Hylomyrma longiscapa Kempf, 1961

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 : 58-62

Hylomyrma longiscapa Kempf, 1961

Figures 41 , 42 , 43 , 80I , 81D , 82D , 83 (map)

Hylomyrma longiscapa Kempf, 1961: 498 (W). Holotype: SURINAM [E: Saramacca]: Dirkshoop , v.1959, I.v.d. Drift col., 10.iii a-2 (1W) (ANTWEB-1008991 MZSP67350 ) [ MZSP] [examined] . Paratype: SURINAM [E]: Vank , viii.1959, I.v.d. Drift col., 32.xvii a-5 (1W) (MCZ31531) [ MCZC] [examined] .

Diagnosis. Regular and longitudinal striae on head dorsum, parallel towards posterior margin; long scape; vermicular striae on mesosoma; dorsal margin of petiole discontinuous; ventral surface entirely covered with transverse striae; postpetiole with regular and longitudinal striae slightly anastomosed and thick; subpostpetiolar process sculptured on laterobasal region, midbasal region smooth; long striae on tergum of first gastral segment; body with many branched setae; branches of equal size; unbranched setae predominate in the gaster.

Redescription. WORKER (n=6) ( Fig. 41A–C ): HL 0.92 (0.85–0.94); HW 0.80 (0.77–0.82); ML 0.58 (0.54–0.60); SL 0.81 (0.74–0.85); MOD 0.25 (0.22–0.28); PNW 0.58 (0.54–0.60); WL 1.20 (1.10–1.22); PSL 0.28 (0.25–0.32); PL 0.54 (0.50–0.58); PW 0.18 (0.18–0.20); PPL 0.29 (0.28–0.32); PPW 0.29 (0.26–0.30); GL 1.12 (1.04–1.12); TL 4.65 (4.33–4.78); CI 86.95 (86.95–90.58); SI 101.25 (95–103.66); OI 31.25 (28.20–34.14). Small to midsized. Shiny integument. Bicolored body, brownish with lighter leg. Many branched setae, midsized to short, branches of equal size ( Fig. 80I ), suberect to subdecumbent; unbranched setae predominate in the gaster.

Head subquadrate; posterior margin straight. Mandible masticatory margin with 5 teeth. Anterior margin of clypeus straight medially, with a pair of small teeth laterally; median area of clypeus with 8–10 regular and longitudinal striae converging to a point on the anterior margin, interspaces distinguishable. Frontal triangle with 2 striae. Long scape, surpassing head posterior margin; apical antennomere slightly shorter than previous 3 antennomeres together. Frontal carina slightly concave posterior to antennal socket. Eye drop-shaped, midsized, larger diameter with 11 ommatidia. Regular and longitudinal striae on head dorsum, parallel towards posterior margin, interspaces between thicker striae filled with thinner striae, anastomosed striae on posterior region. Sculpture on head lateral and laterodorsal regions converge to eye margin; laterodorsal region predominantly with longitudinal striae; lateral and lateroventral region mainly with anastomosed striae; gena striate, 6–8 regular and semicircular striae circumscribe the torulus, almost reaching eye margin. Interspaces between striae on head ventral surface distinguishable.

Mesosoma covered with vermicular striae of uniform thickness, interspaces smooth. Promesonotal junction distinguishable by a slight depression (LV); metanotal groove indistinct. Transverse carina well-marked. Dorsal margin of mesosoma discontinuous, convex. Propodeal lobe bidentate, dorsal tooth slightly longer and sharper than shorter and blunt ventral tooth; dorsal tooth shorter than 1 / 3 of propodeal spine length. Propodeal spine long, straight (LV), divergent (DV), sculptured on base. Procoxa striae of uniform thickness; irregular and transverse striae on C2 and C3. Profemur and protibia smooth.

Dorsal margin of petiole discontinuous; ventral surface entirely covered with transverse striae. Node with regular and transverse striae on anterior surface, striation on anterior surface continuing transversely on lateral surface to ventral surface, weakly marked; vermicular striae on dorsal surface. Postpetiole covered with regular and longitudinal striae slightly anastomosed and thick; subpostpetiolar process with same sculpture of postpetiole on laterobasal region, but weakly marked, midbasal region smooth; subpostpetiolar process weak, straight.

First gastral segment striation similar to postpetiole striae, longitudinal striae on tergum 11 / 2 × the postpetiole length; sternite striation restricted to laterobasal region, weakly marked.

QUEEN (first description) (n=3) ( Fig. 42A–C ): HL (0.86–0.94); HW (0.80–0.84); ML (0.59–0.60); SL (0.76– 0.78); MOD (0.24–0.27); PNW (0.62–0.67); WL (1.28–1.34); PSL (0.28–0.30); PL (0.57–0.62); PW (0.19–0.22); PPL (0.32–0.33); PPW (0.30–0.32); GL (1.17–1.20); TL (4.76–5); CI (89.13–93.02); SI (92.68–97.50); OI (30– 32.92). Medium to large-sized. Color, pilosity, and some sculpture characters shared with conspecific workers, only slightly larger. Larger diameter of eye with 14–15 ommatidia. Striae on scutum anastomosed anteriorly and irregular posteriorly, going from an anterior central point towards transcutal suture. Longitudinal and regular striae on anepisternum and irregular to vermicular on katepisternum, interspaces distinguishable. Axilla and scutellum with same sculpture of scutum. Scutoscutellar sulcus inconspicuous. Transverse striae on propodeum (DV). Lateral surface of mesosoma with irregular to vermicular striae directed in part to propodeal dorsum and in part to propodeal spine. Wings as in Fig. 81D.

MALE (first description) (n=1) ( Fig. 43A–C ): HL 0.66; HW 0.79; ML 0.46; SL 0.28; MOD 0.32; PNW 0.72: CMS 1.33; PSL 0.08; PL 0.60; PW 0.22; PPL 0.34; PPW 0.32; GL 1.34; TL 4.73; CI 119.70; SI 35.44; OI 40.50. Light brown body, yellowish appendices. Mandible with 6 teeth. Scutum anterior region smooth, posterior region covered with mostly longitudinal, regular to irregular striae, interspaces distinguishable. Anepisternum and katepisternum covered with longitudinal and regular striae, thinner than those on scutum, interspaces distinguishable. Scutellum with mostly irregular striae, thicker than scutum striae, interspaces distinguishable. Propodeum with irregular striae assuming multiple directions, interspaces distinguishable. Propodeal lobe rounded. Petiole mostly covered with longitudinal and irregular striae, interspaces distinguishable. Postpetiole with longitudinal and regular striae. Gaster smooth. Wings as in Fig. 82D .

Etymology. The specific epithet longiscapa (Latin, longus = long and scapus = stem) refers to the relatively long antennal scape of this species.

Comments. Hylomyrma longiscapa is similar to H. marielleae regarding the body size and the sculpture pattern. However, H. longiscapa can be easily distinguished from H. marielleae (characteristic in parentheses) in the thin and light setae (vs. thick and dark), and the transverse striae on the ventral surface of petiole well-marked (vs. weakly marked). Both species have broad distribution in the center-north of South America, however H. longiscapa occurs in many localities in eastern portions of Brazil (from northeast to southeast regions) ( Fig. 83 ) where H. marielleae does not occur ( Fig. 85 ).

The type specimens ( Surinam) have one central ocellus. This character, together with the larger body size [HL (0.92–0.98); HW (0.80–0.86); ML (0.58–0.66); SL (0.76–0.90); MOD (0.23–0.28); PNW (0.58–0.64): WL (1.16– 1.30); PSL (0.28–0.32); PL (0.56–0.60); PW (0.18–0.23); PPL (0.33–0.36); PPW (0.29–0.32); GL (1.06–1.20); TL (4.65–5.08); CI (86.95–89.58); SI (95–104.65); OI (28.75–32.55)], and the promesonotal junction discernible by a more pronounced depression, likely indicate the specimens are intercastes. Intercastes were also sampled in Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Specimens from Brazil (Novo Jardim, TO) have a spine on the mesoventral surface of petiole.

Distribution. This species occurs from central to northern South America ( Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, and Venezuela) ( Fig. 83 ). The distribution of H. longiscapa is broader than that of H. marielleae , especially because the distribution of the former spans the Atlantic forest in Brazil, while the latter is more restricted to the Amazonian region. Both species occur in Madre de Dios, Peru; Napo, Ecuador; and Mato Grosso, Pará, and Tocantins, all three in Brazil.

Natural history. This species inhabits forested areas in the Atlantic forest (Northeast Brazil), tropical rainforest (Amazon), “Cerrado” (Brazilian savanna), and semideciduous forest enclaves in the Atlantic forest biome (Minas Gerais, Brazil). Specimens are frequently found in leaf-litter samples, which suggests that this species nests in the leaf-litter, fallen logs, rotten wood, or inside natural cavities of the superficial soil layers. Except for the presence of intercastes, there is no further information available regarding the biology of H. longiscapa .

Additional material examined (104 workers, 12 queens, 1 male, 13 intercastes): BRAZIL: BA[Bahia]: Aurelino Leal, L. do Banco, Mata, 26/05/1997, Col. J.C.S. Carmo & J.R.M. Santos, 637 (1W 1Q 1M) ( MZSP67353 ) [ MZSP] ; Andaraí, Mata Carrasco (Castanha) , 13–14.xii.1990, Brandão, Diniz & Oliveira, folhiço (8W, one covered with gold) ( MZSP67436 ) [ MZSP] ; same except 105 (1Q) [ MZSP] ; 104 (1W 3Q 2I) [ MZSP] ; Ilhéus-Castelo Novo, 26.04.[20]00, 143912S, 391139W, Santos, J.R.M. dos, Mata-A24 (3W) [ CEPLAC] ; Ilhéus-Banco do Pedro, 12.01.[19]98, 144051S, 0391524W, Santos J.R.M. dos, Carmo J.C.S. do, Mata W-A23, 61 (3W) [ CEPLAC] ; Ilhéus, CEPEC, 10.[19]96, Santos, J.R.M., #5156 (5W) [ CEPLAC] ; same except 27.01.[19]95, col. D. Agosti, MZSP67352 (1W 1Q) [ MZSP] ; km22 Ilhéus-Itabuna, CEPED-Área Zoolog., x.[19]86, J. Delabie leg., 61 (1W) [ MZSP] ; Mata da Boa Esperança, 14°47′47″S, 09°03′56″W, 09.ix.2000, Santos J.R.M. col., Winkler 28 (1W) [ MZSP] ; Itapebí, M. Rio Pardo , 16.07.[19]97, Santos J.R.M. (3W) [ CEPLAC] ; Ibicaraí, km41, 145375S, 0392901W, 21.11.[19]98, Santos J.R.M. dos, 61 (1W 1Q) [ CEPLAC] ; Itacaré-Taboquinha, 20/12/[19]96, Santos J.R.M. dos, 61 (3W 1Q) [ CEPLAC] ; Itapitanga, 30.05.97, 14°25′22″S, 39°33′54″W, Santos J.R.M dos, 61 (1W) [ CEPLAC] ; Maraú-Tremenbé, 07.06.[19]97, Santos J.R.M dos, MATA-W-A4, 61 (3W) [ CEPLAC] ; Arataca, 25.05.[19]99, 151649S, 0392331W, Santos J.R.M dos, Mata A47, 61 (1W) [ CEPLAC] ; Mata São João, Reserva Sapiranga , 12°33′29.3″S, 33°02′35.2″W, 21-28.vii.2001, Silva R.R., Brandão C.R.F. cols., Winkler 49 (1W) [ MZSP] ; same except Winkler 43 (3W) [ MZSP]; Winkler 46 (1W) [ MZSP]; Winkler 34 (1Q) [ MZSP]; Winkler 51 (1W) [ MZSP] ; Serra Grande , 14°27′05″S, 39°02′34″W, 28/04/1997, Carmo J.C.S., 61 (3W) [ CEPLAC] ; Una, 151104S, 0390056W, 24.08.[19]98, Santos J.R.M. dos, A45, 61 (2W) [ CEPLAC] ; Unacau, 150521S, 39° 1742W, 11.02.2000, Santos J.R. dos, A43, 61 (3W) [ CEPLAC] ; Lençóis, Chap[ada] Diamantina , 25.iii.2001, Santos J.R.M., 5, 61 (2W) [ CEPLAC] ; Coaraci, 14°38′S, 39°33′W, 30/09/2002, Santos J.R.M. Dos, Mata, Winkler (1W 2I) [ CEPLAC] ; GO[Goiás]: Serranópolis, Faz. São Cristovão , 817m, 18°5′32.87″S, 52°2′23.85″W, 10.i.2009, Gilmar G. Santos col., Frag. 03, M.W. Ponto 23 (9W) [ DZUP]; same except Ponto 06 (6W) [ DZUP] ; Jataí, Faz. Sta. Gerturdes , 876m, 17°50′07″S, 51°43′04″W, 02.ii.2009, G.G. Santos col., Frag. 01, M.W. Ponto 13 (1W) [ DZUP]; same except Ponto 19 (2W) [ DZUP] ; MA[Maranhão]: Açailândia, Horto Faz. Pompéia , 04°52′30″S, 47°17′40″W, 13-22.ii.2006, Silva R.R. & Feitosa R.M. cols., Winkler 17 (1W) [ MZSP] ; [MG] Minas Gerais: Parque Estadual do Rio Doce , Trilha da Garapa Torta , Elev. 280m, 19°47′49″S, 42°34′38″W, 23-24.viii.2005, TEAM exped. Col., Floresta Atlântica Etacional Semidecidual, TGT 4.7 Mini-winkler (1W) [ MZSP] ; Marlieria, Parque Estadual do Rio Doce, Trilha da Lagoa Preta , 280m, -19.796944, -42.577222, 30.xi.2005, TEAM exped. Col., Floresta Atlântica Estacional Semidecidual, LP2-6 (1W) [ MZSP] ; same except 25.viii.2005, LP1-6 (1W) [ MZSP] ; MT[Mato Grosso]: Claudia, Acampamento módulo 1, iv.2014, Vicente, R.E., coleta manual (1W) [ MZSP] ; PA[Pará]: Novo Repartimento, Faz. Aratau , 25-26.vi.2003, A.M. Elizabeth (1W 2I) [ CEPLAC] ; PE[Pernambuco]: Recife, Horto Dois Irmãos , 08°00′32″S, 34°56′40″W, 15-24.vii.2002, Silva R.R. & Eberhardt F. cols., Winkler 11 (1W) [ MZSP]; same except Winkler 8 (1W) [ MZSP]; Winkler 49 (1W) [ MZSP]; Winkler 46 (1W) [ MZSP] ; RO[Rondônia]: Porto Velho, Área Mutum , M5P4, 09°35′29.5S, 65°02′57.6″W, 04-18.ix.2012, Ulysséa, M.A. & Prado, L.P. cols. (2W) [ MZSP] ; SE[Sergipe]: Sta. Luiza do Itanhy, Crasto , 11°22′39.3″S, 37°25′07.4″W, 29.vii-03.viii.2001, Silva R.R., Brandão C.R.F., Winkler 30 (5W) [ MZSP]; same except Winkler grande 18a (2W) [ MZSP] ; Areia Branca, E.E. da Serra de Itabaiana , 10°45′54″S, 37°19′57.4″W, 19-25.v.2003, Silva R.R., Dietz B.H. & Ferreira L.S. cols., Winkler 29 (2W) [ MZSP]; same except Winkler 46 (1W) [ MZSP]; Winkler 24 (2W 1Q) ( MZSP67351 ) [ MZSP]; Winkler 29 (1W 1Q) [ MZSP]; Winkler 36 (1Q) [ MZSP] ; TO[Tocantins]: Goiatins, 07°56′28.9″S, 47°09′31.3″W, 03-08.v.05, Silva R.R. & Dietz B.H., Winkler 12 (1W) [ MZSP]; same except Winkler 11 (1W 1I) [ MZSP] ; Novo Jardim, 10°50′26.9″S, 46°41′11.7″W, 09.x.2004, Vereda, Silva R.R. & Dietz B.H., Winkler 26 (2I) [ MZSP]. ECUADOR: Napo: Limoncocha , 280m, 00°24′S, 76°36′W, 4.viii.1973, Lois Morales, 237, Colony F-563 (1W 1I) [ MZSP]. GUYANE FRANÇAISE: [Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni: Maripasoula], Mitaraka Mts , Pente , 2.238226N - 54.45203W, 04.iii.2015, J. Orivel & F. Petitclerc cols., winkler 48h, A-P2-8, MI15-0380-26 (1W) [ ECOFOG]. PERU: Madre de Dios: Los Amigos Field Station, Trail 9 at 725m mark, 291m, 70°6′17.39W, 12°34′26.69S, 2.x.2004, T.R. Schultz, C. Marshall, J. Sosa-Calvo, 1° forest, litter sample, =CJM041002-04, TRS041002-01-LS04 (1W 1I) [ USNM]; same except =CJM041002-06, TRS041002-01-LS06 (1I) [ USNM]. VENEZUELA: Zulia: Dto. Perija, El Tucuco , 6.ix.1984, cols. J. L attke, E. Rubio (1W) [ MIZA] ; El Tucuco , 51km SO de Machiques, 24.vi.1979, R.W. Brooks, A.A. Grigarick, J. McLaughlin, R.O. Schuster (1I) [ MIZA] .

Figures

FIGURE 41. Worker of Hylomyrma longiscapa (MZSP67351). A) frontal view; B) dorsal view; C) lateral view. Photos by Ricardo Kawada.

FIGURE 42. Queen of Hylomyrma longiscapa (MZSP67351). A) frontal view; B) dorsal view; C) lateral view. Photos by M.A. Ulysséa.

FIGURE 43. Male of Hylomyrma longiscapa (MZSP67353). A) frontal view; B) dorsal view; C) lateral view. Photos by Ricardo Kawada.

FIGURE 80. Types of setae found in the species of Hylomyrma. Unbranched setae: A) Hylomyrma adelae, H. blandiens, H. macielae; B) H. immanis; C) H. marielleae. Branched setae: D) H. dentiloba, H. lispectorae, H. mitiae, H. peetersi, H. virginiae; E) H. balzani, H. lopesi; F) H. blandiens, H. jeronimae, H. versuta; G) H. dolichops; H) H. transversa; I) H. longiscapa; J) H. balzani, H. lopesi, H. primavesi, H. reitteri, H. versuta; K) H. plumosa.

FIGURE 81. Queen’s wings. A) Hylomyrma balzani (MZSP67324); B) H. reitteri (MZSP67431); C) H. versuta (MEXICO: VeraCr.: Pueblo Nuevo, nr. Tetzonapa, Aug.14 -53, E.O. Wilson, #221, rain forest [MCZC]); D) H. longiscapa (MZSP67352); E) H. lispectorae (MZSP67348); F) H. adelae paratype (MZSP67316); G) H. dentiloba (MZSP67319); H) H. mitiae paratype (MZSP67402). Venation: costa (C), radial (R), radial sector (Rs), media (M), cubitus (Cu), anal (A), radial-subcosta (R+Sc), media-cubitus (M+Cu), cubitus-anal crossvein (cu-a), first media-cubitus crossvein (1m-cu), radial sector-media 1 (Rs+M1), radial sector-media 2 (Rs+M2), second radial-radial sector crossvein (2r-rs), radial-subcosta (R+Sc), media-first radial sectormedia (M+1rs-m), submarginal 1+2 (2rs-m). Cells: basal (B), sub-basal (BS), discal (D), sub-marginal 1 (SM1), marginal (M), sub-marginal 2 (SM2).

FIGURE 82. Male’s wings. A) Hylomyrma balzani (MZSP67323); B) H. reitteri [MZSP 67431], C) H. versuta (MEXICO: VeraCr.: Pueblo Nuevo, nr. Tetzonapa, Aug. 14-53, E.O. Wilson, #221, rain forest [MCZC]); D) H. longiscapa (MZSP67353); E) H. immanis (MZSP67334]); F) H. blandiens (USNMENT00537690). Venation: costa (C), radial (R), radial sector (Rs), media (M), cubitus (Cu), anal (A), radial-subcosta (R+Sc), media-cubitus (M+Cu), cubitus-anal crossvein (cu-a), first mediacubitus crossvein (1m-cu), radial sector-media 1 (Rs+M1), second radial-radial sector crossvein (2r-rs), radial-subcosta (R+Sc), media-first radial sector-media (M+1rs-m), submarginal 1+2 (2rs-m). Cells: basal (B), sub-basal (BS), discal (D), sub-marginal 1 (SM1), marginal (M), sub-marginal 2 (SM2).

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.