Neivamyrmex leonardi (W. M. Wheeler)

Snelling, G. C. & Snelling, R. R., 2007, New synonymy, new species, new keys to Neivamyrmex army ants of the United States., Advances in ant systematics (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): Homage to E. O. Wilson - 50 years of contributions. (Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80), pp. 459-550 : 476-477

Neivamyrmex leonardi (W. M. Wheeler)

Figures 27, 38, 53

Eciton (Acamatus) leonardi Wheeler , 1915: 392 (w). USA, California, Point Loma (MCZC) examined.

Eciton (Acamatus) peninsulare Mann , 1926: 98 (w). MEXICO: Baja California [ Sur ], La Palma Davila ( USNM) examined .

Eciton (Neivamyrmex) leonardi : M. R. Smith, 1942: 570 (w). Creighton, 1950: 72 (w).

Eciton (Neivamyrmex) peninsulare : Borgmeier, 1949: 101 (w).

Neivamyrmex leonardi : Borgmeier, 1955: 431 - 434 (w). Watkins, 1971: 101 - 103 (w). Wheeler & Wheeler, 1973: 38 (w). Watkins, 1976: 13, 18 (w). Cokendolpher & Francke, 1990: 11.

DISTRIBUTION (Map 6)

UNITED STATES: Oklahoma and Texas, west to California and Nevada; MEXICO, Baja California Sur and Tamaulipas south to Guerrero.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED

UNITED STATES, ARIZONA, Pima Co.: Tucson , Prince Rd. ( UNAR) . Santa Cruz Co.: Nogales ( LACM) . CALIFORNIA, Inyo Co.: Saline Valley Rd. , 1.7 mi. W Grapevine Canyon Rd. (36 º 30.7 " N 117 º 33.3 " W) ( GCSC, CUIC, LACM, UCDC) ; 2 km ESE Furnace Creek Inn , Death Valley Natl. Pk. (36 º 26 ' N 116 º 50 ' W), 100 m, ex Solenopsis xyloni middens ( UCDC) ; 9 - mile Canyon (35.85 º N 117.90 º W), 3400 ft. ( LACM) ; 7 mi. S. Little Lake ( LACM) ; 13.44 km SSE Lone Pine , ex Messor pergandei midden ( LACM) . Los Angeles Co.: Santa Monica Mtns ., Stunt Ranch (34 º 06 ' N 118 º 39 ' W), 410 m ( LACM, UCDC) . Riverside Co.: Deep Canyon , 1300 ft. ( UCRC) ; Deep Cyn. , 5200 ft. ( UNAR) . San Bernardino Co.: “ Barstow Fossil Beds ” ( LACM)) ; 4 mi. NNW Adelanto ( LACM) . San Diego Co.: Point Loma ( USNM) . NEVADA, Churchill Co.: Sand Springs Dune 1200 m 39 º 17 ' N 118 º 25 ' W ( UCDC) . Lyon Co.: Weeks 1280 m (39 º 18 ' N 119 º 15 ' W), 1280 m ( UCDC) . TEXAS, Mclennan Co. ( SEMC) . Bosque Co. ( SEMC) .

MEXICO, GUERRERO, 29 km NE Fila de Caballo ( GCSC, WPMC) .

DISCUSSION

This is a poorly known species. The synonymous form N. peninsulare was described from a few workers taken under a stone. Watkins (1971) also reported finding it under a stone in Texas and “ ... observed a few workers ... in a weak nocturnal raiding column of N. opacithorax ... ” Our specimens from 9 - mile Canyon were found in soft sand at a depth of about 45 cm. This was in Sagebrush Desert with some intermixed Larrea. This ant has also been collected from Creosote Bush ScrubJoshua Tree Woodland. In the chaparral biome of Deep Canyon, Wheeler and Wheeler (1973) found a nest under a slightly buried stone.

Mann (1925) described the staphylinid beetle Pulicomorpha coecum from specimens collected with a colony of N. leonardi (as Eciton peninsularis Mann ) in Baja California Sur, Mexico.

The queen and male forms are unknown; however based on range data we surmise that N. minor is probably the male form of N. leonardi .

Automontage images of N. leonardi may be viewed at antweb. org.