Table Of ContentHYM. RES.
J.
Vol. 19(1), 2010, pp. 51-65
Taxonomic Contribution to the aurita Group of the Ant Genus Azteca
(Formicidae: Dolichoderinae)
Roberto Guerrero, Jacques H. C. Delabie, and Alain Dejean
J.
(RJG) Grupo de Investigacion en Insectos Neotropicales, ESfTROPIC, Universidad del Magdalena,
Carrera 32 # 22-08, San Pedro Alejandrino, Santa Marta, Magdalena, Colombia; Current address:
Programa de Doctorado en Zoologia. Instituto de Zoologia Tropical. Facultad de Ciencias.
Universidad Central de Venezuela. Avenida Los Chaguaramos, Caracas, Venezuela;
[email protected]
(JHCD) Laboratorio de Mirmecologia, Convenio UESC-CEPEC, Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau,
CEPLAC, Caixa Postal 7, 456000-000 Itabuna-BA, Brazil; [email protected]
(AD) Ecologie des Forets de Guyane (UMR-CNRS 8172), Campus Agronomique, 97379 KOUROU
cedex, France; [email protected]
—
Abstract. We describe five new species in the aurita group ofthe genusAzteca: Azteca andreae
sp. n. (French Guiana), Azteca diabolica sp. n. (Panama), Azteca laurae sp. n. (Brazil), Azteca
linamariae sp. n. (Brazil and Colombia) and Azteca snellingi sp. n. (Panama). Four of these new
species are based on gynes, while the last is based only on the worker caste. All ofthem bear the
aurita group characteristics. The second taxon is remarkable, as it differs from all of the other
membersofthegroupintheexaggerated,horn-likeextensionsoftheposterolateralvertexmargins.
Azteca snellingi sp. n. is named in honor of our colleague, Roy Snelling, in tribute to his life-long
contribution to knowledge ofthe world ofHymenoptera. A key to all known species ofthe aurita
group,based ongynes,isprovided. Wereportalsoforthe firsttime anIntercast caseforthe genus
Azteca, based on anAzteca schimperi specimen.
—
Resumen. Se describen cinco nuevas especies de hormigas del grupo aurita del genero Azteca:
Azteca andreae (Guyana Francesa), Azteca diabolica (Panama), Azteca laurae (Brasil), Azteca
linamariae yAzteca snellingi (Colombia y Brasil). Cuatro de las especies son descritas basadas en
hembras, enguanto la ultimabasada en la casta obrera. Todas poseen las caracteristicas del grupo
aurita. El segiindo taxon es el mas particiilar; es facil diferenciar esta especie de las otras ya que
presenta los margenes posterolaterales del vertex exageradamente extendidos similares a unos
cuemos. Azteca snellingi sp. n. esnombrada enhonoranuestro colegaRoy Snelling quienconsagro
su vida al conocimiento de los himenopteros. Se presenta una clave actualizada basada en las
hembras de las especies del grupo aurita. Reportamos tambien por primera vez un caso de
intercasta para el genero Azteca, con un especimen en la especie Azteca schimperi.
—
Key words. Ants, Azteca, identification keys, taxonomy
—
Palabras claves. Hormigas, Azteca, claves para identificacion, taxonomia
Azteca Forel is a genus of doHcoderine carried out and only isolated studies have
ant whose species-level taxonomy is still allovs^ed some species to be identified
imclear. The only revision of the entire (Longino 1989, 1991a, 1991b, 1996). Re-
genuswas conducted inthe latenineteenth cently, Longino (2007) reviewed the Costa
century (Emery 1893). Since then, no Rican fauna and included a definition and
systematic review of the genus has been global revision of the aurita group.
52 Journalof Hymenoptera Research: Festschrift Honoring Roy Snelling
The aiirita group of Azteca is monophy- HLA: head length, full frontal view;
letic and characterized by: palpal formula perpendicular distance from the line tan-
4,3; middle and hind tibia lacking an apical gentto the anterolateral clypeal lobes tothe
spur; an extremely convex anteromedial line tangent to the most extreme posterior
border of the clypeus that extends well of the vertex lobes. This measure was
beyond anterolateral clypeal lobes; HLB/ chosen because the anterolateral clypeal
HLA > 1.04 (Longino 2007, except latter lobes are always visible, while the anterior-
trait discussed here; for further description most extent of the medial lobe may be
of the measurements, see Materials and obscured by the closed mandibles.
Methods). Gynes are generally small, simi-
mlaernitnissiezxetrteomemlayjosrmowootrhkearns.d sThhieny,ingtleagsus-- asHHLLB:Ameexdcieaplththeaatditleisngmteh;asthuirseidstfhreosmatmhee
anteromedianrather than anterolateral lobe
like, with an extremely dilute appressed
pubescence (the pilosity, when present, is of clypeus. This measurement is important
for the A. aurita group, where the lateral
characterized by a stubble of short, stiff,
lobes are not well defined and the median
fully erect setae). The petiole is bluntly
lobe protrudes to a great extend. For most
subpyramidal to bilobed, never flat and Azteca, HLA and HLB are very similar.
scale-like (Longino 2007). Worker charac-
ters are provided in the group diagnosisby HW: head width; full frontal view, max-
Longino (2007). The characteristics of imumwidthofheadcapsuleabovetheeyes.
gynes in this group suggest a syndrome
SL: scape length; length of the scape
of social parasitism (Holldobler and Wil-
shaft from the apex to basal flange, not
son 1990).
including the basal condyle and neck.
In this paper, we describe five new
species of the aiirita group: Azteca andreae EL:eyelength;maximumlengthoftheeye.
(French Guiana), Azteca diabolica (Panama), OCW: width of the median ocellus.
Azteca laurae (Brazil), Azteca linamariae
(Colombia and Brazil) and Azteca snellingi Indices:
(Panama). The A. diabolica specimens CI: cephalic index; 100*HW/HLA.
(gynes only) were collected during the
IBISCA international project through an SI: scape index; 100*SL/HLA.
intensive tridimensional sampling of ar- MTSC: number of metatibial setae; with
thropods in a Panamanian tropical rain the tibia seen from the anterior, such that
forest (Basset et al. 2007), while the A. the outer (dorsal) margin is in profile, and
snellingi specimens were caughtlater in the the number of erect to suberect setae
same area. The other specieswere collected (distinct from any underlying pubescence)
using Malaise traps (winged individuals) are seen projecting from the outer margin.
or manually from nests. An updated key
derived from the one created by Longino Photographs were taken using a Nikon
(2007), based on the gynes of known SMZ 1500 stereomicroscope at 40X and
species of the group, is provided. digital camera SIGHTDS - Fi 1. The images
were fully-focused montage images cre-
MATERIALS AND METHODS ated with the Combine version Z5 software
package and edited usingCOREL PHOTO-
All measurements, indices and morpho-
PAINT X3 version 13.
logical characters are the same used by
Longino (2007) and were made using a Types will be deposited in the fol-
Nikon SMZ645 stereomicroscope with an low collections: California Academy of
ocular micrometer at 80X magnification. Sciences, San Francisco, California, USA
Measurements (all in millimeters): (CASC); Laboratorio de Mirmecologia do
Volume 19, Number 1, 2010 53
Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau (CPDC), A. diabolica Guerrero, Delabie & Dejean. New
Comissao do Piano da Lavoura Cacaueira, species. Panama.
Ilheus, Bahia, Brazil; Insect Collection, A. lallemandi Forel 1899. Panama, Colombia,
Instituto Humboldt, Claustro San Agustin, eastern Brazil.
Villa de Leyva, Boyaca, Colombia (lAvH); = pruinosa Mann 1916. Synonymy Longino
Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universi- (2007):56.
dad Nacional, Bogota D.C., Colombia A. lanuginosa Emery 1893. Southern Brazil.
A. laurae Guerrero, Delabie & Dejean. New
(ICN-MHN); collection ofJohn T. Longino,
species. Western Amazonian Brazil.
Evergreen State College, Olympia, Wash- Azteca linamariae Guerrero, Delabie & Dejean.
ington, USA QTLC); Los Angeles County New species. Amazonian Colombia and
Museum of Natural History, Los Angeles, Western Amazonian Brazil.
California, USA (LACM); Museu de Zool- A. nanogyna Longino 2007. Costa Rica.
ogia, Universidade de Sao Paulo (MZUSP), A. pilosula Forel 1899. Costa Rica, Panama.
Brazil; and Royal Belgian Institute of = lacrymosa Forel 1899. Synonymy, Longino
Natural Sciences (RBINS). (2007):57.
A. schimperi Emery 1893. Mexico to Argentina.
TAXONOMIC SYNOPSIS OF THE = A. fiebrigi Forel 1909. Synonymy, Longino
AZTECA AURITA GROUP
(2007):58.
AztecaandreaeGuerrero,Delabie&Dejean. New =A. claricepsSantschi1933.Synonymy,Longino
species. French Guiana. (2007):58.
A. aurita Emery 1893. Panama to Amazonian = A. pallida Stitz 1937. Synonymy, Longino
Brazil. (2007)59.
= silvae Forel 1899. Synonymy, Longino A. snellingi Guerrero, Delabie & Dejean. New
(2007):55. species. Panama
TAXONOMIC KEY TO SPECIES (GYNES) OF THE AZTECA AURITA GROUP
[ADAPTED FROM LONGINO
(2007)1
1. Orange head and orange or lightbrownbody; long scape, SI > 70 2
Uniform brown color; short scape, SI < 70 7
2. Erectpilosityabsentondorsumofthehead,lateralmarginsofthemesosoma,petiole,
and gaster 3
Short, erect pilosity present on the dorsum of the head and mesosoma, petiole, and
gaster 6
3. Very pronounced vertex lobes appearing as elongate, horn-like projections (Fig. 6); a
seemingly wide, U-shaped occipital margin diabolica n. sp.
Angulate vertex lobes never forming horn-like projections 4
4. Head relatively broad CI > 99 linamariae n. sp.
Head relatively narrow CI < 99 5
5. Sides ofthe head flat and sub-paraUel, only weakly diverging posteriorly; eyes more
or less at mid-length of the head, HW < 1.30 aurita
Sidesoftheheadflatandnotsub-parallel,stronglydivergingposteriorly;eyesanterior
to the mid-length ofthe head, HW > 1.30 laurae n. sp.
6. Dense,short,erectpilosityonscapeandtibiae;headrelativelynarrow (CI < 97) ... pilosula
Scape and tibiae lacking erect pilosity; head relativelybroad (CI > 97) .... lallemandi
7. Gastral dorsum lacking erect setae; HLA > 1.35 8
Gastral dorsum with erect setae; HLA < 1.35 9
8. Head,scapes,mesosoma,legsandpetiolewitherecthairs;scapesrelativelylong,SL >
0.90 schimperi
54 Journalof Hymenoptera Research: Festschrift Honoring Roy Snelling
Head, scapes, mesosoma, legs and petiole devoid ofany erect hairs; scapes relatively
short, SL < 0.90 andreae n. sp.
9. HLA about 1.3mm lanuginosa
HLA about 0.86mm nanogyna
TAXONOMIC TREATMENT the front; posterior margin with blunt
angulations, deeply excavated in the mid-
&
Azteca andreae n. sp. Guerrero, Delabie dle of the V-shape. Scape not reaching
Dejean (Figs 1 & 2) posterior margin of cephalic comer; funi-
culus covered with dense, long and ap-
Holotype (gyne): FRENCH GUIANA, Sin- pressed pilosity.
namary, 5°22'39"N 52°57'35"W, Carton nest in Mesosoma: Smooth and shiny, without
Cecropia sp tree, 24 Jul 2008, (A. Dejean, P-J conspicuous pilosity. Dorsal surface of
Male, S. Groc and J.H.C. Delabie) [CPDCj; propodeum much longer than posterior
paratypes: 7gynes,samelocality, [CASC,CPDC, surface, the latter with a shortprojection at
ICN, JTLC, LACM, MZSP, RBINS].
the base, tube-shaped and facing poste-
Measurements of holotype: HLA 1.42, riorly. Edge of metapleural gland orifice
HLB 1.48, HW 1.08, AHW 0.72, SL 0.82, EL bears long, golden hairs. Middle and hind
0.34, OCW 0.08, CI 76, SI 58, MTSC 0. tibiae lacking apical spur.
Measurements ofparatypes (N= 7): HLA Metasoma: Petiolar node strongly sub-
1.38-1.42, HLB 1.46-1.52, HW 1.06-1.10, triangularwithrounded apex; anteriorface
AHW
0.70-0.76, SL 0.80-0.86, EL 0.32-0.36, of petiole excavated, posterior face nearly
OCW0.06-0.—08,CI 75-80,SI57-61,MTSC 0. twice the length of anterior face; petiolar
Diagnosis. Azteca andreaeis a member of posteroventral lobe weakly convexbehind,
the A. aurita group w^ith the body com- straight in the anterior half. Tergites and
pletely covered w^ith small, widely scat- stemites of the gaster shiny.
tered pits (foveate surface) bearing a very Head, mesosoma, petiole and legs dark,
short white hair; s—capes short, SI 57-61. reddish brown, gaster yellowish brown
Gyne characters. Head: Palpal formula with some darker ar—eas. Body shiny.
4,3. Dorsal surface of mandibles smooth Worker characters. Measurements (N=
and shiny; from an oblique angle from 5): HLA 1.18-1.36, HLB 1.20-1.46, HW
above, weak longitudinal waves can be 1.20-1.36, SL 0.84-0.96, EL 0.20-0.26, CI
observed that are not visible in full dorsal 100-102, SI 67-75.
view, and with scattered small and widely- Palpal formula 4,3. Middle and hind
spaced holes, each with a short hair on the tibiae lacking apical spur. Same combina-
basal surface, with long hairs behind tion of characters as Azteca schimperi in
masticatory margin and anterior half of Longino (2007). Minor workers with tube-
the outer margin of the mandibles; masti- like propodeal spiracles projecting out-
catory margin armed with strong apical wards, unlike tho—se of A. schimperi.
and blunt tooth, sub-apical tooth, followed Male characters. Measurements (N= 4):
by very rounded teeth extending to the HLA 0.70-0.72, HW0.67-0.68, SL 0.11-0.12,
basal margin. Clypeal plate without con- EL 0.30, CI 94-97, SI 16-17.
spicuous pilosity; medial clypeal lobe Head: Mandibles sub-triangular, outer
strongly convex and protruding, extending edge twice as long as inner edge, mastica-
well beyond the lateral clypeal lobes. Head tory margin unarmed, with only a small
sub-rectangular, longer thanwide; cephalic projection in the middle of margins and a
capsule in lateral view strongly convex in sharp apical tooth; a basal tooth differenti-
Volume 19, Number 1, 2010 55
Fig. 2. Azteca andreae male from French Guiana
(CASENT 0179546). A). Full frontal view ofthe head
ofA.andrea.B).LateralviewofthebodyofA. andreae.
Fig. 1. Paratype female of Azteca andreae (French
Guiana;CASENT0179545).A).Fullfrontalviewofthe
head of A. andreae. B). Lateral view of the body of cephalic capsule, above the eyes, slightly
A. and\'eae. convex; posterolateral comers rounded.
Mesosoma: Parapsidal furrows weakly
developed. Anepistemum and katepister-
ates masticatory and basal margins. Cly- num divided by a deep mesopleural
peal plate strongly convex, as medial groove. Anterior and posterior surfaces of
clypeal lobe extends well beyond small, propodeum undifferentiated. Propodeal
lateral clypeal lobes; surface smooth with spiracles visibly protruding.
small foveae near anterior ridge of clypeal Metasoma: Petiolar node rectangular
plate. Scapes small, trapezoidal, thin at with rounded corners and straight dorsal
base and wider distally; pedicel small, face; anterior surface much longer than
nearly equal to maxiraum scape width; posterior surface; petiolar node partly
second funicular segment roughly twice as fused to gaster. Tergites and sternites
long as scape; remaining funiculus little smoothand shiny. Pygostylethin and long,
longer than scape; scape with smooth with distal half curved downwards and
surface and a few scattered hairs; funicular squared at the tip, smooth and shiny.
segments 3-11 with long, dense and Body dark brown, shiny, slightly punc-
appressed pilosity, surface densely punc- tate in some areas, covered with very
tate and dull. Eyes large, located near sparse decum—bent, long white hairs.
anterior half of the cephalic capsule, Etymology. Azteca andreae is named in
separated from mandible insertion by less honor of Andrea Dejean, the third author's
than 0.1 mm; eyes break the plane on side wife, in acknowledgment of her consider-
of head. Lateral oceUi protruding slightly able editorial help with myrmecology
abovevertexin dorsalview. Margins ofthe papers in English.
56 JournalofHymenoptera Research: Festschrift Honoring Roy Snelling
—
Range. French Guiana. The males of both species are very
—
Natural History. This species constructs similar in color, type and distribution of
large, conspicuous globular carton nests at hairs, and wing venation; however, when
the base of the stem or near the crown of we examined the male genitalia of both
Cecropia trees (Fig. 4). Alain Dejean has species, we found that there are conspic-
observed and collected several A. andreae uous differences. The pygostyle on A.
nests from trees in French Guiana, the vast andreae is smooth and shiny, thin, long,
majority of which were Cecropia obtusa and with the distalhalfcurved downwards
Trecul. A. andreae can also nest on C. and squared at the tip, while those on A.
pahnata Willd, which also often shelters schimperi are short, thick and with a
Azteca alfari or A. ovaticeps. The nests rounded tip (Fig. 3).
observed by A. Dejean always were in The major workers of both species are
pioneer vegetation highly-altered through indistinguishable, although the workers of
human activity. A. andreae have a relatively smaller head;
Allnestscollectedcontainedcolonieswith however,therangesofbothspeciesoverlap.
many workers, dozens of winged females The minor workers are also undifferen-
and few males; for example, type series of tiated, but A. andreae have thin, protruding
this species came from a colony with tube-shaped propodeal spiracles, whereas
hundreds of workers, hundreds of winged A. schimperi are open at the propodeum.
females (only 55 were collected), five male, The females of A. lanuginosa, A. schimperi
several brood and pupae, although no and A. andreae are related to each other and
queenwasobserved. Othercollectionsmade show a clear gradation in the quantity,
by A. Dejean produced colonies with some distribution and type ofbody hair. The first
physogastric—females (Fig 5). species is the only one of them with an
Comments. A. andreae is close to A. abundant, erect pilosity all over the body,
schimperi but can be distinguished by including the gaster (Longino 2007); it
morphological characters of gynes and becomes sparse in A. schimperi and disap-
males; the majorworkers ofthe two species pears altogether in A. andreae (in the latter
are indistinguishable. A. andreae gynes twospecies,thegasterisdevoidofanyhair).
conspicuously lack pilosity over the entire
body, while A. schimperi gynes are densely Azteca diaholica n. sp. Guerrero,
covered with erect hairs on the head and Delabie & Dejean (Fig. 6)
mesosoma. The anteromedial portion of
the clypeus protrudes more in A. andreae Holotype (gyne): PANAMA, San Lo-
than in A. schimperi; the masticatory mar- renzo Forest, IBISCA project, 9°16'47.58"N,
gin of the mandibles ofA. andreae is armed 79°58'29.94'W, Flight-interception trap in the
with blunt teeth, while A. schimperi has canopy, 3-13 Ago 2004 (M. Rapp) [CPDCl;
sharp teeth. The scapes of A. andreae are paratypes: 1 gyne, same location, Fogging #FO-
significantly shorter than those of A. C3-6C,13Oct.2004(J.Bail)[RBINSl;1gyne,same
schimperi (0.80-0.86 vs. 0.94-1.01 mm, re- location. Fogging FOG-Rl-5, 20 Oct. 2003 Q.
Schmidl) [ICNJ. 2 gynes, same location. Fogging
spectively); the posterior margin of the
head is much more excavated in A. andreae #J-2, 17Oct. 2003 G- Schmidl) [CPDC, MZUSP].
than in A. schimperi, and the posterolateral Measurements of Holotype: HLA 1.48,
corners are also more angular in the first HLB 1.56, HW 1.12, AHW 0.72, SL 1.24, EL
species; another important character 0.30, OCW 0.06, CI 76, SI 84, MTSC 0.
amongst the females of both species is the Measurements ofParatypes (N= 2): HLA
HW
color: A. andreae females are a dark reddish 1.60-1.62, HLB 1.64-1.74, 1.20-1.24,
AHW
brown, while A. schimperi females are 0.78-0.80, SL 1.34-1.36, EL 0.30-0.32,
uniformly brown. OCW 0.06, CI 75-77, SI 84-85, MTSC 0.
Volume 19, Number 1, 2010 57
Fig. 3. GenitaliaofmaleA. andreaeandA. schimperi. Fig. 4. A. andreaenestsbuiltin Cecropia spp. trees.
The arrow indicates the pygostyle.
— Sparse pilosity; medial clypeal lobe
Diagnosis. Azteca diabolica is a member strongly convex and protruding, extending
of the A. aurita group with a deep and well beyond lateral clypeal lobes. Head
smoothly rounded excavation at the pos- almost rectangular, somewhat swollen be-
terior vertex margin extending to the tween ocellar region and compound eye;
corners that form posteriorly-projecting posterior margin highly angular, horn-like
rounded horns. Mesosoma smooth, shiny laterally, deeply excavate medially. When
and hairless. Propodeal spiracles protrud- laid back, scape reaches prolongations of
ing. Gastral tergum and sternum with vertex at apex of posterolateral projection;
hairless, polished—surface. scape and funiculus provided with abun-
Gyne characters. Head: Palpal formula dant, nearly erect pilosity.
is 4,3. Dorsal and ventral surfaces of head Mesosoma: Smooth and shiny, without
hairless. Dorsal surface of mandibles appressed hairs. Middle and hind tibiae
mostly smooth and shiny, with fine lon- lacking apical spur. Dorsal surface of
gitudinal striae near masticatory margin; propodeum shorter than posterior surface;
masticatory margin armed with five teeth propodeal spiracles protruding.
and two denticles, with no angle or tooth Metasoma: Petiolar node bluntly trian-
separating it from basal margin; basal gular, posterior surface straight, twice as
margin slightly serrated; surface of man- long as anterior surface; posteroventral
dibles with scattered, sub-decumbent long petiolar lobe very low, very shallowly
hairs. Clypeal plate with sub-decumbent. convex, ending posteriorly in a somewhat
58 JournalofHymenoptera Research: Festschrift Honoring Roy Snelling
Fig. 6. Head of Azteca diabolica (Paratype fen\ale,
f Panama; ICN-022611), full frontal view.
mandibles and legs. Some species in the
aurita group have a strongly pronounced
lateral vertex margin, but none is as
Fig. 5. Physogastric A. andreae queens from French pronounced as in Azteca diabolica.
Guiana. A. PhysogastricA. andreaequeenattendedby
workers. B. Preserved physogastricA. andreaequeen. Azteca laurae n. sp. Guerrero,
Delabie & Dejean (Fig. 7)
abruptshelf. Tergites and stemiteshairless, Holotype (gyne): BRAZIL, Rondonia, Par-
smooth and shiny. que Estadual Guajara Mirim, 10°19'17"S,
Body reddish brown, surface smooth 64°33'47"W, #5256, Malaise trap, 02 Mar. 1998
a.R.M. Santos) [CPDCl.
and reflective.
—
Worker and male. Unknown Measurements of Holotype: HLA 1.56,
Etymology.—The name refers to the form HLB 1.62, HW 1.46, AHW 0.90, SL 1.24, EL
of the head of the gyne which suggests 0.36, OCW 0—.06, CI 94, SI 79, MTSC 0.
popular—representations of the Devil. Diagnosis. Azteca laurae is a member of
Range. Panama. the A. aurita group with an inverted, cone-
—
Natural History. The five specimens like (cuneiform) head whose sides strongly
were collected from the rain forest canopy, diverge from the lateral region; surface of
first with a flight-intercept trap, later by head smooth and shiny, with very thin
applying a chemical treatment to vegeta- and weak punctations visible laterally by
tion. Three gynes were collected by fog- tilting the specimen (dorsal-oblique view),
ging; one from a tree where both Azteca although these one more noticeably visible
sp.2 chartifex group and Azteca instabilis (Fr. in the ocellar regi—on (full frontal view).
Smith) occurred, the two others from a tree Gyne characters. Head: Palpal formula
with Azteca sp.2 chartifex group. This 4,3. Dorsal and ventral surface devoid of
suggests that A. diabolica may be a social any type of hair, although very short
parasite, in particular of carton-nesting and sparse hair covers a small portion of
species of the chartifex group. the genae. Dorsal surface of mandibles
—
Comments. The gyne differs from those completely smooth and shiny, clearly
of other species in the A. aurita group in seen in spaces between the sparse, long
being almost hairless, having only sparse, hairs. Masticatory margin of mandibles
short and decumbent hairs on the clypeus. armed with four teeth and two denticles.
\OLL-ME 19, Xl-mber 1, 2010 59
Metasoma: Petiolar node triangular,
sloping gently posteriorly; posterior mar-
gin almost twice as long as anterior;
petiolar lobe ^veakly convex behind; ven-
tral surface roughly parallel to dorsal
surface. Gaster hairless, surface polished
and ver}' shinv.
Body reddish brown, surface smooth
and reflective.
—
y^orker and male. Unkno^vn
—
Eh/mology. The name is in honor of
Laura Mariano Delabie, the second
author's daughter.
—
Range. Western Amazonian Brazil.
—
Xatural History. The holot}'pe ^vas col-
lected in the mature forest of the Parque
Estadual Guajara Mirim, Rondonia, Brazil,
using a Malaise trap.
—
Comments. The g}Tie of this species is
closely similar to A. aiirita, differing in the
amount and distribution ofthe hairs on the
Fig. 7. Holot\-p€ female of Azteca laiirae (Brazil; dorsum of the head and the scapes. A.
CPDC-5256). A). Full frontal \-iew of the head of .4. laurae has ver}' fe^v short hairs on the
laurae. B). Lateral\iewofthebodyofA. laurae. genae, while the anterior part of the head
of A. aurita is covered -with a uniform
Clypealplate covered ^vith abundant short, vestiture of short, dense, %vhite pilosit\\
nearly erect pilosit}'; medial ch^peal lobe The scapes ofA. lauraeare sparselycovered
strongly convex, projecting outwards, ^vith ^vith short hairs, ^vhile those of A. aurita
hairless anterior ridge extending well are densely covered by the same t}~pe
beyond lateral ch^eal lobes. Vertex with of pilosit}' present in the dorsal region
prominent, rounded comers deeply exca- of the head. Another notable trait is the
vated in middle in U-shape with gently- shape of the head, the sides of which
rounded tips. Ocelli in a loose clump, are almost parallel in A. aurita (Fig. 8),
forming a dark stain in dorsoposterior ^vhile inA. laurae they diverge posteriorly,
region. Scapes barely reaching extensions resulting in a cuneiform-shaped head
of vertex; scapes and funiculus covered (Pig. 7); the vertexal margin in A. laurae
with abundant, short, sub-decumbent pi- is ^vider and slightly more concave than in
losit}', shorter than maximum width of A. aurita.
scape.
Azteca linamariae n. sp. Guerrero,
coMnsepsiocsuoomuas:haSimrso,otonhlyanadfsehwinvye,r}^-visthhornto, Delabie & Dejean (Pig. 9)
appressed hairs becoming sparser to-
wards katepistemal and propodeal region. Holotype (gyne): COLOMBIA, \'aupes, Esta-
Dorsal side of propodeum almost equal in cion Biologica Mosiio-Itajura (Caparu), .Antigua
Cabafia, 1^ 4'S, 69' 3'W, 60 m. Malaise trap, 18-
length to posterior surface, nearly undiffer- 27 mar 2003 Pinzon), M.3610 - Insects of
entiated due to absence of a defined Colombia pro(jJe.ct [lAvFi]; paratype (gyne):
boundar}-; propodeal spiracles weaklypro- BR.\ZIL, Rondonia, Paxque Estadual Guajara
truding. Middle and hind tibiae lacking Mirim, 10^19'17"S, 64^33'471V, =5248, Malaise
spurs. trap, 28 Jan. 1998 (J.R.M. Santos) [CPDC].
60 Journalof Hymexoptera Research: Festschrift Honoring Roy Snelling
Fig. 8. Head of an Azteca aiirita female from
Panama, full frontal view.
Measurements of Holotype: HLA 1.86,
HLB 2.0, HW 1.84, AHW 1.18, SL 1.48, EL
0.40, OCW 0.14, CI 99, SI 80, MTSC 8.
Measurements of Parat}^pe: HLA 1.82,
HLB 1.86, HW 1.82, AHW 1.16, SL 1.46, EL
0.44, OCW 0—.14, CI 100, SI 80, MTSC 8. Fig. 9. AztMeca linamariae (Holot\-pe female, Colom-
Diagiiosis. Azteca linamariae is a mem- boifa;A.lAvliHn-amaria3e6.10)B.).A)L.atFuelrlalfrvoniteawl \o'fiewthoeftbhoedhyeaodf
ber of the A. aurita group with the dorsal A. linamariae.
and ventral surfaces ofthe head, mesonotal
dorsal region and gastral tergum and
sternum covered with abundant, very thin, ered with abundant, appressed, sub-de-
short, white, scale-like setae. It is the cumbent pilosity much shorter than that of
largest queen of any known species in the scapes.
aurita group. — Mesosoma: Smooth and opaque, with
Gyne characters. Head: Palpal formula some sparse and scattered long hairs,
4,3. Ventral surface with abundant pilosity, mainly on promesonotal dorsum, mostly
as well as long, very closely spaced, erect appressed below propodeal spiracle. Sides
hairs covering all head margins and back of propodeum shorter than posterior re-
of foramen magnum. Mandibles smooth gion; propodeal spiracles projecting
and shiny, with abundant decumbent slightly outward. Middle and hind tibiae
pilosity, longer hairs toward masticatory lack spurs.
margin. Clypeal plate covered with short, Metasoma: Petiolar node triangular,
abundant pilosity; medial clypeal lobe with front straight and nearly as long as
strongly convex, but projected slightly posterior surface; posteroventral lobe often
toward the front, extending well beyond convex, inverted, and hump-like. Caster
lateral clypeal lobes. Head nearly rectan- smooth and polished, without long hairs.
gular, slightly diverging laterally, flat in Head reddish brown, mesosoma brown,
the ventral region; posterior margin deeply gaster yellowish-brown with a highly
excavated, sharply angled with rounded polished and reflective surface.
—
comers. Scapes a significant distance from Y^orker and male. Unknown
—
corners of vertex with nearly erect, Etymology. This name is in honor of
short hairs approximately equal to half Lina Maria Ramos, the first author's wife,
maximum width of scapes; funiculus cov- busv and active like an ant.
