Probolomyrmex boliviensis Mann, 1923

Oliveira, Aline M. & Feitosa, Rodrigo M., 2019, Taxonomic revision of the genus Probolomyrmex Mayr, 1901 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Proceratiinae) for the Neotropical Region, Zootaxa 4614 (1), pp. 61-94 : 68-70

Probolomyrmex boliviensis Mann, 1923

( Figs. 8 , 9 , 10 )

Holotype: Bolivia, Beni: Rurrenabaque, W.M. Mann. USNM, type 25906 (queen) [ NMNH] [examined].

Diagnosis: Antennal scape extends to posterior third of cephalic capsule, distance from scape apex to posterior margin of head less than or equal to two times pedicel length. Postero-ventral lobe of petiole short and rounded. Subpetiolar process weakly developed. Prora and dorsal protuberance on posterior region of first gastral tergite present.

Worker measurements: (n=35) HL 0.63–0.72; HW 0.37–0.42; SL 0.43–0.56; WL 0.85–1.02; PL 0.31–0.41; PW 0.31–0.36; PH 0.27–0.36; TL 2.78–3.27; CI 56.5–61.5; SI 67.5–77.5; PI 76.5–94.5.

Worker description: Frontoclypeal shelflike projection with hair-bearing tubercles or cylindrical micro-pegs. Mandibles densely punctate; external surface of mandibular basal margin smooth ( Fig. 8B – esm). Antennal funiculi with pits in each segment, tip of apical segment bearing pits of different sizes ( Fig. 8C – ap). Mesopleuron, metapleuron and lateral faces of propodeum alveolate; alveoli denser just above metapleural gland orifice; opening of metapleural gland narrow, with smooth anterior region surrounded by rows of hairs ( Fig. 8D ). Petiolar node with incomplete foveae, intercalated by micropunctures; latero-ventral region of petiole imbricate; subpetiolar process alveolate ( Fig. 8E ). Posterior region of second gastral tergite with transversal rows of deep rounded pits.

Space between mesosomal foveae covered by dense pubescence. Pygidium with dense pubescence and few long and thick hairs.

Head 1.7 times longer than wide ( Fig. 9B ). Hypostomal margin flattened ( Fig. 8B – he). Antennal scapes extend beyond head midlength, distance from scape apex to of head less than or equal to two times pedicel length (SI 67.5–77.5). Propodeal declivity emarginated laterally by narrow and dark carina, with teeth at their apexes. Petiole in lateral view at least 1.2 times longer than high (PI 76.5–94.5), posterodorsally with two weakly developed, round, projections; node posterior face short, concave, and smooth; postero-ventral lobe short and rounded; subpetiolar process weakly developed, many times forming acute anterior projection ( Fig. 8E ). First gastral segment with prora and dorsal protuberance on posterior region of tergite, characterized by a gentle elevation of the integument ( Figs. 8A – ppd, 9A).

Queen: (n=3) HL 0.63–0.70; HW 0.40–0.50; SL 0.44–0.61; WL 0.89–0.93; PL 0.32–0.33; PH 0.29–0.31; TL 2.96–3.08; CI 61.5–69; SI 76.5–77.5; PI 86.5–94.5. With the morphological modifications described for Probolomyrmex queens and the diagnostic characters of the workers ( Fig. 10 ).

Larva (see Taylor, 1965).

Distribution ( Fig. 28 ): Northern Brazil (AC and RO), Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, and Peru.

Comments: P. boliviensis is similar to P. guanacastensis , but the latter is smaller and has distinctly shorter scapes. Both species are found in Costa Rica but differ in habitat. Probolomyrmex guanacastensis is restricted to the Guanacaste region, in tropical dry forest with average rainfall below 1700 mm /year. Costa Rican P. boliviensis are known from Limón and southern Puntarenas provinces, in tropical submontane rainforests up to 1000m and average rainfall between 3500–5000 mm /year ( Janzen, 1991; IMN, 2019).

Taylor (1965) found a nest of P. boliviensis in an old beetle gallery in a fairly sound, dry portion of a rotting branch on the floor of primary rainforest in Panama, with 22 workers, seven queens (four of them alate) and 19 immatures. It was taken to the laboratory for observation where various small soil arthropods and eggs were placed in the nest from time to time, but none of these organisms was attacked or accepted as food. This species was also recorded in termite nests and leaf-litter samples ( Taylor, 1965).

Additional material examined (n=87): BRAZIL: Acre: Senador Guiomard, Faz. Exp. Catuaba , 10°4’48.13”S 67°37’37.87”W, 220m, 07.ix.2016, A.C. Ferreira, R.M. Feitosa & T.S. Silva col. (1 worker) [ DZUP] ; Mâncio Lima, P.N. da Serra do Divisor, Mirante , 7°26’56.65”S 73°40’13.94”W, 360m, 15–18.ix.2016, A.C. Ferreira, R.M. Feitosa & T.S. Silva col. (2 workers) [ DZUP] ; Rondônia: Porto Velho, Área Abunã , 09°35’53.1”S 65°22’00.1”W, 04– 18.ix.2012, Vicente R.E. & Oliveira J. cols, A10P1 DZUP 549760 (1 queen) [ DZUP] ; 09°35’48”S 65°21’56”W, 17–30.vi.2012, Sanhudo C.E.D. & Andrioli F.S. cols, A10P1 (2 workers) [ DZUP]; (2 workers) [ MZSP]; 09°36’36”S 65°22’44”W, A12P1 (5 workers – 1 queen) [ MZSP] ; 09°35’53.1”S 65°49’58.2”W, 4–18.ix.2012, Vicente R.E. & Oliveira J. cols C3P1 (1 worker) [ DZUP] ; 09°36’36”S 65°22’44”W, 17–30.vi.2011, Albuquerque EZ & LF Silva cols, A12P1 (4 workers – 1 queen) [ MZSP] ; 70°6’3,1”W 12°34’8,4”S, 08–11.iii.2010, R. Feitosa & R. Silva cols, A12P1 (3 workers) [ MZSP] ; Área Caiçara , 09°26’41”S 64°49’39”W, 29.iii–05.iv.2012, Silva R.R. & Albuquerque E.Z. cols, C3P1 (5 workers) [ MPEG]; (3 workers) [ MZSP]; 09°26’46.8”S 64°49’31.1”W, 04–18.ix.2012, Vicente R.E. & Oliveira J. cols, C3P1 (1 worker) [ DZUP] ; 09°26’41”S 64°49’39”W, 27.iii–09.iv.2011, RR Silva & RM Feitosa cols, C3P1 (1 queen) [ MZSP] ; 09°26’52”S 64°50’05”W, C3P2 (5 workers) [ MZSP] ; 09°26’18”S 64°50’36”W, 04–17.i.2011, RR Silva & R Probst cols, C1P2 (1 queen) [ MZSP] ; Área Mutum , 09°35’29.5”S 65°02’57.6”W, 28.iv–12.v.2013, Mazão G.R. & Mendonça R.T.T. cols, M5P3 (1 worker) [ MZSP] ; 09°36’06”S 65°03’35”W, 29.iii– 05.iv.2012, Silva RR & Albuquerque EZ cols, M8P1 (3 workers) [ MZSP] ; 09°35’44”S 65°04’00”W, M7P1(1 work- er – 1 queen) [ DZUP]; DZUP 549761 (1 worker) [ DZUP];(2 workers) [ MZSP]; 09°35’26”S 65°02’52”W, M5P1 (1 worker - 1 queen) [ MZSP] ; 09°34’49”S 65°03’13”W, 08-20.ix.2011, FS Andriolli & WF Datilo cols, M5P3 (1 queen) [ MZSP] ; 09°36’06”S. 65°03’35”W, 08–21.ix.2010, RR Silva & RM Feitosa cols, M8P1 (1 worker) [ MZSP] . COLOMBIA: Antioquia: Amalfi, Cañon del rio Porce , 6°47’6.25”N 75°8’29.08”W, ix.2006, M.A. Vanegas, 1015,1 msnm, (1 worker) [ DZUP] ; Valle del Cauca: Zarzal, Bosque El Medio, 4° 20’N 76° 4’W 950m, 12.iii.1999, L. Osorio Leg, PON47/271 Tronco descomp., Det. G. Zabala. 2013, PON 47 (1 worker) [ MZSP] ; Magdalena: Tayrona PK, Pueblito , 1.x.1976, C. Kugler, Berlese (1 worker) [ MCZ] . COSTA RICA: Province Limon: Guapiles , 10°13’N 83°47’W, 28.iv.1996, R. Matlock col (1 worker) [ INBIO] ; Puntarenas: 15km SSW Pto. Jimenez , 8.40798 - 83.32791, 170m, 7.v.2010, J. Longino, #JTLC6901.29 CASENT 0612004 (1 queen) [ JTLC] ; +- 30m 170m, 7.iii.2010, J. Longino #JTL6901.21 CASENT0611998 (1 worker) [ DZUP] . HONDURAS: Gr. a Dios: Las Marias , 15.66442° -84.85764°, 60m, 8.vi.2010, LLAMA, #Wa-C- 07-1-25 CASENT0612324 (1 worker) [ JTLC] ; 15.66538 -84.85738 +- 20m 60m, 8.vi.2010, LLAMA#Wa-C- 07-1-47 CASENT0612331 (1 queen) [ DZUP] . PAN- AMA: Canal Zone: Barro Colorado Island : 21.vi.1961, R.W & W. Taylor, Rotten branch 3” diameter forest floor (3 workers) [ MCZ] ; Det. Taylor, 1964 CASENT0101757 (1 worker) [ MHNG] ; Mekou 064007, Det. R. W. Taylor, 1965 (1 worker) [ NMNH] ; Rdep , 5.v.1983, D. Wheeler, Berlese (1 worker) [ MCZ]; LN 9 °9’ LW 079°51’ 20–50m, v–viii.2007, J.Z.Shik (2 workers) [ DZUP] ; Mekou 064008 (1 worker) [ MZSP] ; Mekou 064414 (1 worker) [ MZSP] ; Panamá Prov.: Gamboa / Pipeline. Rd - 2km past Rio Frijoles , 72m, 25.v.2002, C.J. Marshall, CJM 020525 -01-LS02 Litter sample, Det. J. Sosa 2003 00411652USNM (2 workers) [ NMNH] ; Colón Province: San Lorenzo Forest , 9°17’N 79°58’W, 30.xi.2004, Dejean, Orivel, Corbara, Aberlac, Leponce, W12634 Winkler (1 worker) [ CPDC]; W12634 (1 worker) [ MPEG]; W12348 (1 worker) [ CPDC]; W12351 (1 worker) [ CPDC] . PERU: Madre de Dios: Reserva Nacional Tambopata / Centro Sachavacayoc , 12°51’21”S 69°21’43”W 210 m, 19–31.vii.2012, J. Lattke col, Curso hormigas, (1 worker) [ DZUP] ; Los Amigos Field Station , 70°6’3.1”W 12°34’8.4”S 277m, 6.x.2004, T.R. Schultz, C. Marshall, J. Sosa-Calvo, JSC 041006 -16, TRS 041006 -01-LS-16 Trail 6 - 1° forest litter sample, USNM 00446594 (2 workers) [ NMNH] ; Cuzco Amazonico: 15 km NE of Puerto Maldonado - Tambopata Prov. , 200m, 22.vi.1989, S.P. Cover & J. Tobim, CA - 386/MUSM-ENT0200711 Terra firme forest, plot1U15, rotten chunk of wood 1/2 buried in soil, (1 worker) [ MUSM] ; 100m, (4 workers) [ MCZ]; CA 892 (1 worker) [ MCZ] ; 220m, CASENT0102223 (1 worker) [ BMNH] .

Figures

FIGURE 8. SEM micrography of Probolomyrmex boliviensis (worker - DZUP 549761). A. Habitus (pr = prora; ppd = dorsal protuberance in the posterior region of the first gastral tergite). B. Mandibles (he = hypostomal margin; esm = external surface of basal region of mandible). C. Antenna (ap = antennal pit). D. Metapleural gland. E. Petiole (pil = postero-inferior lobe of petiole; sp = subpetiolar process).

FIGURE 9. Probolomyrmex boliviensis (worker - DZUP 549761). A. Habitus. B. head in frontal view. C. dorsal view.

FIGURE 10. Probolomyrmex boliviensis (queen - DZUP 549760). A. Habitus. B. head in frontal view. C. dorsal view.

FIGURE 28. Distribution map for the Neotropical species of Probolomyrmex.