Adelomyrmex robustus Fernandez, 2003

Fernández, F., 2003, Revision of the myrmicine ants of the Adelomyrmex genus-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., Zootaxa 361, pp. 1-52 : 26-27

Adelomyrmex robustus Fernandez NEW SPECIES (Figs. 4-6, 25-30, 72)

Worker measurements. Holotype (Paratypes, n=10). HL 0.98 (0.93-0.96) HW 0.88 (0.83- 0.88) SL 0.61 (0.59-0.64) EL 0.09 (0.10-0.13) WL 0.93 (0.91-0.95) GL 1.08 (1.09-1.13) TL 3.76 (3.59-3.70) CI 90 (89-90) SI 70 (71-73).

Worker diagnosis. Head wider posteriorly. Mandibles with 5 stout teeth, the 3 apical bigger. Clypeal teeth and tooth of basal margin stout, size about medial masticatory teeth. Eyes moderate, with about 20 ommatidia. Hypostomal tooth very small. Promesonotum evenly convex. Propodeum armed with two spines small, pointed. Node of petiole thick, rounded above. Mandibles dorsally with strong longitudinal rugulations. Head frons longitudinally with rugulate, several rugulae irregular, meshed with notable piliferous punctures. Promesonotal dorsum with longitudinal coarse rugulae in the center, the rugulae more irregular in the periphery and with notable foveae. Petiole and postpetiole transversely rugulated. Legs and gaster smooth and shining. Hairs on the promesonotum very long, about 0.25 mm. Body black, appendages dark brown, tarsi yellowish.

Queen measurements: HL 0.98 HW 0.91 SL 0.63 EL 0.16 WL 1.03 GL 1.29 TL 4.09 CI 93 SI 69.

As worker, with the modifications typical of myrmicine queens.

Male: Unknown.

Holotype worker: MEXICO: Chiapas, 8 mi N Pueblo Nuevo, Solistahuacan , 6000 feet , 26- 27.viii.1973, leaf litter forestry floor, A. Newton leg. No. 12a (Deposited in MZSP).

Paratype workers: MEXICO: 36 w, 9 q, Chiapas, 2.1 km NW Pueblo Nuevo, Solistahuacan, Yerbabuena Preserve, 2100 m , in liquid amber forest litter, 23.ix.1992, R.S. Andersen No. 92-114 ; 20 w, Chiapas, 8 mi Pueblo Nuevo, Solistahuacan , 26.viii.1973 ; 3 w, 1 q, Chiapas, Tapalapa, 12 km N Capilla , 13.iii.1994, R. Jones HR 4 ; 3 w, Chiapas, 5 km E Rayon , 1700 m , 23.xii.1991, P.S. Ward No. 11581-8 ( PSW). Twenty six paratypes deposited in LACM, 17 paratypes deposited in MZSP, 22 paratypes deposited in CEPLAC, INBio, IAvH, ICN, JTL, IEXM, IMLA, MCZ, MIZA, BMNH, USNM, CWEM.

Comments. This species can be differentiated from most Adelomyrmex by its size (HW equal or greater than 0.83 mm), tooth of the basal margin robust, as big or bigger than the third tooth of the masticatory margin, sculpturing formed by irregular rugulae mixed with conspicuous piliferous punctures. The propodeal spines are low and triangular.

There is uniformity in size and other characteristics in the samples examined, all from Chiapas, Mexico. The workers of this species might be confused with large workers of A. tristani , although there are differences, as pointed out in the previous discussion of this species.

The queens can be differentiated, in addition to the characters already mentioned for the worker, by a single small, inconspicuous ocelli. The striation of the promesonotum is almost complete, with the smooth and shiny area small. The petiole seems to have a ventral anterior swelling.