Oxyepoecus crassinodus Kempf, 1974

Albuquerque, Nicolas Lavor De & Brandão, Carlos Roberto F., 2004, A Revision Of The Neotropical Solenopsidini Ant Genus Oxyepoecus Santschi, 1926 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae). 1. The Vezenyii Species- Group, Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 44 (4), pp. 55-80 : 64

Oxyepoecus crassinodus Kempf

Oxyepoecus crassinodus Kempf, 1974:482 , Figs. 2 , 8 , 15 and 21 (Ψ Brasil).

Worker (Holotype): t.l.= 2.70 (2.60); h.l.= 0.68 (0.54); h.w.= 0.55 (0.52); s.l.= 0.41 (0.49); m.l.e.= 0.09 (0.08); m.w.pr.= 0.40 (0.37); a.l.= 0.76 (0.70); h.f.l.= 0.44 (0.43); m.w.p.= 0.20; m.w.pp.= 0.28 (0.31); c.i. 80 (82). Color reddish brown. Integument smooth and shining, with the following exceptions: frons finely costulate between the frontal carinae, prolonged caudad and obliquely laterad reaching the level of the superior orbit of the compound eyes where they become faint to vestigial, not reaching the occiput; sides of the mesosoma and dorsal face of the propodeum equally with fine costulae; anterior half of the promesonotum entirely smooth, the posterior portion of the dorsal surface with a few short longitudinal costulae; mesopleuron horizontally costulate, the costulae near the dorsum of the mesosoma more inclined; dorsal face of the propodeum with 10-15 transverse costulae, prolonged obliquely down and forward on sides of the propodeum; metapleural region densely horizontally costulate, the costulae covering the metapleural gland region; posterior face of the postpetiole with faint transverse costulae. Hairs abundant, long, suberect on the head, dorsum of the mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole, and gaster; on the head, decumbent and shorter hairs, inclined mesad dorsally on the head disc, forwards oriented on head sides; gaster without these interspersed shorter and decumbent hairs.

Head with the mandibles relatively not elongated, with the basal tooth separated from the subbasal by a deep cleft. Anterior teeth of clypeus with lateral and somewhat lobe-like denticles. Frontal carinae short, gently expanded laterad, subparallel, with the posterior end at the level of the inferior orbit of the compound eyes, the maximum width between their outer edges always less than one third of the head width. Compound eyes relatively small, with some 5-6 facets r.g.d.; total number of ommatidia not exceeding 20. Antennal scape failing to reach the occipital corner by a distance bigger than the maximum thickness of the scape. Funicular segment I longer than VIII and IX taken individually, as long as II-V combined, segments II-VII distinctly broader than long, VIII and IX as long as broad.

Mesosoma with the promesonotum not marked on the shoulders, dorsal disk with a pronounced convexity. Metanotal groove impressed in profile, metanotal suture indistinct. Dorsal face of the propodeum immarginate on sides, posteriorly with two pointed, obliquely directed short teeth. Declivous face laterally marginate and weakly carinate.

Petiole pedunculate, node scarcely compressed antero-posteriorly and much narrower than postpetiole in dorsal view; subpetiolar process elaborate and foliaceous. Postpetiole very broad and antero-posteriorly compressed in a scalelike fashion, not as high as petiole; subpostpetiolar process relatively simple and obliquely directed forwards.

Gyne unknown.

Male unknown.

Diagnosis, distribution and comments

The diagnostic character of the workers of O. crassinodus in relation to the other species of the Vezenyii group is the deepest metanotal groove. The distribution of O. crassinodus includes three localities at South Brazil (fig. 8), two of then in Paraná State and one in Santa Catarina State.

Examined material: Brasil: Paraná: Bocaiúva do Sul , xii. 1963, F. Plaumann [col.] # 8108, [25°12’S 49°07’W] (4 Ψ holotype and 3 paratypes) ; Santa Catarina: Nova Teutônia , xii. 1958, F. Plaumann [col.] # 8308 [27°02’S 52°24’W] (1 Ψ paratype) .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Scanning electron micrograph of the workers of O. ephippiatus; a) head in full-face view;b) mesosoma in profile view; c) petiole in dorsal view.

FIGURE 8. Map of distribution of O. browni, O. bruchi, O. crassinodus, O. ephippiatus, O. inquilinus, O. kempfi, O. longicephalus, O. quadratus and O. vivax.