Dinoponera hispida, Lenhart & Dash & Mackay, 2013

Lenhart, Paul A., Dash, Shawn T. & Mackay, William P., 2013, A revision of the giant Amazonian ants of the genus Dinoponera (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 31, pp. 119-164 : 139-141

Dinoponera hispida sp. n. Figs 1C, G , 2 , 13

Worker diagnosis.

Distinguished from other speciesby the following combination of character states: conspicuous bristle-like setae covering the entire body but most pronounced on the dorsum of the head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster ( Fig. 1C ); fine striations on dorsum of the head; integument smooth and shiny with bluish luster most visible on sides of the head ( Fig. 12A ); antero-inferior corner of pronotum without tooth-like process ( Fig. 1E ); petiole bulging at antero-dorsal corner; insertions of setae on dorsum of petiole raised, papillate ( Fig. 1G ).

Description of the worker.

Measurements (mm) (n=5) TBL: 30.39-31.83 (31.08); MDL: 4.20-4.51 (4.38); HL: 5.64-6.05 (5.86); HW: 5.02-5.33 (5.19); SL: 6.05-6.36 (6.22); EL: 1.23-1.33 (1.27); EL: 0.72-0.97 (0.84); WL: 7.89-8.71 (8.36); PL: 2.5-2.56 (2.52); PH: 2.87-3.18 (3.05); PW: 1.33-1.54 (1.47); GL: 9.69-10.15 (9.95); HFL: 7.89-8.41 (8.14). (See Fig. 2 ) Entire body with short, thick, stiff, subdecumbent to erect setae ( Fig. 1C ); integument black, smooth, shiny, appearing polished with bluish luster ( Fig. 12A ). Head: mandibles long, linear, 7-toothed, large diastema between basal tooth and six apical teeth; clypeus with two laterally projecting teeth on anterior edge, bulges medially, extends posteriorly between frontal lobes, sparse appressed setae from distal edges to disc of clypeus, short stiff setae on anterior edge; large bilobed labrum; ventral surface of head with varying amounts of fine striation, erect bristle-like setae; gena with fine striations running from eye into clypeus; median furrow running from termination of clypeus between frontal lobes to shallow pit in middle of frons (with ocelli in two individuals of type series); frontal lobes raised and conspicuous, with striations at posterior constriction; antennae all with erect bristle-like setae, funiculus covered in minute appressed pubescence; scape long, extending past posterior border of the head, covered in erect bristle-like setae; frons with sparse pads of short appressed setae; entire head covered with erect to subdecumbent bristle-like setae. Mesosoma: antero-inferior corner of pronotum rounded, without tooth-like process; pronotal disc with slight bulges; mesonotum fused with propodeum and episternum, separated by slight furrows; basilar sclerite large, ovaloid; propodeum with broadly rounded dorsal outline; propodeal spiracle nearly vertical slit; sulcus running from center of propodeum along lower edge of propodeal spiracle to posterior edge of propodeum at dorsal edge of bulla; mesosoma and coxae with white pubescence, especially dense on basilar sclerite, appressed white pubescence along dorsal surface facing medially, middle posterior dorsum of pronotum lacking appressed pubescence found on mesonotum and propodeum. Legs: long, femur and tibia with sparse erect bristle-like setae. One well-developed, antennae cleaning, comb-like spur on fore leg; spine-like and less developed denticular comb on mesothoracic leg; spine and comb-like spur on hind leg, posterior side of fore leg basitarsus with dense pads of golden setae; tarsus or mesothoracic and hind leg with short, stiff setae, tarsal claws bidentate. Petiole: large and tabular with narrow attachments at base to the propodeum and gaster, narrow in dorsal view; fine erect setae on anterior surface above articulation with mesosoma; bulging at antero-dorsal corner as in Dinoponera longipes ; integument nitid, papillate at insertion of setae on dorsal surface; keel-like subpetiolar process, anterior triangular projection ( Fig. 1G ). Gaster: small protuberance at articulation of gastral sternite III and the petiole, covered in erect setae; stridulatory file of varying size on acrotergite of gastric tergum II; covered in bristle-like setae, sparse short appressed setae on terga I and II; polished integument; posterior edges of the pygidium and hypopygidium with characteristic rows of spines.

Male.

Unknown.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 13 ).

Discussion.

Dinoponera hispida is considered a valid species based on the above mentioned morphological characters, as well as its sympatry with Dinoponera gigantea without any visible character integration. Based on the morphological character states Dinoponera hispida is most similar to Dinoponera longipes and Dinoponera mutica . Dinoponera longipes differs greatly in the setae which are flagellate and golden, completely lacks gular striations and lacks the raised insertions of setae on the petiole. Dinoponera mutica also differs in pilosity, possessing drab-colored flagellate pubescence and lacks the bulging antero-dorsal corner and papillate dorsum of the petiole.

Etymology.

hispida, from the Latin hispidus: bristle, referring to the conspicuous bristle-like setae covering the friend and body.

Type series.

Holotype worker (MCZC) BRAZIL, Pará: Tucuruí, I.1979, Coll. M. Alvarenga; Paratypes (CASC, CWEM, LACM, MZSP) BRAZIL, Pará, Tucuruí, I.1979, Coll. M. Alvarenga" (1 worker). "Brasil Pará Tucuruí Margem esq. 21.II.1979, Brasil Pará, WL Overal, Várzea” (1 worker). “Pará Tucuruí, 20.viii.1979, Brazil PA, R B Neto" (1 worker). “Pará Tucuruí, 19.viii.1979, km 28, Brasil Pará WL Overal" (1 worker).

Figures

Figure 1. Features of Dinoponera workers. A Head, frontal view B-C Occiput of head, oblique antero-lateral view D-E Pronotum, lateral view F-H Petiole, lateral view. A-B Dinoponera longipes C Dinoponera hispida D Dinoponera gigantea. E-F Dinoponera mutica G Dinoponera hispida H Dinoponera lucida.

Figure 2. Dinoponera hispida worker. Head in full frontal view; body in lateral view.

Figure 12. Worker head, oblique antero-lateral view illustrating microsculpturing difference. A Dinoponera mutica (this smooth integument type is also found in Dinoponera lucida, Dinoponera longipes and Dinoponera hispida) B Dinoponera quadriceps (this rough integument type is also found in Dinoponera gigantea and Dinoponera australis).

Figure 13. Distribution map of Dinoponera species. Symbols in black are records added by this study; open symbols are from literature sources (Kempf 1971, 1975, Araujo et al. 1990, Peeters et al. 1999, Monnin and Peeters 1999, Fourcassie and Oliviera 2002, Monnin et al. 2003, Mariano et al. 2004, Araujo and Rodriques 2006, Marques-Silva et al. 2006).