Nylanderia cf. docilis (Forel, 1908)

Williams, Jason L., Williams, John F., Lapolla, John S. & Lucky, Andrea, 2025, Nylanderia of the World, Part IV: Taxonomic contributions to the American Clade I of New World Nylanderia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 5569 (3), pp. 549-593 : 567-570

Nylanderia cf. docilis

Figs. 26–28 (worker); Figs. 29–30 (queen); Figs. 31–34 (male)

Worker diagnosis: Antennae relatively long, with scapes surpassing posterior margin of head by nearly half their length; usually uniformly yellow with black macrosetae strongly contrasting with overall color; microsculpture and blue iridescence subtle, most visible on head; cephalic pubescence sparse to absent; metatibiae relatively long (HTI> 125).

Compare with: N. mosaica , N. usul

WORKER. Measurements (n=26): TL: 1.68–2.33; EL: 0.09–0.13; EW: 0.07–0.10; IOD: 0.27–0.32; HE: 0.00– 0.01; HL: 0.48–0.60; HW: 0.40–0.49; HLA: 0.18–0.22; HLP: 0.22–0.25; SL: 0.53–0.69; PW: 0.29–0.37; MW: 0.15–0.21; PrW: 0.22–0.26; PDH: 0.16–0.22; PTW: 0.09–0.13; LHT: 0.50–0.62; WL: 0.58–0.74; GL: 0.61–1.02; SMC: 6–9; PMC: 2–3; MMC: 2–3. Indices: BLI: 124–152; CI: 81–90; EPI: 76–90; HTI: 121–132; REL: 18–22; SI: 124–147.

Color: usually uniformly yellow with thick, black macrosetae strongly contrasting with overall color, but sometimes light to medium brown with somewhat lighter meso- and metacoxae; overall cuticle with light microsculpture resulting in subtle blue iridescence on head and mesosoma. Pilosity: sparse cephalic pubescence; mesosoma and gaster pubescence sparse to absent; pair of small, erect setae on apex of petiole. Head: longer than broad and quadrate with distinct posterolateral corners and flattened posterior margin, usually with slight to moderate emargination; scapes long, surpassing posterior margin by nearly half their length; all three ocelli absent or not apparent. Mesosoma: posterior margin of pronotum forming obtuse angle with anterior margin of mesonotum in profile view; propodeum low and evenly rounded, with posterior face about same length as dorsal face.

QUEEN. Measurements (n=2): TL: 3.13–3.28; EL: 0.18–0.20; HL: 0.66–0.67; HW: 0.63; SL: 0.79–0.81; WL: 1.21–1.24; GL: 1.22–1.41. Indices: BLI: 183–185; CI: 94–96; REL: 27–29; SI: 125–128.

Moderately sized. Color: Uniformly yellow-brown. Pilosity: most of body covered in moderate to dense pubescence; lacking pubescence on posterior face of propodeum; 4-5 small, erect setae on anepisternum.

MALE. Measurements (n=2): TL: 1.95–2.14; EL: 0.16; HL: 0.46–0.47; HW: 0.41; SL: 0.59–0.61; WL: 0.74– 0.77; GL: 0.75–0.90. Indices: BLI: 181–189; CI: 86–88; REL: 35; SI: 144–149.

Color: yellow to yellow-brown, with posterior half of head somewhat darker in contrast; metacoxae concolorous with mesosoma. Pilosity: dense pubescence on head, mesoscutum, and mesoscutellum; small patch of pubescence found medially on pronotum, but absent laterally; pubescence sparse to absent on anepisternum, katepisternum, propodeum, and gaster; 1-2 small, erect setae on anepisternum. Head: as broad as long; compound eyes surpass lateral margins of head in full-face view; scapes surpass posterior margin of head by about a third of their length. Mesosoma: In profile view, propodeum angled with dorsal face somewhat longer than posterior face. Genitalia: gonopod narrow and triangular, with apex rounded and slightly turned upward ( Fig. 71 ); in ventral view, ventromedial edge of basivolsella lobate and strongly rounded, with cuspis strongly curved dorsally and almost entirely obscured by basivolsella ( Fig. 33 ); gonossiculus mostly straight and more than three times as long as cuspis.

Other material examined: BELIZE: Cayo, Los Cuevas Field Station , ca. 15km E Caracol, 16.733 -88.986 ± 500m, elev. 581m, 29.vi.2019, montane forest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2019-009; Stann Creek, Bocawina , ca. 15km W Dangriga, 16.927 -88.397 ± 500m, elev. 86m, 3.vii.2019, rainforest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2019-011; Stann Creek, TREES Field Station , ca. 37km W Dangriga, 17.05 -88.57 ± 500m, elev. 222m, 25.vi.2019, 2° rainforest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2019-005; COSTA RICA: San José, 8km S Santa Maria , 9.58121 -83.9525 ± 1000m, elev. 1470m, 30.vi.2015, cloud forest, Krissy Dominguez #KD15-11-09; GUATEMALA: Izabal, 5km NW Morales , 15.51214 -88.8662 ± 58m, elev. 215m, 18.v.2009, 2° lowland rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-B-04-1-10; Izabal, 5km NW Morales , 15.51077 -88.8648 ± 38m, elev. 190m, 18.v.2009, 2° lowland rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-B-04-2-01; Izabal, 5km NW Morales , 15.5103 -88.86326 ± 45m, elev. 170m, 18.v.2009, 2° lowland rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-B-04-2-02; Izabal, 16km ESE Morales , 15.41307 -88.70953 ± 30m, elev. 410m, 19.v.2009, 2° lowland rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-B-04-2-06; Izabal, 16km ESE Morales , 15.41764 -88.69683 ± 70m, elev. 410m, 19.v.2009, 2° lowland rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-B-04-2-09; Petén, Cerro Cahuí , 17.00266 -89.7187 ± 8m, elev. 290m, 21.v.2009, tropical moist forest at night, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wx-B-05-1-01; HONDURAS: Atlántida, 7km SSW Tela , 15.72521 -87.452 ± 20m, elev. 190m, 15.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-08-2-02; Atlántida, 7km SSW Tela , 15.72417 -87.45187 ± 20m, elev. 190m, 15.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-08-2- 25; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba , 15.69449 -86.86436 ± 20m, elev. 200m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-1-04; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba , 15.69449 -86.86348 ± 20m, elev. 200m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-1-23; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba , 15.69449 -86.86334 ± 20m, elev. 200m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-1-26; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba , 15.69449 -86.86279 ± 20m, elev. 200m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-1-38; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba , 15.69108 -86.86084 ± 20m, elev. 280m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-2-24; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba , 15.69112 -86.86107 ± 20m, elev. 280m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-2-29; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba , 15.6913 -86.86138 ± 20m, elev. 280m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-2-39; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba , 15.6916 -86.86122 ± 20m, elev. 280m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-2-47; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba , 15.69164 -86.86119 ± 20m, elev. 280m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa- C-09-2-48; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba , 15.69167 -86.86116 ± 20m, elev. 280m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-2-49; Atlántida, 7km SSW Tela , 15.72792 -87.4497 ± 20m, elev. 120m, 16.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-08-1-04; Atlántida, 7km SSW Tela , 15.72792 -87.4497 ± 20m, elev. 120m, 16.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-08-1-05; Atlántida, 10km SSW Tela , 15.6937377 -87.47797 ± 20m, elev. 770m, 17.vi.2010, tropical wet forest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-08-1-09; Atlántida, 10km SSW Tela , 15.69714 -87.47451 ± 20m, elev. 610m, 17.vi.2010, tropical wet forest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-08-2-02; Atlántida, 10km SSW Tela , 15.69914 -87.47202 ± 20m, elev. 520m, 17.vi.2010, tropical wet forest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-08-2-04; Atlántida, 9km SSW Tela , 15.70207 -87.47304 ± 20m, elev. 450m, 17.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-08-2-05; Atlántida, 9km SSW Tela , 15.70493 -87.47291 ± 20m, elev. 410m, 17.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-08-2-06; Atlántida, 8km SSW Tela , 15.70914 -87.46623 ± 20m, elev. 330m, 17.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C- 08-2-08; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba , 15.69445 -86.86338 ± 300m, elev. 140m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-09-1-01; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba , 15.69445 -86.86338 ± 300m, elev. 140m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-09-2-01; Comayagua, PN Cerro Azul Meambar, 14.87314 -87.90297 ± 30m, elev. 890m, 22.v.2010, montane rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-04-1-07; Comayagua, PN Cerro Azul Meambar, 14.87238 -87.90332 ± 20m, elev. 870m, 22.v.2010, montane rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-04-1-08; Comayagua, PN Cerro Azul Meambar, 14.86993 -87.90479 ± 110m, elev. 770m, 21.v.2010, montane rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-04-2-01; MEXICO: Chiapas, 13.7km NW Metzabok , 17.18333 -91.73333, elev. 540m, 14.vii.2007, J.T. Longino #JTL6046-s; Chiapas, Lagos de Montebello, Cinco Lagos , 16.1 -91.66667, elev. 1600m, 21.vii.2007, R.S. Anderson #RSA2007-023; Chiapas, 2km S Playón de la Gloria , 16.13853 -90.90146 ± 50m, elev. 170m, 22.vii.2007, rainforest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2007-025; Chiapas, 2km S Playón de la Gloria , 16.13333 -90.9, elev. 170m, 22.vii.2007, R.S. Anderson #RSA2007-026; Chiapas, 2.5km S Nuevo San Juan Chamula , 16.11667 -91.45, elev. 750m, 22.vii.2007, R.S. Anderson #RSA2007- 028; Chiapas, Playón de la Gloria , 16.16095 -90.90142 ± 50m, elev. 160m, 24.vi.2008, mature wet forest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-A-09-1-39; Chiapas, Playón de la Gloria , 16.14721 -90.89549 ± 50m, elev. 170m, 24.vi.2008, 2° wet forest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-A-09-2-39; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota , 18.04802 -96.69164 ± 30m, elev. 1028m, 12.vi.2016, liquidambar/cloud forest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2016-136.

Notes: Workers of this species exhibit some variability in overall color, ranging from uniformly yellow across most of its range to light brown with somewhat lighter meso- and metacoxae in some specimens collected from Belize. Because of its uniform yellow color, N. cf. docilis most readily resembles N. mosaica and the lighter form N. usul . However, cephalic pubescence is sparse in N. cf. docilis , moderate in N. mosaica , and moderate to dense in N. usul . The gaster is also about the same color as the rest of the body in N. cf. docilis , while in N. mosaica , the gaster is distinctly darker. Compared to all other species examined in this study, N. cf. docilis also has the longest metatibiae relative to its head width ( HTI > 125; Fig. 72D ). Nylanderia cf. docilis has a distribution across low to moderate elevation forests from southern Mexico to Honduras.

Figures

FIGURE 71. Line drawings of male gonopods of N. austroccidua, N. breviscapa, N. contraria, N. cf. docilis, N. lazulina, and N. usul.

FIGURE 72. Bivariate plots of measurements: (A) Body Length Index (WL/HW), (B) Cephalic Index (HW/HL), (C) Eye Position Index (HLA/HLP), (D) Hind Tibia Index (LHT/HW), (E) Relative Eye Length (EL/HL), and (F) Scape Index (SL/ HW).

FIGURES 26–28. Nylanderia cf. docilis worker (USNMENT01131072). Lateral, full-face, and dorsal view of the body.

FIGURES 29–30. Nylanderia cf. docilis queen (USNMENT01132074). Full-face and lateral view of the body.

FIGURES 31–34. Nylanderia cf. docilis male (USNMENT01131834). Full-face and lateral view of the body; ventral and dorsal view of the genital capsule.