Hylomyrma dandarae Ulysséa, 2021

Ulysséa, Mônica Antunes, 2021, Taxonomic revision of the Neotropical ant genus Hylomyrma Forel, 1912 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae), with the description of fourteen new species, Zootaxa 5055 (1), pp. 1-137 : 34-39

publication ID	https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5055.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C00259C2-CB84-42EA-AB16-38DD47153DC6
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4A4D4F09-FF89-FF8C-F0A5-F0DEFF3DF91D
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Hylomyrma dandarae Ulysséa
status	new species

Treatment

Hylomyrma columbica ( Forel, 1912)

Figures 27 View FIGURE 27 , 28 View FIGURE 28 , 85 View FIGURE 85 (map)

Pogonomyrmex (Hylomyrma) columbicus Forel, 1912: 16 (W). Holotype: COLOMBIA: [Magdalena: Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Road between Dibulla and] San Antonio, A. Forel (1W) (CASENT0907676) [MHNG] [examined]. Combination in Hylomyrma by Kempf, 1973: 234.

Diagnosis. Regular and longitudinal striae on head dorsum, mesial striation in part directed to posterior margin and in part anteriorly divergent and posteriorly convergent; irregular to regular striae of variable thickness on mesosoma dorsum, interspaces indistinguishable; mesonotum and metanotal groove region with semicircular striae; dorsal margin of petiole discontinuous, transverse striae on anterior region of dorsal surface continuing on lateral surface; subtriangular projection on mesoventral surface of petiole; subpostpetiolar process weak, convex; transverse striae on profemur posterior surface; protibia extensor surface striate; long striae on tergum of first gastral segment.

Redescription. WORKER (n=4) ( Fig. 27A–C View FIGURE 27 ): HL 0.92 (0.92–1); HW 0.89 (0.89–0.94); ML 0.56 (0.56–0.62); SL 0.59 (0.59–0.70); MOD 0.21 (0.21–0.24); PNW 0.62 (0.62–0.66); WL 1.19 (1.19–1.26); PSL 0.22 (0.22–0.24); PL 0.57 (0.54–0.60); PW 0.26 (0.24–0.26); PPL 0.32 (0.32–0.36); PPW 0.35 (0.35–0.36); GL 0.91 (0.91–1.08); TL 4.50 (4.50–4.86); CI 96.47 (94–97.91); SI 65.85 (65.85–74.46); OI 24.39 (24.39–26.66). Small-sized. Shiny integument. Brownish body, yellowish appendices. Thin and unbranched setae, long to short, suberect to subdecumbent.

Head subquadrate; posterior margin straight. Mandible masticatory margin with 6 teeth. Anterior margin of clypeus straight medially, with a pair of small teeth laterally; median area of clypeus with 8–10 regular, longitudinal and thick striae, interspaces between thicker striae filled with thinner striae. Fontal triangle with 1 sagittal stria. Scape short, not reaching head posterior margin; apical antennomere with equal length or slightly shorter than 3 previous antennomeres together. Frontal carina slightly concave posterior to antennal socket. Eye drop-shaped, midsized, larger diameter with 12 ommatidia. Regular and longitudinal striae on head dorsum, mesial striation in part directed to posterior margin and in part anteriorly divergent and posteriorly convergent/parallel, interspaces between thicker striae filled with thinner striae. Striae of variable thickness on head lateral and laterodorsal regions converging to eye margin, interspaces indistinguishable; gena striate, 6–7 regular and semicircular striae circumscribe the torulus, almost reaching eye margin. Interspaces between striae on head ventral surface distinguishable.

Irregular to regular striae of variable thickness on mesosoma dorsum, interspaces indistinguishable; striae assume multiple directions; transverse striae on pronotum anterior region (DV) continuing on lateral surface; pronotum posterior region, mesonotum, and metanotal groove region (immediate anterior to transverse carina) with semicircular striae; part of the irregular striae on mesepisternum continuing on propodeum, and part is directed to propodeal spine. Promesonotal junction and metanotal groove indistinct. Transverse carina well-marked. Dorsal margin of mesosoma continuous, convex. Propodeal lobe bidentate, dorsal tooth longer and acute than the shorter and blunt ventral tooth; dorsal tooth length 1 / 2 of propodeal spine length. Propodeal spine midsized, straight (LV), divergent (DV), sculptured on base. Thin striae of uniform thickness on procoxa; irregular and transverse striae on C2 and C3. Profemur covered with irregular to regular transverse striae. Protibia extensor surface entirely covered with regular and longitudinal striae.

Dorsal margin of petiole discontinuous. Subtriangular projection on mesoventral surface of petiole. Convex node; striae of variable thickness, interspaces indistinguishable; regular and transverse striae on anterior surface and on anterior region of dorsal continuing on lateral surface, striae weakly marked; middle and posterior regions of dorsal surface with longitudinal striae; transverse striae on ventral surface weakly marked. Postpetiole and subpostpetiolar process with regular and longitudinal striae; subpostpetiolar process weak, convex.

First gastral segment striation similar to postpetiole striae; long striae on tergum, longer than postpetiole length; sternite striation covering the laterobasal region.

QUEEN (first description) (n=1) ( Fig. 28A–C View FIGURE 28 ): HL 0.96; HW 0.92; ML 0.60; SL 0.66; MOD 0.27; PNW 0.78; WL 1.38; PSL 0.28; PL 0.62; PW 0.28; PPL 0.38; PPW 0.42; GL 1.18; TL 5.12; CI 95.83; SI 71.74; OI 29.34. Midsized. Color, pilosity, and some sculpture characters shared with conspecific workers, only slightly larger. Larger diameter of eye with 15 ommatidia. Longitudinal and regular striae of variable thickness on scutum going from an anterior central point towards transcutal suture, interspaces between thicker striae filled with thinner striae. Longitudinal striae of uniform thickness on anepisternum and katepisternum, interspaces indistinguishable. Longitudinal and mostly regular striae on axilla, interspaces indistinguishable. Scutoscutellar sulcus inconspicuous. Scutellum with the same sculpture as scutum. Transverse striae on propodeum (DV), interspaces indistinguishable. Lateral surface of mesosoma with mostly regular striae directed in part to propodeal dorsum and in part to propodeal spine, interspaces indistinguishable. Wings unknown.

MALE Unknown.

Etymology. The name is in reference to the species type locality, Colombia.

Comments. The sculpture on the mesosomal dorsum of H. columbica is similar to H. dolichops and H. montana . Hylomyrma columbica differs from H. dolichops (characteristic in parentheses) in the regular striae on the mesial region of head dorsum in part directed to posterior margin and in part anteriorly divergent and posteriorly convergent/parallel (vs. vermicular and divergent striae on anterior two-third of mesial area, irregular and parallel on the upper third), and the drop-shaped eye (vs. reniform). Hylomyrma columbica can be distinguished from H. montana in the combination of the regular striae on the mesial region of head dorsum in part directed to the posterior margin and in part anteriorly divergent and posteriorly convergent/parallel (vs. regular to irregular striae and divergent), the discontinuous dorsal margin of petiole (vs. continuous), and the long striae on tergum of the first gastral segment (vs. short striae). All three are allopatric in northwestern South America, but occur in nearby areas near the border between Colombia and Ecuador. Hylomyrma dolichops has a broader distribution ( Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela) ( Fig. 87 View FIGURE 87 ), whereas H. columbica occurs in Colombia and in western Venezuela ( Fig. 85 View FIGURE 85 ), and H. montana has been recorded in Costa Rica, Panama and Ecuador ( Fig. 83 View FIGURE 83 ).

Distribution. This species is only known from Colombia and western Venezuela ( Fig. 85 View FIGURE 85 ).

Natural history. Specimens are frequently found in leaf-litter samples with winkler extractors or Berlese-Tüllgren funnels, which suggests that this species nests in the leaf-litter, fallen logs, rotten wood, or inside natural cavities of the superficial soil layers. Also, two specimens were found among plant fibers, which were sourced from Colombia, in a quarantine station in the USA, suggesting that workers may forage on vegetation.

Additional material examined (12 workers, 1 queen): COLOMBIA: on fiber plant from Colombia at Quarantine, Washington DC, 27July1916, E.R. Sasscer collector (2W, one covered with gold) [ USNM] ; Huila: 4k NE Rivera, 30Dec1986, W. Mackay, pitfall trap, forest area, #9039 (1W) ( MZSP67315 View Materials ) [ MZSP] ; [La] Guarija : R. Don Diego, 25–50m, 18.june.1976, W.L. Brown & R.C. Kugler [leg.], forest leaf litter (3W 1Q) [ MCZC] ; Mag.[Magdalena]: Pueblito - limite sur, Parque Tayrona, 210–360m, 26.i.78, C. Kugler col., berlese (1W) [ MCZC] ; Pueblito, Tayrona PK., 360m, 11.xi.76, R.C. Kugler & W.L. Brown cols., leaf litter (1W) [ MCZC] ; Meta: 1km E. La Macarena, Caño Morrocoy, 260m, 12.jan.77, C. Kugler col., litter berlesate (1W) [ MCZC] ; same except 25.iv.1976 (1W) [ MCZC].

VENEZUELA: Zulia: El Tucuco , Dto. Perijá, 6.ix.1984, cols. J. L attke, E. Rubio (1W) (MZHY192) [ MZSP]; GoogleMaps 54km ESE Yaracal, Falcon, 935m, Cerro Los Caracoles, 10.8718 –69.0274 °, 24.iii.2002, J. Lattke, 2482 (1W) [ DZUP] GoogleMaps .

Hylomyrma dandarae Ulysséa new species

Figures 29 View FIGURE 29 , 83 View FIGURE 83 (map)

Holotype: COLOMBIA: Caquetá: San José de Fragua , R. Turayaco, 1250m, 10–15.ix.2000, E.L.G. [leg.], W5 (1W) [ IHVL] . Paratypes: same data as holotype (1W covered with gold) [ IHVL]; (1W) (MZHY210) [ MZSP]; same except 1500m, 07–10.ix.2000 (1W) [ MCZC]; Putumayo: Mocoa , 01°08′N, 76°38′W, Los Mayos, 1800m, i.1999, E. González leg., winkler 11 (1W covered with gold) [ IHVL]; same except winkler 10 (1W covered with gold) [ MZSP]; winkler 1 (1W) [ IHVL]; winkler 14 (2W, one covered with gold) ( MZSP67317 View Materials , MZSP67318 View Materials ) [ MZSP]; caida, T1T10 (1W) [ MCZC] GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis. Irregular striae on head dorsum diverge to posterior margin; rugose striae on mesosoma and petiole; promesonotal junction and metanotal groove distinguishable by a slight depression and altered sculpture; dorsal margin of petiole discontinuous; transverse striae on node ventral surface weakly marked; profemur posterior surface smooth; protibia extensor surface striation weakly marked; striation on tergum of first gastral segment restricted to base.

Description. WORKER (n=3) ( Fig. 29A–C View FIGURE 29 ): HL (0.98–1.04); HW (0.92–1); ML (0.61–0.64); SL (0.70–0.74); MOD (0.20–0.22); PNW (0.65–0.68); WL (1.30–1.40); PSL (0.27–0.30); PL (0.60–0.62); PW (0.25–0.26); PPL (0.34–0.40); PPW (0.36–0.38); GL (1.10–1.20); TL (4.96–5.30); CI (93.87–96.15); SI (73.95–76.09); OI (21.73– 22.91). Midsized. Shiny integument. Bicolored body, brownish with lighter leg. Thin and unbranched setae, long to midsized, suberect to subdecumbent.

Head subquadrate; posterior margin slightly concave at middle. Mandible masticatory margin with 5 teeth. Anterior margin of clypeus straight medially, with a pair of small teeth laterally; median area of clypeus with 8 striae, regular and longitudinal striae converging to a point on the anterior margin, interspaces distinguishable. Frontal triangle with 1 sagittal stria or 1 stria subdivided towards the posterior margin. Short scape, not reaching head posterior margin; apical antennomere slightly shorter than 3 previous antennomeres together. Frontal carina straight. Eye oval, small-sized, larger diameter with 9 ommatidia. Irregular and longitudinal striae on head dorsum, divergent towards posterior margin, interspaces between thicker striae filled with thinner striae. Head lateral and laterodorsal regions with thin and regular striae converging to eye margin, interspaces indistinguishable; anterior part of laterodorsal region with few irregular and longitudinal striae connecting the region posterior to frontal carina with eye margin; gena striate, 4–6 regular and semicircular striae circumscribe the torulus, not reaching eye margin. Interspaces between striae on head ventral surface distinguishable.

Mesosoma covered with rugose striae of uniform thickness, transverse on pronotum anterior region (DV), longitudinal in other regions (DV), interspaces between rugose striae smooth. Promesonotal junction and metanotal groove distinguishable by a slight depression (LV) and altered sculpture (DV). Transverse carina inconspicuous. Dorsal margin of mesosoma slightly discontinuous, convex. Propodeal lobe bidentate, dorsal tooth slightly longer and sharper than the shorter and blunt ventral tooth; dorsal tooth length around 1 / 3 shorter than propodeal spine length. Propodeal spine midsized, straight or apex curved downwards (LV), divergent (DV), sculptured on base. Procoxa striae of uniform thickness; irregular and transverse striae on C2 and C3. Profemur mostly smooth. Protibia extensor surface entirely striate.

Dorsal margin of petiole discontinuous. Convex projection on mesoventral surface of petiole. Convex node; transverse striae on ventral and anterior surfaces weakly marked; rugose striae on lateral and dorsal surfaces. Postpetiole and subpostpetiolar process partly covered with regular and longitudinal striae, weakly marked or smooth; subpostpetiolar process weak, convex.

First gastral segment striation similar to postpetiole striae; longitudinal striae on tergum shorter than postpetiole length; sternite smooth.

QUEEN Unknown.

MALE Unknown.

Etymology. The epithet dandarae is a Latin noun in the genitive case created by adding the singular Latin genitive case suffix -e to the first name of a female person. This species is named in honor of Dandara (?–1694), a leader and warrior in the resistance against slavery during the Brazilian colonial period. She was part of the “ Quilombo dos Palmares ”, the largest settlement of African and Afro-Brazilian peoples who escaped enslavement.

Comments. Hylomyrma dandarae is similar to H. adelae , H. mariae , and H. wachiperi with respect to the sculpture of the head dorsum and mesosoma, and the profile of the mesosoma. Hylomyrma dandarae can be distinguished from H. adelae (characteristics in parentheses) based on the following characters: oval eye (vs. dropshaped), irregular divergent-longitudinal striae on the head dorsum (vs. rugose striae), distinct promesonotal junction and metanotal groove (vs. both indistinct), and tergum of the first gastral segment with short striae (vs. long striae). The two species occur allopatrically in Bolivia ( Fig. 83 View FIGURE 83 ), H. adelae in Cochabamba and H. dandarae in La Paz. Hylomyrma dandarae differs from H. mariae in the oval eye (vs. drop-shaped), the longer petiolar node (vs. shorter), and the short striae on tergum of the first gastral segment restrict to its first third (vs. long striae). Also, both species occur in nearby geographic areas, H. dandarae in the south ( Fig. 83 View FIGURE 83 ) and H. mariae in the center and north of Colombia ( Fig. 88 View FIGURE 88 ). Hylomyrma dandarae can be distinguished from H. wachiperi in the irregular striae on the head dorsum (vs. regular striae), the rugose striae on the mesosomal dorsum (vs. irregular striae), the distinct metanotal groove (vs. indistinct), the short propodeal spine (vs. long), and the tergum of the first gastral segment with long striae (vs. short striae). Hylomyrma wachiperi occurs in Peru whereas H. dandarae occurs in Bolivia and Colombia.

There is morphological variation across the range of H. dandarae . The shape of the propodeal spines vary from being entirely straight to having a downwardly curved apex. The specimens from La Paz, Bolivia, have irregular and transverse striae on the petiolar dorsum.

Distribution. Hylomyrma dandarae is known from only three localities, two in southwest Colombia and one in La Paz, Bolivia ( Fig. 83 View FIGURE 83 ).

Natural history. This species inhabits sites at elevations from 1250 to 2048 m. Specimens were collected with pitfall traps and winkler extractors, which suggests that workers forage on the forest floor, and that nests are located in fallen logs, rotten wood, between leaves, or inside natural cavities of the superficial soil layers.

Additional material examined (2 workers): BOLIVIA: La Paz: Nor Yungas, Coripata , Altuspata , 2048m, 8198991S, 639994W, 5.iii.2009, borde del bosque, trampa pitfall, Beatriz Mamani col. (1W) ( CBF –Hym(Form)- 004762) [ CBF] . COLOMBIA: Putumayo: Mocoa, 01°08′N, 76°38′W, Los Mayos , 1800m, i.1999, E. González leg., winkler 10 (1W) (MZHY222) [ MZSP] GoogleMaps .

Hylomyrma dandarae Ulysséa new species

Figures 29 View FIGURE 29 , 83 View FIGURE 83 (map)

First gastral segment striation similar to postpetiole striae; longitudinal striae on tergum shorter than postpetiole length; sternite smooth.

QUEEN Unknown.

MALE Unknown.

Distribution. Hylomyrma dandarae is known from only three localities, two in southwest Colombia and one in La Paz, Bolivia ( Fig. 83 View FIGURE 83 ).

References

Forel, A. (1912) Formicides neotropiques. Part IV. 3 me sous-famille Myrmicinae Lep. (suite). Memoires de la Societe Entomologique de Belgique, 20, 1 - 32.

Kempf, W. W. (1973) A revision of the Neotropical myrmicine ant genus Hylomyrma Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Studia Entomologica, 16, 225 - 260.

Figures

FIGURE 27. Worker of Hylomyrma columbica (COLOMBIA: on fiber plant from Colombia at Quarantine, Washington DC, 27July1916 [USNM]). A) frontal view; B) dorsal view; C) lateral view. Photos by Ricardo Kawada.

FIGURE 28. Queen of Hylomyrma columbica (COLOMBIA: [La] Guarija: R. Don Diego, 25-50m, 18.june.1976, forest leaf litter, W.L. Brown & R.C. Kugler [leg.] [MCZC]). A) frontal view; B) dorsal view; C) lateral view. Photos by M.A. Ulysséa.

FIGURE 29. Holotype worker of Hylomyrma dandarae (COLOMBIA: Caquetá: San José de Fragua, R. Turayaco, 1250m, W5, 10-15.ix.2000, E.L.G. [IHVL]). A) frontal view; B) dorsal view; C) lateral view. Photos by Ricardo Kawada.

FIGURE 83. Distribution records of Hylomyrma adelae, H. dandarae, H. longiscapa, H. montana, and H. sagax.

FIGURE 85. Distribution records of Hylomyrma columbica, H. marielleae, H. plumosa, and H. reitteri.

FIGURE 87. Distribution records of Hylomyrma dolichops, and H. mitiae.

FIGURE 88. Distribution records of Hylomyrma immanis, H. mariae, H. primavesi, and H. versuta.

Abbreviations

USNM	Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History
MZSP	Sao Paulo, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo
DZUP	Universidade Federal do Parana, Colecao de Entomologia Pe. Jesus Santiago Moure
CBF	Coleccion Boliviana de Fauna