Leptanilloides species groups

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The following is based on: Delsinne, T., Sonet, G. & Donoso, D.A. 2015. Two new species of Leptanilloides Mann, 1823 from the Andes of southern Ecuador. European Journal of Taxonomy. 143:1-35.

Leptanilloides biconstrictus species-group

species

Species from the Leptanilloides biconstrictus share the following characters: promesonotal connection completely unfused and flexible; lateroclypeal tooth (called genal tooth in Brandão et al. 1999, Longino 2003 and Donoso et al. 2006) well-developed (although apparently lacking in L. caracola Donoso et al., 2006, a species known only by its holotype; because this criterion may be difficult to observe with a stereo microscope, even at high magnification, the absence of a lateroclypeal tooth in L. caracola should be confirmed in SEM); abdominal segment III (postpetiole) nearly as high as abdominal segment IV; and postpetiolar spiracle situated proximately to the anterior margin of the tergite.

Moreover, species from this group are generally smaller than species of the L. legionarius species-group.

Leptanilloides legionarius species-group

species

Species from the Leptanilloides legionarius species-group share the following characters: promesonotal connection at least partially fused; lateroclypeal tooth absent or reduced; postpetiole reduced and isolated; and postpetiolar spiracle shifted posteriad on anteromedian side of the tergite.