Solenopsis medioclara Santschi 1923

Wild, Alexander L., 2007, A catalogue of the ants of Paraguay (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 1622, pp. 1-55 : 54

Solenopsis medioclara Santschi 1923 b. NEW STATUS.

Solenopsis brevicornis var. medioclara Santschi 1923b: 254 . [w syntypes examined, NHMB; Piracicabo, Minas Gerais, Brazil (Luja)].

Solenopsis medioclara is commonly encountered in Paraguay in sifted litter samples from tall forest habitats. This species can be recognized by the short antennal scapes (about ½ head length), the lack of punctation on the mesopleuron, and the shape of the petiole, which in profile is considerably bulkier than the post-petiole. I have not examined the type specimens of Emery’s Solenopsis brevicornis , but Santschi’s types of S. medioclara are a close match to numerous recent collections from humid subtropical semi-deciduous forest in Canindeyú. I change the status of Solenopsis medioclara to eliminate the trinomen, but detailed study of Solenopsis (Diplorhoptrum) will be needed to clarify the identity of this species. S. brevicornis may turn out to be the valid name for the Paraguayan populations.