Megalomyrmex poatan

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Megalomyrmex poatan
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Megalomyrmex
Species group: silvestrii
Species: M. poatan
Binomial name
Megalomyrmex poatan
Brandão, 1990

Megalomyrmex poatan was described from a unique worker recovered from a leaf litter sample collected in San Pedro de la Sierra, Magdalena, Colombia submitted to Berlese. I received from the MCZ a second sample of this species, including 12 workers and one gyne (description below) from 15 Km north of Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata Province, Cuzco Amazonico, Peru, collected by S.P. Cover and J. Tobin (CA-27), elevation 200 m (12°36’S, 69°11’W). Three subsamples, including respectively three, two and one worker bear distinctive labels that read: “Camp. sifted litter from compost pile by trail to zone 1; Camp. in compost pile under bananas at forest edge, berlesate # 148; and seasonally flooded forest, plot ZUZI, flower fall, berlesate # 468”. (Brandão 2003)

Identification

Brandão (1990) - The sculpture pattern, head shape and the deeply excavated metanotal groove clearly distinguish this species from all other Megalomyrmex.

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 5.55° to -12.6°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Colombia (type locality), Peru.

Distribution based on AntMaps

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Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
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Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.
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Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • poatan. Megalomyrmex poatan Brandão, 1990b: 443, figs. 99, 100 (w.) COLOMBIA.
    • Type-material: holotype worker.
    • Type-locality: holotype Colombia: Magdalena, San Pedro de la Sierra, Pico Yerbabuena, 18.ii.1977 (C. Kugler).
    • Type-depository: MCZC.
    • Brandão, 2003: 154 (q.).
    • Status as species: Brandão, 1991: 354; Bolton, 1995b: 249; Brandão, 2003: 154; Guénard & Economo, 2015: 227; Fernández & Serna, 2019: 806.
    • Distribution: Colombia, Peru.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Mandibles smooth: dental formula 2+6: palpal formula 3:2: median area of clypeus depressed, but not marked by lateral carinae: anterior clypeal border without a clearly defined denticle: region between compound eyes and antennal sockets with concentric sculptures: 10 ocular facets at compound eyes largest diameter: occi­pital margin not raised; promesonotal suture not impressed dorsally, promesonotum profile con­tinuous: metanotal groove very deep and wide; base of dorsal face of propodeum higher than the metanotum in side view; katepistemum smooth: dorsal face and declivity indistinct; declivity with rugosities over the foramen; non-peduncula­ te petiole with anteventral denticle followed by a series of transversal rugosities covering the who­le ventral face; posterior slope of petiolar node rugose: postpetiole lower and broader than the petiole with ventral process small and globose.

Pilosity: only long hairs (ca. .2mm) all over the body surface. more common at dorsum, legs and scapes.

Color: bright reddish-brown with yellowish club of funiculus, coxae and trochanters.

Queen

Brandão (2003) - Three equally developed ocelli; mesonotum with parapsidal sutures but no notaulus; katepisternum distally rugose, the rugae continuing through the metapleura; propodeum dorsal face and declivity continuous and completely covered by rugosities, similar to those found in the workers; petiole with a series of transverse rugosities covering the whole ventral face, at the distal end of the petiole, the rugosities cover also the lateral faces, but do not reach the apex; the postpetiole posterodorsal face has one continuous rugosity just before the socket, although the rugosities are absent on the ventral face.

Type Material

San Pedro de la Sierra, Pico Yerbabuena (1730 m), Magdalena, Colombia (05°33'N, 74°37'W). The type was collected by C. Kugler from a Berlesate sample (Feb, 18 1977). Holotype at Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard.

Etymology

The characteristic head shape led me to use the name poatan, straight head in Tupi.

References

  • Brandão, C. R. F. 1990b. Systematic revision of the Neotropical ant genus Megalomyrmex Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae), with the description of thirteen new species. Arq. Zool. (São Paulo) 31: 411-481 (page 443, figs. 99, 100 worker described)
  • Brandão, C. R. F. 2003. Further revisionary studies on the ant gentus Megalomyrmex Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pap. Avulsos Zool. (São Paulo) 43: 145-159 (page 154, queen described)