Patagonomyrmex, Johnson, Robert A. & Moreau, Corrie S., 2016

Johnson, Robert A. & Moreau, Corrie S., 2016, A new ant genus from southern Argentina and southern Chile, Patagonomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 4139 (1), pp. 1-31 : 10

Description of Patagonomyrmex , gen. n.

Type species of the genus: Patagonomyrmex angustus ( Mayr, 1870) .

Etymology. The genus name, Patagonomyrmex , alludes to the distribution of these species, which are mostly restricted to the Patagonia region of Argentina and Chile.

Diagnosis of worker. Monomorphic, small (HW = 0.81–1.16 mm), soil-nesting, myrmicine ants with the following combination of characters:

(1) Head weakly elongate to elongate (CI = 78.86–95.50).

(2) Mandible with six teeth.

(3) Psammophore poorly-developed, consisting of short to medium-length hairs scattered over ventral surface of head.

(4) Superior propodeal spines long; inferior propodeal spines moderately long to long.

(5) Dorsal surface of promesonotum smooth and shiny, lacking rugae or if rugae present, then interrugae strongly granulate-punctate, dull.

(6) Anteroventral margin of peduncle of petiole with a small, acuminate spine.

(7) In full-face view, anterior margin of clypeus convex and entire.

(8) In profile, clypeus strongly convex.

(9) Petiolar node triangular in profile, anterior surface slightly shorter than posterior surface, node subangulate to rounded.

(10) Palp formula = 5,4.

Diagnosis of queen —as in worker except:

(1) Small (HW <1.25 mm and ML <2.00 mm).

(2) Mandible with 5–6 teeth.

(3) Mesosoma with full complement of sclerites associated with presence of wings; head with well-developed ocelli.

(4) Forewing lacking Rsf2–3, with submarginal cell 1+2.

Diagnosis of male.

(1) Small (HW <1.15 mm and ML <2.00 mm).

(2) Anteroventral margin of peduncle of petiole with a small, acuminate spine. (3) Funicular segments with very dense, short, suberect to erect pubescence. (4) Forewing lacking Rsf2–3, with submarginal cell 1+2.

(5) In full-face view, strongly produced anterior margin of clypeus, nearly angulate medially. (6) In profile, clypeus strongly convex.