Adelomyrmex myops (Wheeler)

Fernández, F., 2003, Revision of the myrmicine ants of the Adelomyrmex genus-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., Zootaxa 361, pp. 1-52 : 24-26

Adelomyrmex myops (Wheeler) (Figs. 7-12, 31, 71)

Apsychomyrmex myops Wheeler , 1910:261 (w). Emery, 1922:268; Mann, 1922:33, Menozzi 1931:269; Smith, 1947:470 (Redescription and key). [Holotype seen, USNM].

Adelomyrmex myops (Wheeler) : Kempf, 1972:18 ( New combination); Bolton 1995:58.

Worker measurements. Holotype (other, n=9). HL 0.75 (0.57-0.70) HW 0.66 (0.53-0.66) SL 0.46 (0.38-0.41) EL 0.07 (0.05-0.07) WL 0.76 (0.56-0.70) GL 0.87 (0.68-0.87) TL 3.00 (2.31-3.00) CI 88 (90-100) SI 70 (66-73).

Worker diagnosis: Mandibles with 5 to 7 teeth decreasing in size from apical teeth. Eyes small, with approximately 10-12 ommatidia. Hypostomal tooth small, sharp pointed. Promesonotum evenly convex, dorsal face of propodeum very short. Metanotal groove deep, distinct. Propodeal spines higher than wide. Node with anterior and posterior faces more or less parallel, dorsal face nearly straight. Postpetiole lower than petiole, subquadrate, ventral carina well developed. Head, pronotum and mesonotum coarsely reticulate-rugose, with longitudinal rugulae at anterior part of head and more or less on the sides of mesosoma. Transverse rugae between propodeal spines and sides of petiole and postpetiole. Declivous face of propodeum ranges from smooth to covered with transverse rugae. Mandibles smooth or with longitudinal rugae feebly marked on outer half. Mandibles, legs and gaster usually smooth and shining. Hairs yellowish, long and flexuous on the body, more short and appressed on antennae and legs. Body black to dark brown, antennae and legs lighter, brown to yellowish.

Queen measurements: HW 0.65 HL 0.75 SL 0.44 EL 0.14 WL 0.83 GL 0.96 TL 3.12 CI 87 SI 68.

As worker with the typical modifications of myrmicine queen. Central anterior portion of promesonotum smooth and shining, posterior area with longitudinal rugulae. Metanotum coarsely rugo-reticulate. Pronotum rugo-reticulate. Sides of mesosoma with striation more or less longitudinal, most of katepisternum smooth and shining.

Male: Unknown.

Material examined: MÉXICO: 1 w, Chiapas, 2.1 km NW Pueblo Nuevo, Solistahuacan, Yerbabuena Preserve, 2070 m , 23.ix.1992 R.S. Anderson No. 92-114 ( LACM) ; 4 w, Chiapas 10 km S Palenque , 30.iv. 88, W. P. MacKay leg. No. 81058-2 ( WEMC) ; 6 w, Puebla, Tezintlan Poc , 18.iv. 48, F. Bonnet leg. No. 1350 ( USNM) ; 1 w, Tamaulipas, "S.A. de Guatemala", Rancho del Cielo, 1070m , 4.vii. 69, tall cloud forest , litter, S. & J. Peck ( IAvH) ; GUATEMALA: 1 w, holotype, Livingston 10.87, Schwartz & Barber coll., Type No. 13198 ( USNM), “ Apsychomyrmex myops ” ( USNM) ; 1 w, Los Amates , Kellermann ( LACM) ; 12 w, Mixco , W.M. Mann leg. ( USNM) ; HONDURAS: 5 w, Lombardia , W.M. Mann leg. ( USNM) ; 3 w, Pueblo San Juan ( USNM) ; 2 w., 1 q., Pueblo San Juan , W.M. Mann ( LACM) ; COSTA RICA: 2 w, Heredia, Estacion Biologica La Selva , 10°26’N 84°10’W, 50-150m , iii.1993, INBio-OET ( INBio) ; 2 w, Heredia, 17 km S Puerto Viejo , 10°18’N 84°02’W, 600m , 20- 26.i.1989, J. Longino No. 2230-S ( INBio) ; 4 w, Puntarenas, 19 km S Ciudad Neily , 8°29’N 82°58’W, 20m , 26.iii.1990, J. Longino No. 2658- S ( INBio, ICN) ; 6 w, Puntarenas, Corcovado National Park , 8°29’N 83°36’W, <100m , 17.xii.1990, J. Longino No. 2768-S ( INBio) ; 2 w, Puntarenas, Osa, Rancho Quemado , 8°42’N 83°33’W, 2-300m , 15.xii.1990, J. Longino No. 2760-S ( INBio) ; 1 w, Puntarenas, P.N. Manuel Antonio , 9°23’N 84°09’W, 40m , 27- 28.vii.1985, J. Longino No. 633-S ( INBio) ; 3 w, San José, H. Schmidt, B12 ( MZSP) ; 2 w, Turrialba, 10.ii. 31 ( MZSP) ; 1 w, San Lorencito , 1990, P. Hammond leg., ( BMNH) ; 26 w, Santa Clara, Colombiana Farm , 1.iii. 24, W.M. Mann leg. ( USNM) ; 1 w, without specific locality , F. Nevermann leg. ( MZSP) ; PANAMÁ: 1 w, Barro Colorado Island , Canal Zone, 1.i. 60, W.L. Brown Jr. & E.C. McCluskey legg. 7-56 ( MZSP) ; 3 w, Barro Colorado Island , x.41, J. Zetek No. 4879, Lot No. 41-20624 ( MZSP) ; COLOMBIA: 1 w, Antioquia, Frontino, Orquideas National Park, Venados Cabin, 900 m. , 6.vi. 96, E.E. Palacio leg. ( ICN) ; 1 w, Bolívar, Zambrano, Hacienda Monterrey, 50 m. , 22.x. 94, A. Molano leg. ( ICN) ; 1 w, Chocó, Riosucio, Atrato River, La Gira , L.F. Mendoza leg. No. 045 ( IAvH) .

Comments. This species is variable in size, number of mandibular teeth, color and some minor aspects of morphology. In addition to the variation mentioned in Smith (1947:471), the propodeal declivity varies from smooth and shining to transversely rugose, with the number of rugae varying among specimens.

The worker from the Colombian Atlantic coast ( Bolívar State) has 5 mandibular teeth, and the first gastral segment is opaque and densely shagreened. I assigned this specimen to A. myops in light of the variability typical of several species of the genus.

In a Mexican worker (IAvH) the mandibular configuration differs conspicuously from the other workers in the species. There are two teeth in the basal margin, or the space between basal teeth of masticatory border and basal teeth was secondarily reduced. I await more material to take any taxonomic action.

A worker from Guatemala (Los Amates, LACM) is bigger (HW 0.71, HL 0.80, WL 0.79) and differs from the typical A. myops . The body sculpturing is coarser and more marked. The promesonotum forms a bulging convexity, notably higher than the propodeum, more than is typical for A. myops . As in the Colombian or Mexican workers, I await more material before taking any action. Guatemala, Nicaragua and Salvador are very poorly sampled for ants (and other insects) and several populations and species may be the key to resolving some taxonomic problems in A. myops .