Pogonomyrmex sanmartini (Kusnezov, 1953) Johnson, 2021
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5033.1.1 |
publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:4314F784-A510-4F36-9E11-ED1EAC83CEBF |
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/5027B677-FF68-A4B5-FF25-FEC6FB516A4C |
treatment provided by |
Plazi |
scientific name |
Pogonomyrmex sanmartini |
status |
stat. nov. |
Pogonomyrmex sanmartini NEW STATUS
( Figures 3C–D View FIGURE 3 , 10D, 10H View FIGURE 10 , 79–83 View FIGURE 79 View FIGURE 80 View FIGURE 81 View FIGURE 82 View FIGURE 83 )
Distribution—78B
Pogonomyrmex carbonarius sanmartini Kusnezov, 1953: 110 View in CoL (worker, in key). Syntypes examined: 8 workers, 1 intercaste? [USNM], 3 workers [LACM], 5 workers, 2 intercastes [IFML]. ARGENTINA, Neuquén: in the area surrounding San Martín de los Andes, in the zone of cypress trees, #3980 (N. Kusnezov leg., 24 January 1949). See also Gallardo, 1932: 136, fig. 23; Kusnezov, 1960: 358. USNM worker here designated LECTOTYPE [CASENT0906503].
Pogonomyrmex rastratus var. carbonaria: Emery, 1906: 157 , misidentified sanmartini .
Pogonomyrmex carbonarius: Kusnezov, 1951: 271 View in CoL , misidentified sanmartini .
Worker diagnosis. Workers of this species are uniquely characterized by the following combination of features: (1) restricted to the Patagonia region of Argentina, (2) concolorous black, (3) striae extend over anterior one-half or more of first gastral tergum, (4) some to all striae on first gastral tergum oblique and/or transverse, and (5) posterolateral margins of first gastral tergum smooth and shining.
Note that in Neuquén Province workers occasionally have an orangish-red to reddish or reddish-black head; mesosoma and gaster blackish to black with one or both rarely reddish to reddish-black. This color morph is uniquely characterized by the combination of: (1) superior propodeal spines long, length> 0.5–0.6× the distance between their bases for most to all workers in a series, (2) for most to all workers in a series, rugae on dorsum of promesonotum well defined, very regular and continuous, lacking short lateral branches; lateral longitudinal rugae on mesonotum diverging toward humeral shoulders of pronotum, and (3) anterodorsal margin of pronotum with one to several straight, strong, continuous, transverse rugae ( Figures 10D, 10H View FIGURE 10 , 79–81 View FIGURE 79 View FIGURE 80 View FIGURE 81 ).
Measurements — lectotype (n = 26). HL 1.74 (1.40–1.86); HW 1.73 (1.51–1.92); MOD 0.36 (0.31–0.39); OMD 0.44 (0.34–0.44); SL 1.36 (1.16–1.45); PNW 1.16 (1.01–1.33); HFL 1.82 (1.44–1.96); ML 2.09 (1.60–2.22); PW 0.49 (0.35–0.51); PPW 0.59 (0.51–0.70). Indices: SI 78.61 (71.35–79.87); CI 99.43 (98.10–113.48); OI 20.81 (18.95–2.81); HFI 78.61 (88.89–108.18).
Redescription. Head subquadrate to wider than long (CI = 98.10–113.48), widest just posterior to eyes; posterior margin flat to weakly convex in full-face view. Longitudinal rugae on cephalic dorsum prominent. In full-face view, medial rugae continuing to posterior margin to diverging toward posterior corners of head. Interrugae on cephalic dorsum smooth and shining to strongly granulate, with a beaded appearance, weakly shining to dull; posterior corners rugose, interrugae smooth and shining. Anterior margin of clypeus concave, dorsum with numerous subparallel, longitudinal rugae. Numerous long, curved, bristle-like, cream to light yellowish macrochaetae project from anterior margin of clypeus and basolateral margin of mandibles. Mandibles with six teeth, rarely with an additional subtooth between the fourth and fifth teeth; mandibular dorsum coarsely rugose. MOD ranging from 0.19–0.26× HL. In profile, eyes situated slightly anterior to middle of head, OMD = 0.97–1.25× MOD. In full-face view, eyes protruding slightly beyond lateral margins of head. Antennal scapes (SI = 71.35–79.87) failing to reaching posterior corners of head by less than length of basal funicular segment to barely surpassing posterior corners of head; scapes smooth and shining or with weak longitudinal striae, weakly shining to shining; basal flange well developed, flattened with carinate margin. Psammophore well developed.
Mesosomal profile flat to moderately convex; all mesosomal surfaces with prominent regular to weakly irregular, subparallel-parallel rugae, rarely irregular to weakly rugoreticulate. Rugae on dorsum of promesonotum well defined, very regular and continuous, lacking short lateral branches; longitudinal rugae on mesonotum diverging toward humeral shoulders of pronotum; anterodorsal margin of pronotum with one to several straight, strong, continuous, transverse rugae that continue onto pronotal sides or rugae on dorsum of mesonotum wavy to rarely strongly irregular, lateral rugae diverging to humeral shoulders of pronotum; rugae on pronotum regular to irregular, rarely rugoreticulate, regular to occasionally strongly irregular rugae traversing ventrally, posterad, or posteroventrally or rarely weakly rugoreticulate on pronotal sides. In dorsal view, humeral shoulders of pronotum enlarged, weakly to moderately angulate. Wavy to rarely strongly irregular rugae on mesopleura angle posterodorsally; regular transverse rugae on dorsum of propodeum traverse ventrally or anteroventrally on sides. Promesonotal suture absent to moderately impressed. Superior propodeal spines consist of tubercles, denticles, short teeth, or short to long spines, bases connected by well defined keel; inferior propodeal spines wider than high, apex narrowly rounded to acuminate. Propodeal spiracles narrowly ovate facing posterad. Interrugae on mesosoma smooth and shining to strongly granulate, weakly shining. Legs weakly to strongly coriarious, weakly shining to shining.
Peduncle of petiole about as long as petiolar node, anteroventral margin with weakly to well developed, round- ed process that often narrows slightly then often continues posterad subparallel-parallel to dorsal margin of peduncle. In profile, posterior surface of petiolar node weakly convex; node asymmetrical with anterior surface notably shorter than posterior surface, apex weakly rounded to angulate. In dorsal view, petiolar node longer than wide, widest near spatulate anterior margin, gradually narrowing posterad. Posterior surface of petiolar node with regular to wavy transverse rugae, rugae often weakly arcuate anterad. Dorsum of postpetiole convex in profile; in dorsal view, widest near posterior margin, narrowing to anterior margin, maximum width and length about equal, dorsum with transverse to weakly arcuate rugae, occasionally anterad rugae traversing medially from lateral margin then curving anterad to become longitudinal; anterolateral rugae concentric, curving from lateral to anterior margin. Rugae on dorsum of postpetiole finer, denser than those on posterior surface of petiolar node; interrugae on posterior surface of petiolar node and dorsum of postpetiole smooth and shining to moderately coriarious, weakly shining. First gastral tergum with striae that extend over anterior one-half or more of segment, some to most striae oblique and/or transverse, posterolateral margins smooth and shining to weakly coriarious, weakly shining.
Erect, short to medium-length, white pilosity moderately abundant on head, longest hairs along posterior margin, rest of hairs rarely> 0.2–0.3× MOD. Moderately abundant suberect to semidecumbent pilosity on scapes; abundant decumbent hairs on funicular segments. Legs with moderately abundant suberect to decumbent white setae. Mesosoma, petiolar node, postpetiole with moderately dense, erect, white setae, longest on mesosoma and petiolar node, longest hairs usually 0.4–0.5× MOD, hairs on gastral terga slightly shorter. Concolorous black, but occasional workers (in only Neuquén Province) have an orangish-red to reddish or reddish-black head. The mesosoma and gaster typically are black on these workers, but one or both are occasionally reddish to reddish-black ( Figures 10D, 10H View FIGURE 10 , 79–81 View FIGURE 79 View FIGURE 80 View FIGURE 81 ).
Queen diagnosis. Queens of this species are diagnosed by the following combination of features: (1) castespecific morphology of the mesosoma related to wing-bearing and presence of ocelli on head, (2) first gastral tergum with striae extending over anterior one-half or more of segment, (3) body concolorous black, (4) dorsum of propodeum with 4–6 widely spaced transverse rugae, and (5) transverse or oblique rugae cover posterior surface of petiolar node and dorsum of postpetiole ( Figure 82 View FIGURE 82 ).
Measurements —(n = 7). HL 1.44–1.78; HW 1.62–1.85; MOD 0.31–0.43; OMD 0.36–0.43; SL 1.12–1.42; PNW 1.27–1.47; HFL 1.58–1.91; ML 1.95–2.66; PW 0.47–0.54; PPW 0.67–0.80. Indices: SI 64.29–77.58; CI 98.80–112.50; OI 18.79–23.64; HFI 85.41–106.06.
Description. With caste-specific morphology of the mesosoma related to wing-bearing and presence of ocelli on head. In full-face view, head quadrate to wider than long (CI = 98.80–112.50), widest just posterior to eyes, posterior margin flat. Longitudinal rugae on cephalic dorsum prominent, wavy; in full-face view, medial rugae not diverging to diverging toward posterior corners of head; interrugae on cephalic dorsum weakly to moderately granulate-punctate, weakly shining to shining; posterior corners rugose, interrugae weakly to moderately granulatecoriarious, weakly shining to smooth and shining. Mandibles with six teeth, dorsal surface coarsely rugose. Psammophore well developed.
All mesosomal surfaces except pronotal sides with subparallel, regular to wavy rugae, pronotal sides occasionally with irregular rugae; dorsum of propodeum with 4–6 widely spaced transverse rugae; interrugae weakly to moderately granulate-coriarious, weakly shining; superior propodeal spines consist of short, triangular teeth to moderately long, acuminate spines; inferior propodeal spines wider than tall, apex weakly rounded to subangulate. Peduncle of petiole long, anteroventral margin with a small, broadly rounded process. In profile, petiolar node asymmetrical with anterior surface shorter than posterior surface, apex subangulate to angulate. Posterior surface of petiolar node with wavy, transverse, oblique, or longitudinal rugae. In dorsal view, postpetiole slightly wider than long; dorsum with wavy, transverse rugae that are finer, denser than those on posterior surface of petiolar node; interrugae on both surfaces weakly granulate-coriarious, weakly shining to smooth and shining. Striae cover anterior one-half or more of first gastral tergum, posterolateral margins smooth and shining. Most body surfaces with moderately abundant suberect to erect, medium-length, whitish setae. Body concolorous black, but note that queens are unknown from parts of Neuquén Province where workers sometimes have a reddish-head, so it is unknown if these queens have a reddish head ( Figure 82 View FIGURE 82 ).
Male diagnosis. Males of this species are diagnosed by the following combination of features: (1) striae extend over more than anterior one-half of first gastral tergum, (2) first gastral tergum blackish to black ( Figure 83 View FIGURE 83 ).
Measurements —(n = 11). HL 1.11–1.33; HW 1.08–1.30; MOD 0.40–0.47; OMD 0.13–0.25; SL 0.27–0.48; HFL 1.45–1.71; ML 1.93–2.35; PW 0.42–0.59; PPW 0.62–0.74. Indices: SI 23.48–38.10; CI 95.49–112.50; OI 33.86–38.39; HFI 125.20–138.89.
Additional material examined. ARGENTINA: Chubut: 28.3 km N Jct Rts 71 & 40 (near El Trebol), 1880’, Jan 26, 2011 ( IFML; LACM; MACN; MCZC; RAJC; UCDC; USNM) ; Rt 20 at 25.2 km NW turnoff to Facundo, 1780’, Jan 28, 2011 ( RAJC) ; Rt 40 at 41.2 km N Tecka , 2010’, Feb 22, 2014 ( RAJC) ; Jct Rts 60 & 40 (0.5 km E Tecka), 2440’, Feb 22, 2014 ( RAJC) ; 19.5 km E Shaman , 650 m, Nov 19, 1966 ( CASC) ; Sierra San Bernardo, Jan 16, 1999 ( IFML) ; Koluel Kayke, 295 m, Jan 16, 2013 ( RAJC) . Neuquén: Rt 234 near Bazán, Jan 25, 2014 ( RGPC) ; 27 km S Rahue , 2560’, Dec 8, 2003 ( RAJC) ; 54 km NE Rahue , 3400’, Dec 8, 2003 ( CASC; IFML; LACM; MACN; MCZC; RAJC; UCDC; USNM) ; 16.9 km W Rahue , 3030’, Feb 8, 2011 ( RAJC) ; 19 km E Rahue , 4680’, Dec 8, 2003 ( CASC; MCZC; RAJC) ; 0.7 km W Confluencia , 2630’, Feb 24, 2014 ( RAJC) ; Rt 67 at 0.2 km W Confluencia , 2630’, Jan 25, 2011 ( MCZC; RAJC) ; Aluminé, Jan 19–22, 1949 ( IFML; MCZC) ; 1.0 km S Aluminé, 2930’, Feb 9, 2011 ( RAJC) ; Rt 23 at 10.8 km SE Lonco Luan , 3390’, Feb 9, 2011 & Feb 26, 2014 ( MCZC; RAJC) ; 2.4 km W Jct Rts 231 & 237, 2680’, Jan 25, 2011 ( MCZC; RAJC) ; Rt 23 at 20.6 km S Pilolil , 3230’, Feb 8, 2011 ( MCZC; RAJC) ; Rt 40 at 10.2 km NE Junín de Los Andes , 3340’, Feb 6, 2011 ( MCZC; RAJC) ; Rt 46 at 13.2 km SW Nireñco , 4210’, Feb 10, 2011 ( RAJC) ; Rt 231 at 0.7 km W Jct Rt 40, 2670’, Feb 4, 2014 ( RAJC) ; Río Chimehuin Larminotte Estancia , Apr 9, 1980 ( CASC) ; Parque Nacional Lanin, Orillas del Huechulafquen , Jan 28, 1999 ( IFML) ; Huachulafquen, Feb 2, 1949 ( IFML) ; Junín de los Andes, Jan 29, 2010 ( RGPC) ; Quillen, no date (IFML). Río Negro: Bariloche , Feb 10, 1949 & no date ( IFML; LACM; MACN; MLPA; MZSP) ; Bariloche Airport , 2740’, Jan 13, 2008 ( MCZC; RAJC) ; 3 km S Bariloche Airport , 2820’, Jan 12, 2008 ( RAJC) ; 5 km S Bariloche Airport , 2760’, Jan 12, 2008 & Feb 25, 2014 ( MCZC; RAJC). Santa Cruz: San Julian, Mar 1915 ( LACM; MACN; MLPA) ; 42.1 km N Jct Rt 23 & 40, 940’, Feb 1, 2011 ( MCZC; RAJC) ; 1.3 km S Jct Rt 23 & 40, 960’, Feb 1, 2011 ( RAJC) ; 30.9 km S Jct Rt 23 & 40, 770’, Feb 1, 2011 ( RAJC) ; 75.0 km S Jct Rt 23 & 40, 610’, Feb 1, 2011 ( RAJC) ; Jct Rt 11 & 40, 700’, Feb 2, 2011 ( RAJC) ; Jct Rt 29 & 40 (E of Lago Cardiél), 1340’, Feb 1, 2011 ( RAJC) ; Rt 25 at 0.9 km E Tamil Aike , 1760’, Jan 31, 2011 ( RAJC) ; Rt 25 at 34.4 km E Tamil Aike , 1530’, Jan 31, 2011 ( RAJC) ; Rt 25 at 59.1 km SE Tamil Aike , 1410’, Jan 31, 2011 ( RAJC) ; Rt 25 at 15.2 km W Gobernador Gregores , 1110’, Jan 31, 2011 ( RAJC) ; Rt 29 at 21.8 km SW Gobernador Gregores (route to Lago Cardiél ), 1260’, Feb 1, 2011 ( RAJC) ; Cañadon Leon (= Gobernador Gregores ), Jan 28, 1950 ( IFML; LACM; USNM) ; Rt 3 at 37.2 km N Piedra Buena , 50’, Feb 3, 2011 ( RAJC) ; 2.4 km S Fitz Roy , 210 m, Dec 12, 1966 ( CASC; LACM) ; Rt 3 at 57.2 km N Caleta Olivia , 110’, Feb 4, 2011 ( RAJC) ; 55.6 km S Perito Moreno , 690 m, Nov 24, 1966 ( LACM) ; Río Deseado , Rt 3, no date ( IFML) ; Tres Lagos, Jan 8 & 14, 1999 (IFML); 2.8 km E Los Antiguos , Nov 21, 1967 ( CASC; LACM) ; Rt 3 at 3 km S Río Chico , 90 m, Dec 11, 1966 ( CASC) ; Río Santa Cruz , no date ( MCZC) ; no loc, no date (MACN; USNM). Indefinite locales: Patagonia (MACN) . Locations not found: Neuquén?: Cerro Tilloga?, no date ( MLPA) ; Rt 23, Jan 16, 1999 ( IFML) ( Figure 78B View FIGURE 78 ).
Etymology. Kusnezov (1953) described P. carbonarius sanmartini in a key without additional information, but he undoubtedly derived the name sanmartini from the type locality, which is San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén Province, Argentina.
Discussion. Morphology of P. sanmartini is a highly variable in terms of color, length of the superior propodeal spines, and patterning of rugae on the dorsum of the promesonotum. All three characters display geographic variation. In regard to color, workers are concolorous black throughout their range except in parts of Neuquén Province, where some workers in a series can have a dark reddish to reddish-black head (see also Kusnezov, 1951). Additionally, workers from Neuquén and sometimes Río Negro Province have: (1) long superior propodeal spines with a length> 0.6× the distance between their bases, and (2) dorsum of the promesonotum with very regular, longitudinal rugae that lack lateral branches with one to several continuous, transverse rugae along the anterior margin of pronotum. Alternatively, in southern parts of their range (Chubut and Santa Cruz Provinces), rugae on the dorsum of the promesonotum are regular to irregular, sometimes rugoreticulate, and the superior propodeal spines range from denticles or tubercles to long spines; all three characters can vary intranidally. Lastly, striae are invariably present on the first gastral tergum of P. sanmartini , but one series from Bariloche (Santa Cruz #586, MACN) contained specimens (7 of 9 workers, 2 of 2 queens) with the first gastral tergum smooth and strongly shining. These variations account for P. sanmartini keying out in two separate couplets.
Pogonomyrmex sanmartini is restricted to and is common throughout much of Patagonia , including southeastern Neuquén, eastern Río Negro, eastern and southern Chubut, and throughout Santa Cruz Province. This species is readily distinguished from congeners despite its high level of morphological variability. The combination of: (1) concolorous black, (2) striae extend over anterior one-half or more of first gastral tergum, (3) some to most striae on first gastral tergum oblique and/or transverse, and (4) posterolateral margins of first gastral tergum smooth and shining distinguish P. sanmartini from all congeners. Workers that are black with a reddish head (these occur in only Neuquén Province) can be distinguished by the combination of: (1) superior propodeal spines long, length> 0.5-0.6× the distance between their bases for most to all workers in a series, (2) for most to all workers in a series, rugae on dorsum of promesonotum well defined, very regular and continuous, lacking short lateral branches; lateral longitudinal rugae on mesonotum diverging toward humeral shoulders of pronotum, and (3) anterodorsal margin of pronotum with one to several straight, strong, continuous, transverse rugae.
The status of P. sanmartini as a subspecies of P. carbonarius resulted from not knowing the identity of P. carbonarius . Emery (1906), Gallardo (1932), and Kusnezov (1951) provided treatments of P. carbonarius (as P. rastratus var. carbonarius in the former two), but problematically, none of these authors examined the holotype of P. carbonarius . Rather, all three authors based their concept of P. carbonarius on series of P. sanmartini that were misidentified as P. carbonarius . The treatment by Emery (1906) discussed specimens that he had examined from near Río Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Province. Gallardo (1932) mentioned these same specimens, also saying that there were numerous workers in MACN and the collection of Dr. Bruch from Patagonia and Santa Cruz. However, P. carbonarius is not known to occur in Santa Cruz Province (see above). Kusnezov (1951, pg. 272) was more specific, saying that he based his concept of P. carbonarius on two series of workers in the collection of Dr. Bruch that were labeled P. rastratus var. carbonarius (Santa Cruz #586: 2 workers [MACN] & Bariloche #1528: 2w, 1aq [MACN], 5w, 1dq [MLPA], both series examined). From these specimens, Kusnezov indicated that P. carbonarius was characterized by very regular longitudinal rugae on the dorsum of the mesonotum and mesopleura and that these rugae were more regular than those on P. rastratus and all other species in the P. rastratus -group. Based on this difference, Kusnezov (1951) re-elevated P. carbonarius to species rank.
It is unknown who identified these two series from Bariloche and Santa Cruz, but it appears that concolorous black and striae on the first gastral tergum were the two diagnostic characters used to identify P. carbonarius . Moreover, it appears that Kusnezov identified all workers from southern Argentina as P. carbonarius if they were concolorous black and had striae on their first gastral tergum.
Unfortunately, the two series of workers that Kusnezov (1951) used to establish his concept of P. carbonarius were actually P. sanmartini . In his discussion of P. carbonarius, Kusnezov (1951) discussed a color variant of P. carbonarius indicating only that it had been collected in the cypress zone ( Libocedrus chilensis [= Austrocedus chilensis ]) on north-facing slopes in the area surrounding San Martín de los Andes, Neuquén Province. In a subsequent paper on ants in the national parks of Patagonia , Argentina, Kusnezov (1953) described this color variant in a key as P. carbonarius sanmartini . The key separated the two forms as follows: P. carbonarius entirely black, while there are red spots or reddish coloration on the head and mesosoma of P. carbonarius sanmartini . This paper gave no other information on P. carbonarius sanmartini , but a later paper on the ants of western Patagonia ( Kusnezov, 1960) indicated that the syntype series of P. carbonarius sanmartini was #3980. Workers from this series were located in several museums (see above), but none of the pins had a syntype label.
Syntype workers of P. carbonarius sanmartini display two consistent differences from P. carbonarius . Most notably, the posterolateral and usually posterior margin of the first gastral tergum are moderately to strongly coriarious, dull to weakly shining in P. carbonarius , while both areas are smooth and shining to strongly shining in P. sanmartini . Coloration also varies: workers of P. sanmartini are typically concolorous black, while those of P. carbonarius most commonly are bicolored (head and sometimes gaster light to dark reddish-orange; mesosoma black), rather than concolorous black as was the holotype worker (see discussion under P. carbonarius ). Thus, I raise P. sanmartini from synonymy to rank as a valid species.
Biology. Several studies have examined foraging behavior of P. sanmartini , but all were published using the name P. carbonarius ( Aput et al., 2019; Lescano et al., 2017; Pirk, 2014; Pirk et al., 2020; Pirk & Lopez de Casenave, 2017). Workers are solitary foragers. Nests of P. sanmartini are in open, exposed sites, within clumps of Stipa sp. (Poaceae) , or under rocks in a range of soil types. The nest entrance ranges from a hole in the ground to a tumulus up to 15 cm in diameter. Nests are most easily located by baiting wokers with cookie crumbs, then following them back to the nest. Partial nest excavations indicated that colonies contain approximately 500–1000 workers. Sexuals have been collected from December 8 through February 25, and Kusnezov (1951) discussed finding alates in nests and single (haplometrotic) founding queens in Neuquén, Río Negro, and Santa Cruz Provinces in January and February, demonstrate that mating flights occur during the austral summer. The type series also contained three intercastes (see Figures 3C–D View FIGURE 3 ).
Pogonomyrmex sanmartini inhabits elevations from 15–1420 m. This species occurs in the Patagonian steppe and Valdivian temperate forests ecoregions, as defined by Olson et al. (2001) ( Figure 78B View FIGURE 78 ).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
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Pogonomyrmex sanmartini
Johnson, Robert A. 2021 |
Pogonomyrmex carbonarius sanmartini
Kusnezov, N. 1960: 358 |
Kusnezov, N. 1953: 110 |
Gallardo, A. 1932: 136 |
Pogonomyrmex carbonarius: Kusnezov, 1951: 271
Kusnezov, N. 1951: 271 |
Pogonomyrmex rastratus var. carbonaria:
Emery, C. 1906: 157 |