Pseudomyrmex opaciceps

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Pseudomyrmex opaciceps
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Pseudomyrmecinae
Genus: Pseudomyrmex
Species: P. opaciceps
Binomial name
Pseudomyrmex opaciceps
Ward, 1993

Pseudomyrmex opaciceps casent0005848 profile 1.jpg

Pseudomyrmex opaciceps casent0005848 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

P. opaciceps is evidently a generalist twig-nesting Pseudomyrmex, but Janzen also collected it from an Acacia cornigera tree overgrown by vines and unoccupied by the P. ferrugineus group (5 mi. W Retalhuleu, Guatemala, collection numbers M010714966-A and M010716966-D). (Ward 1993)

Identification

Ward (1993) - This species is distinguished from the closely related and sympatric Pseudomyrmex gracilis by a modest but consistent difference in head sculpture. In workers and queens of P. opaciceps the punctulate-coriarious sculpture and associated dense pubescence obscure the sheen of the head, producing a matte appearance under soft light, while in P. gracilis the head remains at least weakly shining. In addition the workers and queens of P. opaciceps average smaller in size than those of P. gracilis and they have a more slender petiole (PLI < 0.48). Finally, P. opaciceps has a distinctive and largely invariant color pattern: the pale yellow or orange-brown petiole, postpetiole and gaster contrast with the much darker head and mesosoma. This is not observed in Central American P. gracilis, although a similar color pattern occurs in some Colombian populations of P. gracilis, and it also seen in some individuals of the more distantly related South American species Pseudomyrmex venustus (F. Smith).

Distribution

Guatemala, Mexico and El Salvador.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 15.19° to 14.613°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: El Salvador, Guatemala (type locality), Mexico.

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.

  • opaciceps. Pseudomyrmex opaciceps Ward, 1993: 159, fig. 5 (w.q.m.) GUATEMALA.

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

Description

measurements (n=14). —HL 1.30-1.42, HW 1.33- l .43, MFC 0.040-0.058, CI 0.99-1.04, REL 0.57-0.61, REL2 0.56-0.61, OOI 0.14-0.68, VI 0.65-0.71, FCI 0.029-0.042, SI 0.46-0.50, SI2 0.77-0.88, PI 0.36-0.39, PDI 1.12-1.37, MPI 0.059-0.076, NI 0.65-0.70, PLI 0.42-0.47, PWI 0.38-0.43, PPWI 0.92-1.16.

With the traits of the P. gracilis group and the following more specific features. Head about as broad as long; anterior margin of median clypeal lobe straight to weakly convex; pronotum with blunt dorsolateral margination; mesonotum more steeply inclined than basal face of propodeum; petiole long and slender (see PLI and PWI values) with a distinct anterior peduncle; head densely punctulate-coriarious and matte; standing pilosity abundant, pale silvery-white, not black. Color: head and mesosoma dark brown to black, mandibles and appendages lighter brown; petiole, postpetiole and gaster a contrasting pale luteous brown or orange-brown. Portions of the fronto-clypeal complex, malar area, and mandibles may also be luteous brown.

Type Material

Holotype worker. —GUATEMALA Retalhuleu: Puente Samala, 3.8 mi. NE San Felipe, 24.vii.1966, D. H. Janzen W006724966 (Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History). HW 1.43, HL 1.42, EL 0.85, PL 0.89, PH 0.39.

Paratypes. —Series of 11 workers with same data as holotype; large series of ca. 60 workers and 10 males with the same locality and collector as holotype but the following dates and collection numbers: 18.vii.1966 M002718966 (possibly mis-labelled — see below), 18.vii.1966 W002718966, 18.vii.1966 W004718966, 18.vii.1966 W005718966 (possibly mis-labelled — see below), 23.vii.1966 W002723966, 24.vii.1966 W001724966, 24.vii.1966 W003724966 (The Natural History Museum, LACM, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Philip S. Ward Collection, University of California, Davis, National Museum of Natural History).

References

  • Ward, P. S. 1993. Systematic studies on Pseudomyrmex acacia-ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Pseudomyrmecinae). J. Hym. Res. 2: 117-168 (page 159, fig. 5 worker, queen, male described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Brandao C. R. F., F. A. Esteves, and L. P. Prado. 2010. A catalogue of the Pseudomyrmecinae ant type specimens (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao paulo, Brazil. Papeis Avulsos de Zoologia 50(45): 693-699.
  • Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133
  • Ward, P.S. 1993. Systematic studies on Pseudomyrmex acacia-ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Journal of Hymenoptera Research 2(1):117-168