Diaphoromyrma, Fernández, Fernando, Delabie, Jacques Hubert Charles & Nascimento, Ivan Cardoso Do, 2009

Fernández, Fernando, Delabie, Jacques Hubert Charles & Nascimento, Ivan Cardoso Do, 2009, Diaphoromyrma, a new myrmicine ant genus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from North Eastern Brazil, Zootaxa 2204, pp. 55-62 : 56-59

Diaphoromyrma gen. n.

Type species: Diaphoromyrma sofiae , sp. n., by present designation.

Diagnosis (worker). Monomorphic ants belonging to the subfamily Myrmicinae.

Palp formula 3,2 (in situ).

Anterior clypeal border broadly convex.

Clypeus broad, evenly rounded, devoid of carinae and broadly inserted between the widely separated frontal lobes.

Row of hairs on the anterior clypeal margin, including median seta.

Tentorial pits inserted midway in the clypeal margin.

Antennal scrobe absent.

Antenna with 2-segmented club.

In lateral view, promesonotum strongly convex.

In dorsal view the promesonotum triangular, with sides well defined.

Propodeal spiracles conspicuous, situated on the dorsal edge of declivous face of propodeum, breaking the propodeal outline in lateral view.

Propodeum unarmed.

Propodeal lobes small and rounded, not linked by a dorsal carina.

Petiolar node high in relation to the postpetiolar node, narrow (in dorsal view) in contrast with the broader, postpetiole node.

Postpetiole attached low on the gaster, so the top of the first gastral tergum at about the same level as the postpetiole.

Abdominal sternite 4 (first gastral) with a pair of rounded recurved anterolateral extensions which curve up on to the dorsal surface of the segment, and are visible in dorsal view on either side of the postpetiole.

Comments. The combination of the following traits differentiate this taxon from any other in the subfamily Myrmicinae: antenna 9-segmented with a 2-segmented club, clypeus broad, clypeus with central apical hair, promesonotum trapezoidal, propodeal spiracles situated on lateral propodeal edges. The low position of the postpetiole and the sternal configuration of the first gastric segment are unique in Myrmicinae and apomorphic for the genus.

Etymology. Diaphoromyrma is a neologism forged from the Greek words ɩ ἀφΟρΟς (diaphoros), meaning different or remarkable, and μύρμηκOς (myrmekos), ant. This name alludes to the several traits that differentiate this genus from any other Myrmicinae, especially those relative to the gaster.