Megalomyrmex ayri Brandão, 1990

Brandão, Carlos Roberto F., 2003, Further Revisionary Studies On The Ant Genus Megalomyrmex Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini) C R F. B Abstract, Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia (São Paulo) 43 (8), pp. 145-159 : 146

Megalomyrmex ayri Brandão, 1990

Dr. Heraldo Vasconcellos collected two workers of Megalomyrmex ayri at Km 72, BR 174, Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil (03°08’S, 60°01’W), in March 1990 (# 4642). A.B. Casimiro collected a worker and a gyne of M. ayri also in Manaus (# 4832 – Rs 2108 – E3). These are the first records of the species in Central Amazon, and the first records after the description of the species by Brandão (1990). Regarding the Modestus species group, only M. wallacei was previously recorded in the Amazonian basin. Megalomyrmex ayri appears to be uncommon in Manaus, as this locality has been intensively collected in recent years by several colleagues, and only these two samples have turned up thus far.

J. Delabie ( CEPLAC, Itabuna, Bahia state, Brazil) sent me for study material collected in three localities in eastern Bahia state, Brazil: 3 alate gynes and a worker (# 4733) in Cachoeira, collected by G. Santos, in December 11, 1993, a worker from Ubatã (14°13’32”S, 39°27’56”W), collected by J.C.S. Carmo in December 27, 1996, and a worker from Ilhéus (# 4544B), collected by A.B. Casimiro in August 25, 1992. Workers of these three samples fit the definition of M. ayri since they show a clear suture between anepisternun and katepisternun. However, the Cachoeira gynes are problematically assigned as they present smooth mandibles. Also all other M. ayri samples come from Amazonian localities. For this reason, it is preferable to wait for more Bahian material before applying a name to these samples.