Brachymyrmex brasiliensis, Ortiz, Claudia M. & Fernandez, Fernando, 2014

Ortiz, Claudia M. & Fernandez, Fernando, 2014, Brachymyrmex species with tumuliform metathoracic spiracles: description of three new species and discussion of dimorphism in the genus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), ZooKeys 371, pp. 13-33 : 21-23

Brachymyrmex brasiliensis sp. n. Figs 19-21,28

Holotype worker

(MZSP) [USNM 00757748] and Paratypeworker (UFUC) [USNM ENT 00757833]: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Nova Friburgo, Fazenda Barreto, 22°9'40.4712"S, 42°31'27.4866"W, 1068 m, 11-12 Jun 2011, col. T.M.S. Mesquita.

Additional material examined.

1 worker, Brazil, Goiás, Anápolis, 12 Feb 1958, col. W. Kempf (MZSP) [USNM ENT 00757820].

Diagnosis.

This species differs from most other Brachymyrmex species by the presence of tumuliform metathoracic spiracles, and clypeus with five long, erect hairs arranged as follows: one central hair near to the anterior margin, usually conspicuous; one pair of lateral hairs at clypeus midlength and one pair of hairs near the toruli (see Fig. 17-18). Unique features for Brachymyrmex brasiliensis are the smooth and shiny gaster and, opaque head and mesosoma.

Description

Worker.Holotype measurements (mm) HL1 0.59; HL2 0.36; HL3 0.15; HW 0.53; SL 0.67; EL 0.11; WL 0.71; PnL 0.24; PnW 0.36; ML 0.15; MW 0.18; Indices CI 90; SI1 127; SI2187.5; OI 25.

Paratype measurements (mm) HL1 0.59; HL2 0.36; HL3 0.15; HW 0.53; SL 0.67; EL 0.11; WL 0.71; PnL 0.24; PnW 0.36; ML 0.15; MW 0.18; Indices CI 90; SI1 127; SI2187.5; OI 25.

Additional material examined (mm) HL1 0.61; HL2 0.40; HL3 0.15; HW 0.53; SL 0.68; EL 0.13; WL 0.73; PnL 0.24; PnW 0.36; ML 0.15; MW 0.18; Indices CI 89; SI1 129; SI2 187.5; OI 25.

Description. Head slightly longer than wide. Posterior cephalic border slightly convex, sides slightly convex. Anterior clypeal margin rounded. Toruli touching the posterior clypeal margin but never surpassing it (best observed in anterodorsal oblique view; see Fig. 17). Scapes long, surpassing the posterior margin of the head. Ocelli present. Eyes located at cephalic midline and well developed with 11 ommatidia at their maximum diameter.

Promesonotum convex in profile, mesonotum strongly convex and separated from pronotum. Propodeum convex with short dorsum. Metathoracic spiracles fully dorsal, tumuliform, bulging out of the metanotal groove in lateral view. Propodeal spiracle round, separated from declivity of propodeum by a distance equal to the diameter. Petiole short, apex rounded and inclined forward.

Head and mesosoma finely punctate and opaque. Dorsum of head with some erect hairs on front and with scattered decumbent pubescence. Gaster smooth and shiny with several scattered erect hairs. Scapes with decumbent hairs that are shorter than the maximum scape diameter. Clypeus with five long, erect hairs arranged as follows: one central hair near to the anterior margin, usually conspicuous; one pair of lateral hairs at clypeus midlength and one pair of hairs near the toruli. Pronotum usually with two erect hairs, rest of mesosoma without hairs. Body light brown.

Queen and male. Unknown.

Etymology.

After Brazil, the country of collection, in honor of its very rich ant fauna.

Distribution.

Brazil: states of Goiás and Rio de Janeiro.

Remarks.

Biological and ecological information of this species is lacking.