Adelomyrmex betoi

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Adelomyrmex betoi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Adelomyrmex
Species: A. betoi
Binomial name
Adelomyrmex betoi
Fernández, 2003

Adelomyrmex betoi jtlc000003150 profile 1.jpg

Adelomyrmex betoi jtlc000003150 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

A. betoi occurs in wet forest habitats above 1000 m in the mountains of Oaxaca and Veracruz states, Mexico.

Identification

Adelomyrmex betoi has a highly distinctive habitus. The rugae on the face and dorsal mesosoma are beaded, unlike all other species in the genus. The postpetiole has a short, concave, smooth and shining posterior face that is closely appressed to the gastral dorsum and sharply separated from the sculptured dorsal face by a pronounced sharp transverse carina. The postpetiole shape may represent a transitional stage between the long, posteriorly pointed postpetiole of Adelomyrmex silvestrii and the more globular to trapezoidal postpetiole of all other species. The three collections reported by Fernández are unique in the genus in being essentially hairless, with no erect setae on the dorsal surfaces of the head, mesosoma, and gaster. All other species in the genus are abundantly setose. However, a fourth collection is tentatively identified as A. betoi, although the workers differ dramatically in pilosity. A series of six workers was collected in a Berlese sample by R. S. Anderson in 1992 (RSA92-029), within a few km of the same locality as the Peck paratype, south of Valle Nacional in Oaxaca. In all size, shape, and sculpture characters they are identical to the paratype I have in my collection (S. Peck B204). However, they are abundantly clothed in dorsal pilosity, expressing the condition typical for the genus. Further work is needed to determine whether this variation is intra or interspecific. (Longino 2012)

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Adelomyrmex betoi is only known from the three collections reported in Fernández (2003) and a fourth potentially conspecific collection discussed below. The holotype is from evergreen wet forest around some springs 10km NNE of Córdoba. Although I do not have the precise georeference for this area, the elevation of the region is between 1000 and 1500 m. A second site near Córdoba is reported, also near 1000 m elevation. The third reported site was 15 miles south of Valle Nacional. Although reported with an elevation of 400 ft, this is almost certainly an error. Fifteen miles south on the main highway from Valle Nacional is between 1500–1600 m elevation. Thus A. betoi occurs in wet forest habitats above 1000 m in the mountains of Oaxaca and Veracruz states, Mexico. (Longino 2012)

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 18.5859972° to 17.6364°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Mexico (type locality).

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

Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

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

  • betoi. Adelomyrmex betoi Fernández, 2003b: 13, fig. 72 (w.) MEXICO (Veracruz, Oaxaca).
    • Status as species: Longino, 2012: 13.

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

Description

Worker

Holotype. HL 0.59 HW 0.49 SL 0.32 EL 0.025 WL 0.55 GL 0.72 TL 2.35 CI 83 SI 67.

Mandibles with 5 teeth. Anterior margin of clypeal plate concave. Eyes small, with 4 ommatidia. Hypostomal tooth inconspicuous. Mesosoma evenly curved, metanotal groove shallow. Propodeal teeth triangular, the point upward. Petiolar node thick. Postpetiole posteriorly with a strong transverse carinae. Head rugoreticulated, the rugulae long, longitudinal, the sculpturation mixed with dense punctuation. Promesonotum irregularly rugolose at center, rugoreticulated in the periphery. All carinae or rugulae beade-like. Petiole and postpetiole laterally with irregular rugulae. Mesosoma and gaster devoid of any pilosity. Head, mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole dark brown, appendages and gaster brown.

Type Material

Holotype worker: MÉXICO: Veracruz, Córdoba, Paraje Nuevo, Nacimiento, tropical evergreen forest, Ver. 176, 7.viii.1969, S. & J. Peck (Deposited in Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo). Paratypes: MÉXICO: 3 w, Veracruz, 4.4 mi N Huatusco, 4200’, 2.viii.1973, A. Newton (Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo). 13 w, MÉXICO: Oaxaca, 15 mi S Valle Nacional town, 400 feet, 21.V.1971, S. Peck leg. No. 204 (Deposited in Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Humboldt Institute, Insect Collection, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Instituto de Zoologia Agricola, National Museum of Natural History, The Natural History Museum, Philip S. Ward Collection).

References

  • Fernández, F. 2003b. Revision of the myrmicine ants of the Adelomyrmex genus-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 361: 1-52 (page 13, fig. 72 worker described)
  • Longino, J.T. 2012. A review of the ant genus Adelomyrmex Emery 1897 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Central America. Zootaxa 3456, 1–35.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
  • Longino J. et al. ADMAC project. Accessed on March 24th 2017 at https://sites.google.com/site/admacsite/
  • Vasquez-Bolanos M. 2011. Checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Mexico. Dugesiana 18(1): 95-133.
  • Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133