Taxonomic revision of the genus Prionopelta Mayr, 1866 (Formicidae: Amblyoponinae) for the Neotropical region
Author
Ladino, Natalia
0000-0001-8230-9439
nmladino @ gmail. com; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0001 - 8230 - 9439
nmladino@gmail.com
Author
Feitosa, Rodrigo M.
0000-0001-9042-0129
rsmfeitosa @ gmail. com; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0001 - 9042 - 0129
rsmfeitosa@gmail.com
text
Zootaxa
2020
2020-07-31
4821
2
201
249
journal article
8899
10.11646/zootaxa.4821.2.1
83eb3953-aacf-48af-a9fa-0a54375836e2
1175-5326
4398380
B66235D0-9293-4E3D-9AD8-8FE5E64E9B34
Prionopelta modesta
Forel, 1909
Figures 25–28
,
35C
Prionopelta modesta
Forel, 1909: 241
.
Lectotype
worker (here designated):
GUATEMALA
,
Forel
(the top specimen of a pin with
2 workers
), CASENT0102527 [MHNG] (examined by images).
Diagnosis.
Lateral portion of frons with foveolate sculpturing moderately spaced and conspicuous shiny interspaces appearing as small raised margins. Twelve antennomeres. Posterior margin of subpetiolar process concave.
Worker measurements
(n=5). HL 0.50–0.54; HW 0.44–0.48; SL 0.26–0.28; WL 0.54–0.67; PrL 0.24–0.28; PrW 0.22–0.32; PetNL 0.13–0.18; PetW 0.23–0.28; PetH 0.16–0.21; PetL 0.16–0.17; T1L 0.24–0.26; T1W 0.34– 0.39; TL 1.44–1.62; CI 84–88; SI 54–62; PetI 150–200; PetHI 100–123; PetWI 135–175.
Queen measurements
(n=4). HL 0.48–0.58; HW 0.44–0.52; SL 0.27–0.30; WL 0.71–0.83; PrL 0.12–0.13; PrW 0.26–0.33; PetNL 0.14–0.16; PetW 0.24–0.29; PetH 0.18–0.23; PetL 0.14–0.20; T1L 0.23–0.33; T1W 0.37–0.45; TL 1.56–1.94; CI 89–91; SI 57–61; PetI 171–181; PetHI 115–128; PetWI 145–171.
Worker description.
Body yellow to light brown. Integument covered by deep and dense foveolate sculpturing with conspicuous shiny spaces between the fovea on the lateral portion of frons, appearing as small raised margins in full-face view. Pubescence abundant over the entire body.
Head longer than broad; length of median tooth of mandible shorter than basal tooth; basal margin of mandible convex. Clypeus evenly rounded. Twelve antennomeres; apical ones separated by deep constrictions. Eye placed at the head midlength.
Pronotum almost as long as broad. Distance between the propodeal spiracle and the bulla of the metapleural gland corresponding to one spiracular diameter; distance between the propodeal spiracle and the propodeal dorsum corresponding to two spiracular diameters.
Petiolar node as high as long. Subpetiolar process forming a relatively broad lobe, with its anterior and posterior margins subparallel or parallel; posterior margin concave; posteroventral angle obtuse.
Queen.
Like workers, with the expected morphology of
Prionopelta
queens.
Male.
Anterior clypeal margin medially rounded; frontoclypeal suture relatively trapezoidal and truncate medially.
FIGURE 25.
Lectotype worker of
Prionopelta modesta
(Guatemala)
. A. Full-face view; B. Lateral view; C. Dorsal view. Modified from AntWeb.org images by April Nobile, Specimen: CASENT0102527.
FIGURE 26.
Worker of
Prionopelta modesta
(Costa Rica, Limón). A. Full-face view; B. Lateral view; C. Dorsal view. Specimen: CASENT0636747.
FIGURE 27.
Queen of
Prionopelta modesta
(Mexico, Oaxaca). A. Full-face view; B. Lateral view; C. Dorsal view. Specimen: CASENT0640598.
FIGURE 28.
Male of
Prionopelta modesta
(Honduras, Comayagua). A. Full-face view; B. Lateral view; C. Dorsal view. Modified from AntWeb.org images by Will Ericson, specimen: CASENT0615793.
Etymology.
Unknown.
Distribution (
Fig. 35C
).
The species is known from northern
Mexico
to western
Guyana
.
Comments.
The species was commonly considered as the only Neotropical
Prionopelta
with dense sculpturing on the head dorsum, giving the appearance of an opaque integument. Although this trait can be currently used to separate
P. modesta
from the other species occurring in Central America, the densest and deepest sculpturing on head dorsum of all the Neotropical species described in this work belongs to
P. minuta
, from which
P. modesta
can be separated by the larger body size and the concave posterior margin of the subpetiolar process.
Prionopelta modesta
is mostly distributed through Central America. Hence, the isolated records of the species in
Guyana
and
Colombia
are unexpected. We have examined a considerable number of
Prionopelta
specimens from
Panama
and
Venezuela
and we were not able to recognize any
P. modesta
individuals in these samples. At the same time, the
P. modesta
specimens from
Guyana
and
Colombia
, examined here, fit with the species diagnosis. Thus, further collection records would be useful to better understand the distribution pattern of the species.
Natural history.
The species is mainly known from litter and dead wood samples collected in tropical forests; reported at elevations of
50-1840m
.
According to observations available in
Brown (1960)
about several colonies of
P. modesta
collected at Pueblo Nuevo,
Veracruz
,
Mexico
, colonies appear to be split into sections and occupy bits of rotting wood or bark in the leaf litter. The individuals found in these fragments (workers or workers and larvae) could indicate a low level of organization or that the ants could be more or less nomadic. In a “cafeteria” experiment, several live and dead arthropods were offered, but, overall, just a timid response on the workers’ part was observed, with individuals mostly recoiling violently when their antennae came into contact with the potential prey. On the other hand, some specimens were capable of biting, hanging onto, and stinging into immobility somewhat large arthropods. Still, based on these observations, the usual prey may include small centipedes or symphylans, but further examination of nests needs to be done to determine what
Prionopelta
feeds upon.
Additional material examined (
56 specimens
).
COLOMBIA
:
Meta
:
Transecto Sumapaz
,
3.8666667
-74.416664
,
1120m
,
09.viii.1981
,
T. van der Hammen
col., SUM29, CASENT0260467 (
1 worker
) [
PSWC
]
.
COSTA RICA
:
Alajuela
:
6km
E.
Monteverde
,
10.29897
-84.74932
±
50m
,
980m
,
18.v.2014
,
J. Longino
col., #8693-s, ex. sifted leaf litter, wet forest, CASENT0635127 (
1 worker
) [
DZUP
];
CASENT0635130
(
1 queen
) [
JTLC
];
same data,
10°18’N
84°45’W
,
950m
,
22.viii.1985
, #861-s, LACM ENT 142643 (
1 worker
,
1 queen
) [
JTLC
];
same data,
Rio Peñas Blancas
,
10.3167
-84.7167
,
800m
,
26.iv.1987
,
J. Longino
col., JTL1578, CASENT0039774 (
1 worker
) [
JTLC
]
.
Limón
:
Cerro Plátano
,
9.87132
-83.23955
±
10m
,
1020m
,
16.vi.2015
, ADMAC, #Wa-E-03-1-36, ex. sifted leaf litter, cloud forest, CASENT0636747 (
1 worker
) [
DZUP
];
CASENT0636750
(
1 queen
)
[
JTLC
].
Res. Biol. Hitoy-Cerere
,
9.65238
-83.02206
±
25m
,
530m
,
11.vi.2015
, ADMAC, #Wm-E-02-1-03, ex. sifted leaf litter, tropical rainforest, CASENT0632088 (
1 queen
) [
DZUP
]; same data,
670m
, #Wm-E-02-1-06, CASENT0632089 (1 worker) [
JTLC
]
.
Puntarenas
:
10km
SW Pto. Jimenez
,
8.46553
-83.36928
±
30m
,
240m
,
12.iii.2008
,
J. Longino
col., #6197-s, CASENT0601692 (
1 worker
) [
JTLC
]
.
GUATEMALA
:
El Petén
:
Cerro Cahul
,
17.00056°N
89.71992°W
,
330m
,
24.v.2009
,
J. Longino
col., #6683.1, moist forest, ex. dead wood, CASENT0611043 (
1 worker
) [
JTLC
]
.
Izabal
:
16km
ESE Morales
,
15.41109°N
88.71184°W
±
28m
,
440m
,
19.v.2009
, LLAMA, #Wm-B-04-2-03, ex. sifted leaf litter, 2° lowland rainforest, CASENT0611474 (
1 worker
) [
DZUP
];
CASENT0611473
(
1 queen
)
[JTLC].
GUYANA
:
Mt. Ayanganna Base Camp
,
5.33438
-59.92477
,
732m
,
09.x.2002
,
J.S. LaPolla
col., JSL021009-03- LS01, litter sample, forest, USNMENT00418417 (
1 worker
) [
USNM
]
.
HONDURAS
:
Atlántida
:
8km
SSW Tela
,
15.70961
-87.46828
±
20m
,
360m
,
17.vi.2010
, LLAMA, #Wm-C-08-2-07, ex. sifted leaf litter, tropical rainforest, CASENT0618691 (
1 worker
) [
JTLC
];
same data,
7km
SSW
Tela
,
15.724667
-87.451935
,
190m
,
15.vi.2010
, #Wa-C-08-2-14,
Mini-Winkler
, CASENT0618342 (
1 queen
) [
JTLC
]
.
Comayagua
:
PN
Cerro Azul Meambar
,
14.87160
-87.90324
±
50km
,
880m
,
21.v.2010
,
B. Boudinot
col., BEB0198, montain rainforest clearing in rotting wood or in soil, CASENT0615797 (
1 worker
) [
JTLC
];
CASENT0615793
(
1 male
)
[
JTLC
]; same data,
14.87125
-87.90018
±
20m
,
1120m
,
20.v.2010
, LLAMA, #Wa-C-04-1-06, ex. sifted leaf litter, ridgetop cloud forest, CASENT0615245 (
1 queen
) [
JTLC
]
.
MEXICO
:
Chiapas
:
2.8km
SE Custepec
,
15°43’N
92°56’W
,
1840m
,
18.vii.2007
,
R.S.Anderson
col., #2007-022, CASENT0602079 (
1 worker
) [
JTLC
].
Laguna Metzabok
,
17°08’N
91°38’W
,
600m
,
14.vii.2007
,
J. Luna-Cozar
col., JTLC000009920 (
1 queen
) [
DZUP
];
JTLC000009933
(
1 worker
)
[
JTLC
].
12mi
NW Ocozo- coautla
,
3200ft
,
04-05.ix.1973
,
A. Newton
col., hojarasca, madera podrida, CASENT0810430 (
1 worker
) [
MIZA
].
9km
SE
Santo de Agua
,
17°31’N
92°18’W
,
50m
,
14.vii.2007
,
R.S. Anderson
col., #2007-011, CASENT0602008 (
1 worker
) [
DZUP
];
CASENT0601990
(
1 queen
)
[JTLC].
Nayarit
:
Isla Maria Madre
,
22.vi.1948
,
M. Cardenas
col., #1712, 9076 (
9 workers
) [
MZSP
]; same data,
23.vi.1948
(
4 workers
) [
MZSP
]
.
Oaxaca
:
Uluapan
,
4km
NE Ayautla
,
18.06018
-96.64484
±
200m
,
440m
,
09.vi.2016
, ADMAC, #Wm-F-03-1-03, ex. sifted leaf litter, lowland rainforest, CASENT0640598 (
1 queen
) [
DZUP
];
CASENT0640607
(
1 worker
)
[JTLC].
Veracruz
:
Est. Biol. Los Tuxtlas
,
18.58704
-95.07627
±
30m
,
170m
,
31.v.2016
, ADMAC, #Ba-F-01-2-04-09, CASENT0640202 (
1 worker
) [
JTLC
];
same data,
18.58625
-95.07665
±
20m
,
180m
,
29.v.2016
, #Wa-F-01-2-18, ex. sifted leaf litter, tropical rainforest, CASENT0640340 (
1 queen
) [
JTLC
].
Los Tuxtlas
,
10km
NW Sontecomapan
,
18.58333
-95.08333
,
200m
,
20.iii.1985
,
P.S. Ward
col., PSW07333-11, rainforest, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), CASENT0260466 (
2 workers
) [
PSWC
].
Sierra Taviscocla
above
Cuichapa
,
04.viii.1965
,
W.L. Brown
col., (
9 workers
) [
MZSP
].
NICARAGUA:
Jinotega
:
Parque Nac. Saslaya
,
13.76836
-85.02344
±
50m
,
1060m
,
14.v.2011
,
J. Longino
col., #JTL7556, montane wet forest, under rotten wood, CASENT0619506 (
1 worker
) [
JTLC
]
.
Matagalpa
:
RN
Cerro Musún
,
12.96817
-85.23301
±
20m
,
1060m
,
02.v.2011
, LLAMA, #Wm-D-01-1-07, ex. sifted leaf litter, montane wet forest, CASENT0624190 (
1 worker
) [
JTLC
]
.