Brachymyrmex sosai

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Brachymyrmex sosai
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Myrmelachistini
Genus: Brachymyrmex
Species: B. sosai
Binomial name
Brachymyrmex sosai
Ortiz-Sepulveda, Van Bocxlaer, Meneses & Fernández, 2019

Brachymyrmex sosai holotype F51c .jpg

Brachymyrmex sosai holotype F51b .jpg

This species was collected from sandy soil, from below a rock.

Identification

Ortiz-Sepulveda et al. (2019) - Brachymyrmex sosai does not have a specific unique feature but rather a unique combination of features that render it distinct: its scapes surpass the posterior margin of the head by a length approximately equal to the maximal diameter of the eye, the dorsum of the mesosoma does not have conspicuous sculpture, a metanotal groove is present, the metathoracic spiracles are in dorsal position, and the dorsal margin of the mesonotum is strongly anteroposteriorly inclined. Some features of this species are reminiscent of Brachymyrmex antennatus; however, B. sosai differs from this species in body color, the color of the hairs, the length of the scapes, and in having an antennal funiculus with the second segment shorter than the first.

The single specimen of B. sosai known from Bolivia (William and Emma Mackay Collection: USNMENT00759024) differs in color from the specimens from Peru: its head and thorax are more yellowish than brown and the gaster is darker than the rest of the body. We consider it to be part of B. sosai as all other traits match. Currently, B. sosai is only known from three localities, and more specimens from additional localities will be required to characterize the intraspecific variation in body color.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -13.17956° to -18.05972°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Bolivia, Peru (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
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Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.
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Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • sosai. Brachymyrmex sosai Ortiz-Sepúlveda, et al. 2019: 529, fig. 51 (supplementary material fig. S37) (w.q.) PERU, BOLIVIA.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

Holotype HL1 0.57; HL2 0.35; HL3 0.16; HW 0.53; SL 0.59; EL 0.14; WL 0.68; PnL 0.21; PnW 0.33; ML 0.16; MW 0.21; Indices CI 93.10; SI1 111.11; SI2 166.67; OI1 25.93; OI2 27.59. Paratypes (n – 3) HL10.60–0.62; HL2 0.41– 0.43; HL3 0.16–0.20; HW 0.57–0.60; SL 0.59–0.62; EL 0.14– 0.16; WL 0.68–0.72; PnL 0.20–0.23; PnW 0.41; ML 0.18– 0.20; MW 0.14–0.27; Indices CI 93.55–96.88; SI1 103.23– 103.45; SI2 142.86–145.45; OI1 22.58–27.59; OI2 25.81– 31.25.

Head. Slightly longer than wide in full face view; posterior cephalic margin flat or slightly concave. Dorsum of the head with scattered appressed hairs. Clypeus with a rounded anterior margin and five long, erect hairs of which a single, usually conspicuous hair is near the anterior margin, two hairs are in mediolateral position, and two more near the toruli; other hairs on the clypeus are markedly shorter and appressed or decumbent. Toruli surpassing the posterior clypeal margin in oblique anterodorsal view. The scapes surpass the posterior margin of the head by a length that exceeds the maximal diameter of the eye. Ocelli typically appear to be absent but some workers have a central ocellus. Eyes are positioned on the cephalic midline and have 9–10 ommatidia along their maximal diameter.

Mesosoma. With several semi-erect hairs on the pronotum and scattered decumbent hairs on the promesonotum. The mesonotum is slightly inflated, antero-posteriorly inclined, and it bulges dorsally above the pronotum in lateral view. Metanotal groove present and wider than the diameter of the metathoracic spiracles. Metathoracic spiracles in fully dorsal position, not protruding, and not touching any sutures. Dorsum of the propodeum weakly convex and shorter than the propodeal slope. Propodeal spiracles circular, positioned slightly ventral of the posterior propodeal margin; they are posterior of the middle of the propodeal slope. Legs with appressed hairs. Petiole short and inclined forward.

Gaster. With dense pubescence and scattered long hairs at the edges of the segments.

Color and sculpture. Body smooth and shiny, and usually dark brown, but with conspicuously lighter hairs. Additionally, the bulbi of the antennae, the terminal funiculus, the tarsi, and the articulations of the legs are conspicuously yellowish.

Type Material

Holotype worker (Museo de Historia Natural:USNMENT00757760) and paratype workers (UNMSM: USNMENT00759061, 00759062): 3 workers, (National Museum of Natural History: USNMENT01128655, 01128760): two workers, one vial (USNM: USNMENT00526429): 15 workers, five pupae, five larvae, one vial in Biorepository (USNM: USNMENT01414589): five workers, (USNMENT01128762): one queen. PERU: Cusco: Paucartambo, Kcosñipata, Predio Los Wayqechas, ACCA [Asociacion para la Conservacion de la Cuenca Amazonica], -13.17956 -71.60556, 2825 m, Andean Forest, J. Sosa-Calvo, JSC040920–04.

Etymology

In honor of Dr. Jeffrey Sosa-Calvo, the collector, for his unconditional support and friendship.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Ortiz-Sepuvelda C. M., B. Van Bocxlaer, A. D. Meneses, and F. Fernandez. 2019. Molecular and morphological recognition of species boundaries in the neglected ant genus Brachymyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): toward a taxonomic revision. Organisms Diversity & Evolution https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-019-00406-2