Blepharidatta

Brandão, Carlos Roberto F., Feitosa, Rodrigo M. & Diniz, Jorge L. M., 2015, Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical Myrmicinae ant genus Blepharidatta Wheeler, Zootaxa 4012 (1), pp. 33-56 : 42

Key to the identification of Blepharidatta workers

(The present key can also be used to identify Blepharidatta gynes, except for B. conops of which the gynes are the only ones with phragmotic heads [ Figs 2 C, E ])

1a. Eyes bulging, strongly projecting and distinct in full face view ( Figs 1 A, C, E ); propodeal spines shorter than the petiole in lateral view (figs 2 B, D, F)............................................................................... 2

1b. Eyes only moderately convex, concealed by the frontal carinae in full face view ( Fig. 1 G ); propodeal spines extremely developed, as long as the petiole in lateral view ( Fig. 2 H ); Colombian and western Brazilian Amazon................................................................................................... Blepharidatta fernandezi sp. n.

2a. In frontal view, anterior face of pronotum weakly delimited and covered by irregular and sparse rugulation ( Figs 1 B, C ); dorsal surface of head and dorsum of mesosoma feebly and irregularly sculptured, devoid of thick longitudinal rugae ( Fig. 1 A–D )................................................................................................... 3

2b. In frontal view, anterior face of pronotum almost vertical and densely covered by a row of short longitudinal rugae ( Fig 1 E ); dorsal surface of head and dorsum of mesosoma entirely covered by thick longitudinal to subconcentric rugae ( Fig. 1 E–F ); Atlantic Forest of southern Bahia and northeastern Minas Gerais, Brazil.................... Blepharidatta delabiei sp. n.

3a. Smaller species (workers circa 2.5 mm in total) ( Figs 1 A–B ); body uniformly yellowish; head, mesosoma and waist areolaterugose, opaque; almost flat compound eyes concealed by the frontal carinae in full face view; petiolar node dorsally convex; widespread in the Amazon Forest, from eastern Brazil (Pará), southern Venezuela and eastern Ecuador........................................................................................... Blepharidatta brasiliensis Wheeler

3b. Larger species (workers circa 4.5 mm in total) ( Figs 1 C–D ); body light-brown to black, with gaster and appendages lighter; head, mesosoma and waist weakly and irregularly sculptured, shiny; compound eyes bulging in full face view, conic; petiolar node elongate, feebly differentiated; widespread in Brazilian arid environments (Brazilian cerrados and caatingas)....................................................................................... Blepharidatta conops Kempf

Figures

FIGURE 2. A – H. Blepharidatta ergatoid gynes. A – B. B. brasiliensis (Manaus, AM, Brasil), A. frontal view, B. side view. C – F. B. conops. C – D. Selvíria, MS, Brazil. C. frontal view, D. side view. E – F. Crateus, CE, Brazil. E. frontal view, F. side view. G – H. B. delabiei sp. n. (Una, BA, Brazil) G. frontal view, H. side view.

FIGURE 1. A – H. Blepharidatta workers. A – B. B. brasiliensis (Manaus, AM, Brasil), A. frontal view, B. side view. C – D. B. conops (Selvíria, MS, Brazil). C. frontal view, D. side view. E – F. B. delabiei sp. n. (Una, BA, Brazil). E. frontal view, F. side view. G – H. B. fernandezi sp. n. paratype (Rio Ayo, Amazonas, Colombia) G. frontal view, H. side view.