Dinoponera mutica Emery, 1901

Dias, Amanda Martins & Lattke, John Edwin, 2021, Large ants are not easy - the taxonomy of Dinoponera Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 784 (1), pp. 1-66 : 45-47

Dinoponera mutica Emery, 1901

Figs 23 , 28B

Dinoponera grandis mutica Emery, 1901: 48 (☿).

Dinoponera mutica – Kempf 1971: 378, fig. 4 (raised to species). — Lenhart, Dash & Mackay 2013: 148 , figs 1e, f, 12b (redescription, key).

Diagnosis

Female

Anteroventral corner of pronotum in lateral view forming obtuse angle. Petiolar node in lateral view with dorsal margin straight. Abdominal tergite III smooth and shining. Sparse brownish pubescence on dorsum, denser laterally. Body with brownish hairs.

Material examined

Non-type specimens (80 ☿☿)

BOLÍVIA – Santa Cruz • 1 ☿; ‘7W’ P [Puerto] Juarez , ‘n’ cerrito; 1938; Wittmer leg.; MZSP • 1 ☿; San Ignacio [San Ignacio de Velasco ]; 1 Jan. 1963; L.J. Hammerschmidt leg.; MZSP .

BRAZIL – Goiás • 3 ☿☿; Aragarças , R. Araguaia ; Sep. 1946; H. Sick leg.; MZSP • 1 ☿; Parque Nacional das Emas ; 10 Nov. 1990; Cesar Kriger leg.; UFSC • 2 ☿☿; same locality as for preceding; 25 Oct.– 2 Nov. 1986; Bechara, Viviani, Ferro and Sanches leg.; MZSP • 13 ☿☿; same locality as for preceding; 15–30 Oct. 1994; MZSP • 1 ☿; Parque Nacional das Emas , torre ; 1 Jun. 2008; Valentim, Schmidt, Pereira and Ribas leg.; parcela 8 armadilha E; MZSP . – Mato Grosso • 1 ☿; “ Eot. Da Colônia R. Itumbolt ”; 3 Oct. 1975; L.P. Albuquerque and J.B. Moraes leg.; MPEG HYM11513005 • 1 ☿; Barra dos Bugres ; 1 Jul. 1973; B. Dias leg.; MZSP • 1 ☿; Barracão Queimado ; Nov. 1960; M. Alvarenga leg.; DZUP • 1 ☿; Itiguira [Itiquira] ; 2013; T. Semido leg.; coleta manual; DZUP • 1 ☿; Juara ; 11°5′21.3″ S, 57°43′26″ W; Feb. 2015; Santo R. leg.; M 1L2 pitfall 8; DZUP • 1 ☿; same collection data as for precedig; DZUP 549809 • 1 ☿; Juara, UHE Castanheira , floresta secundária ; 11.0892° S, 57.7238° W; M1L2; MPEG • 1 ☿; Novo Mundo , PE Cristalino ; May 2013; R.E. Vicente leg.; parcela 12 pitfall 6; DZUP • 1 ☿; Poconé ; 1 May 1948; C. Valette leg.; MZSP • 1 ☿; Rio Correntes ; 5 Mar. 1978; Olavo Seifert leg.; 6228; MZSP • 1 ☿; Ricardo Franco ; 2 Jun. 2014; H.L. Vasconcelos and J.B. Maravalhas leg.; 518, T58-9S; DZUP • 1 ☿; same collection data as for preceding; 629, T59-1S; DZUP • 3 ☿☿; Rondonópolis ; Diringe leg.; MZSP • 1 ☿; Sto [Santo] Antônio de Leverger , Águas Quentes ; 26 Oct. 1984; J.C.Trager leg.; isca carne, High cerrado, 169; MZSP • 1 ☿; Tangará da Serra ; 2003; CPDC • 1 ☿; Utiariti, Rio Papagaio ; 1 Aug. 1961; K. Lenko leg.; MZSP • 1 ☿; same locality as for preceding; 1 Nov. 1966; Lenko and Pereira leg.; 4917; MZSP • 1 ☿; same locality as for preceding; 23 Oct. 1966; Lenko and Pereira leg.; MZSP • 1 ☿; same collection data as for preceding; Coleção Diniz; DZUP • 1 ☿; Vila Bela da Santíssima Trindade, Serra Ricardo Franco ; 14.9076° S, 60.0644° W; 7 Feb. 2014; J. Maravalhas et al. leg.; T59 11S²; DZUP • 3 ☿☿; Xingu ; Nov. 1961; Alvarenga and Werner leg.; MZSP . – Mato Grosso do Sul • 1 ☿; Camapuã ; 15 Oct. 1960; Evangelista leg.; MZSP • 1 ☿; Rio Verde de Mato Grosso ; Diringe leg.; MZSP • 1 ☿; Serra do Urucum, Corumbá ; 25 Nov. 1960; K. Lenko leg.; 940; MZSP. – Pará • 1 ☿; Altamira, Castelo de Sonhos ; 8.2033° S, 55.0202° W; alt. 265 m; 10 Nov. 2005; A.L. Nunes leg.; área 18; MPEG • 1 ☿; Jacareacanga, Rio Teles Pires ; 6°58′03″ S, 57°39′00″W; Jun. 2009; N. Rodrigues leg.; UFGD . – Rondônia • 1 ☿; Alto Alegre dos Parecis, linha 24-RO 370; 12°14′23.2″ S, 61°47′26.7″ W; 24 Jun. 2016; I.O. Fernandes leg.; coleta manual; INPA • 1 ☿; “EXTEX” ; 10°19′17″ S, 64°33′47″ W; 13 Mar. 1998; J.R.M. Santos leg.; CPDC • 1 ☿; same collection data as for preceding; DZUP • 8 ☿☿; Forte Príncipe da Beira ; 10 Nov. 1961; F.M. Oliveira leg.; MZSP • 1 ☿; same locality as for preceding; 1 Nov. 1952; Coleção Campos Seabra; MZSP • 1 ☿; Ji-Paraná ; 11 Aug. 1984; R.B. Neto leg.; MPEG HYM11513006 • 1 ☿; Monte Negro-Cacaulândia, mata na margem, direita do Rio Jamari; Jul. 2001; S.E. Favorito et al. leg.; pitfall; MZSP • 1 ☿; Ouro Preto do Oeste ; 1997; O. Trevizan leg.; “ in. natural de Monalonion spp ”; CPDC • 1 ☿; Ouro Preto do Oeste, Sítio Deus é amor ; 26 Mar. 1985; M.F. Torres leg.; MPEG HYM11513007 • 4 ☿☿; Ouro Preto do Oeste, Reserva Biológica de Ouro Preto do Oeste ; 10°42′59.3″ S, 62°14′39.3″ W; 13–18 Jul. 2009; I.O. Fernandes leg.; alt. 287 m; INPA • 1 ☿; Pres [Presidente] Médici ; 23 Aug. 1984; MPEG • 1 ☿; R [Rio] Urupá , Ji-Paraná ; 1 Jul. 1983; C.E.R. Coimbra leg.; MZSP • 1 ☿; Rio Madeira , M. Três Praias; 7 Oct. 2001; F.D. Santana leg.; #5696; CPDC • 1 ☿; V [Vila] Rondônia, 378 km from P [Porto] Velho; 25 Jan.–9 Feb. 1961; Pereira and Machado leg.; MZSP • 2 ☿☿; Vilhena ; Nov. 1960; M. Alvarenga leg.; DZUP .

PARAGUAY – Alto Paraguai • 1 ☿; Parque Nacional Defensores del Chaco, Cruce , 4 de Mayo; 20°18′03″ S, 60°33′02″ W; 18 Jan. 2001; B. Garcete leg.; MNHNP HX70 . – Boquerón • 1 ☿; Parque Nacional Teniente Enciso ; 21°11′ S, 61°40′ W; 16–18 Sep. 2002; B. Garcete leg.; MNHNP HX71 .

Redescription

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Non-types (n = 24): HL 4.85–6.23; HW 4.55–6.3; MDL 4.05–4.97; SL 5.1–6.07; MSL 7.52–8.8; HFL 7.2–8.1; HBL 6–7.3; PL 2.13–2.57; PH 2.1–3.55; PW 1.55–1.86; ATS 7.24–8.8; BL 23.72–30.66 (mm); CI 0.9–1.01; SI 0.95–1.16; DPI 0.67–0.78.

HEAD. Malar area punctulate and weakly striate; striae longitudinal to oblique, usually not reaching anterior eye margin. Gena smooth (rarely weakly microareolate) with bluish iridescence; usually transversely rugulose in median area. Appressed brownish pubescence present between eye and frontal lobe, extending posteriorly to frons. Frons smooth, with bluish iridescence; with flexuous, brownish, suberect to erect hairs, longer than scape diameter; pubescence densest laterally. Occipital corner smooth and with bluish iridescence. Antennal scape weakly microareolate and silky; antenna with long decumbent to suberect hairs, except for 5–6 apical segments. Ventral surface of head mostly smooth and silky; longitudinal strigulae present on anterolateral cephalic margin, including hypostomal tooth. Labrum usually without median longitudinal sulcus; transverse rugulae absent. Mandibular dorsum with well-marked longitudinal strigulae on inner base that gradually fade apicad.

MESOSOMA. Dorsal margin of pronotum in lateral view convex, usually with pronounced dorsoposterior swelling; anteroventral corner of pronotum forming obtuse angle, never toothed. Pronotal dorsum smooth, with bluish iridescence. Metapleural-propodeal suture well-marked, straight to slightly sinuous.

METASOMA. Petiolar node in lateral view elongate (DPI <0.8); anterodorsal corner at same level or slightly lower than posterodorsal corner; anterior, dorsal and posterior margins straight; antero and posterodorsal corners forming blunt angle. Node lateral face smooth with bluish iridescence. Node anterior posterior and lateral margins in dorsal view broadly convex. Abdominal tergite III smooth with bluish iridescence; punctulae denser laterally than dorsally; covered by flexuous, brownish, decumbent to suberect hairs on all surfaces; brownish appressed pubescence sparse on dorsum, denser laterally.

Male

Unknown.

Remarks

Dinoponera mutica may resemble the sympatric D. nicinha sp. nov. The most useful diagnostic traits are the golden pilosity, the sparse pubescence on the dorsum of abdominal tergite III and the petiolar node in lateral view with its convex dorsal margin in D. nicinha sp. nov. Dinoponera grandis may also occur in sympatry, but has DPI>0.8, while D. mutica usually has DPI <0.8. Besides that, D. mutica has no visible microsculpturing on abdominal tergite III, unlike D. grandis . The petiolar node of D. mutica in lateral view can present an anterodorsal angle slightly lower than the posterodorsal angle, sometimes resembling D. lucida . However, D. lucida has an anteroventral pronotal tooth and strigulae on the cephalic ventral surface. Dinoponera quadriceps and D. gigantea are different on account of their predominantly microareolate and opaque integument.

Biology

Little is known about the habits of D. mutica . Although apparently occurring in sympatry with D. grandis , a species more common in savanna environments, Meurer et al. (2015) suggested that D. mutica may be restricted to forest environments.

Distribution ( Fig. 28B )

This species is distributed in the midwest and part of northern Brazil, as well as Bolivia and Paraguay. The northernmost record is in Jacareacanga, Pará, Brazil, and the southernmost Brazilian record is in Camapuã, Mato Grosso do Sul.

Figures

Fig. 23. Dinoponera mutica Emery, 1901, ☿ (specimen from Juara, Mato Grosso, Brazil; DZUP 549809). A. Full-face view. B. Full body in lateral view. C. Full body in dorsal view.

Fig. 28. Distribution maps for species of Dinoponera Roger, 1861. Red symbols indicate type specimens examined here. A. D. gigantea (Perty, 1833) and D. grandis Guérin-Méneville, 1838. B. D. hispida Lenhart, Dash & Mackay, 2013, D. mutica Emery, 1901 and Dinoponera morphospecies 1.