Adelomyrmex nortenyo Longino

Longino, John T., 2012, A review of the ant genus Adelomyrmex Emery 1897 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Central America, Zootaxa 3456, pp. 1-35 : 25-26

Adelomyrmex nortenyo Longino , sp. nov.

Figure 2 , 18

Type material. Holotype worker. Mexico, Tamaulipas: Rancho del Cielo, nr cabins, 23.10105 −99.19233 ± 50 m, 1200 m, 17 Jul 2006 (R. S. Anderson 2006-0005) [ CAS, unique specimen identifier CASENT 0627812]. Paratypes (workers): same data as holotype [ BMNH, CASENT 0627813], [ EAPZ, CASENT 0603623], [ECOSCE, CASENT 0603622], [ MCZC, CASENT 0627809], [ MZSP, CASENT 0627810], [ USNM, CASENT 0627811].

Geographic range. Mexico (Tamaulipas).

Diagnosis. Mandible lacking differentiated basal and masticatory margins; counting from apex, fifth tooth closer to sixth (basal) tooth than to fourth tooth; scape with three or more long erect setae projecting above underlying pubescence. Differing from the similar A. dentivagans in shorter, denser, more decumbent setae on dorsal surfaces; in profile, petiolar node more rounded, without pronounced transverse carina sharply separating dorsal and posterior faces; rugae on dorsal and lateral faces of pronotum reticulate, with no longitudinal orientation.

Description. Worker. HW 0.64–0.69 (n=4); mandible without differentiated masticatory and basal margins, with six distinct teeth distributed from apex to base, a diastema between fourth and fifth teeth, and with a deep notch between sixth tooth and basal condyle; dorsal surface of mandible with several coarse longitudinal striae and several large piligerous puncta; lateral clypeal teeth large, in full face view projecting from beneath clypeal shelf; lateral clypeal teeth located on anterior (ventral) margin of clypeus and separate from transverse carina that forms clypeal shelf; hypostomal tooth a minute denticle; compound eye composed of 5–6 ommatidia; face fully sculptured with reticulate rugae, with weak longitudinal orientation medially.

Short anterior face of pronotum well separated from dorsal face by a weakly elevated transverse ruga; promesonotum robust, dorsal profile a single shallow convexity, dropping abruptly to pronounced metanotal groove; propodeal spines large, broad-based but still acute at tips, slightly upcurved; space between propodeal spines a broad concavity without distinct dorsal and posterior faces, smooth and shiny with a few transverse rugae; rest of mesosoma strongly reticulate rugose, rugae of dorsal pronotum fully reticulate or irregular, those of dorsal mesonotum with some weak longitudinal orientation; petiolar node with weakly differentiated anterior, dorsal, and posterior faces; petiole and postpetiole coarsely irregularly rugose, postpetiole with smooth dorsum; postpetiole in dorsal view about as long as wide, triangular, with blunt posterior projection; gastral dorsum smooth and shining.

Scape with abundant long subdecumbent pubescence, and with three or more long suberect setae that are differentiated from the pubescence and project above it; clypeus and frontal carinae with long erect setae; posterior and posterolateral margins of head with long erect setae; mid and hind tibia with abundant long subdecumbent setae and about three differentiated erect setae that are longer than width of tibia; in profile, dorsal surfaces of head, mesosoma, and gaster with relatively short, dense setae, many of those of head and gaster subdecumbent; FSH about 0.05, FSI 0.08.

Color dark red brown.

Biology. Adelomyrmex nortenyo is known only from the type locality, which is also the northern range limit of the genus. Specimens were collected in montane cloud forests, at elevations between 1200 and 1450 m. Forest types were described as mixed oak and Liquidambar /oak. Workers occurred in multiple Winkler samples.

Etymology. Referring to its northern locality, at the northern limit of the genus.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Profile of (A) Adelomyrmex dentivagans and (B) A. nortenyo.

FIGURE 18. Adelomyrmex nortenyo sp. nov., holotype (Mexico, CASENT 0627812). Scale bars are 0.5 mm for face and dorsal views, 1.0 mm for lateral view.