chocó: PNN Utría; Magdalena: PNN Tayrona: Meta: PNN La Macarena; Nariño: RN La Planada; Valle de Cauca: PNN Farallones de Cali; Vaupés: EB Mosiro-Itajura (Caparú). COSTA RICA: Guanacaste: Finca Montezuma, Volcan Cacao; Heredia: Chilamate, La Selva; Limón: Pandora; Puntarenas: 24 km W Chacarita, Las Alturas , Monteverde , RP Karen Mogensen; San José: Nacientes Palmichal, San Antonio de Escazu. ECUADOR: Napo: Tiputini; Pichincha: Tinalandia. FRENCH GUIANA: Regina: Patawa. MEXICO: Jalisco: Chamela. PANAMA: Canal Zone: Barro Colorado Island . PERU: Madre de Dios: Avispas, Cocha Cashu. VENEZUELA: Aragua: Pico Guacamayo .