Rhopalothrix stannardi Brown & Kempf, 1960

Longino, John T. & Boudinot, Brendon E., 2013, New species of Central American Rhopalothrix Mayr, 1870 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), Zootaxa 3616 (4), pp. 301-324 : 315-316

Rhopalothrix stannardi Brown & Kempf, 1960

( Figs 1 C, 2F, 3D, 11, 16)

Rhopalothrix stannardi Brown & Kempf, 1960: 236 , fig. 57. Holotype, worker: Mexico, Chiapas: Ocosingo Valley, Finca el Real, 1–7 July 1950 (C. and M. Goodnight and L.J. Stannard) [MCZC] (not examined).

Geographic range. Mexico (Chiapas), Guatemala.

Description. Worker. HW 0.53–0.59 (n=5); mandible with three widely spaced denticles on masticatory margin, middle denticle largest; subapical tooth with minute reclinate denticle at base; subapical tooth about twice as long as apical tooth; intercalary teeth prominent, one closest to apical tooth about half as long as apical tooth; labrum subrectangular, outer margins diverging anteriorly, anterior margin very shallowly and evenly concave, with minute notch medially; posterior margin of clypeus elevated above anterior face; arcuate grooves and ridges of face very shallow; mesosomal dorsum evenly and shallowly convex in profile, metanotal groove not or very weakly impressed; propodeal tooth obtuse to right angled, infradental lamella broad and descending almost perpendicularly from tooth; about 12 squamiform setae on posterior half of first gastral tergite.

The queen and male are unknown.

Biology. Recent collections of this species are from lowland wet to moist forest habitat, from 70–270 m elevation. The type is apparently from a somewhat higher site near Ocosingo. All recent specimens are from Winkler samples of sifted leaf litter. In quantitative sampling carried out during Project LLAMA, this species occurred in 4 of 100 miniWinkler samples at a lowland Chiapas site and in 7 of 100 samples from in and near Tikal National Park in Guatemala.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Diagrammatic representation of Rhopalothrix mandibles. A. R. andersoni, R. isthmica, R. megisthmica (part), R. therion. B. R. atitlanica, R. megisthmica (part), R. triumphalis. C. R. stannardi. D. R. nubilosa, R. subspatulata. E. R. weberi. F. R. apertor.