Megalomyrmex caete

Megalomyrmex caete
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Solenopsidini
Genus:	Megalomyrmex
Species:	M. caete
Binomial name
Megalomyrmex caete Brandão, 1990 Specimen Labels

The type series was collected by W.L. Brown Jr. from “mt. base. Forest”.

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -2.166666667° to -2.691°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Ecuador (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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.

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.

Nomenclature

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

• caete. Megalomyrmex caete Brandão, 1990b: 422, figs. 2, 9, 27 (w.q.) ECUADOR.
  • Type-material: holotype worker, 4 paratype workers, 1 paratype queen.
  • Type-locality: holotype Ecuador: Prov. Guayas, 3 km. SW Bucay, 24.vii.1973 (W.L. Brown); paratypes with same data.
  • Type-depositories: MCZC (holotype); BMNH, MCZC, MZSP (paratypes).
  • Status as species: Brandão, 1991: 354; Bolton, 1995b: 249.
  • Distribution: Ecuador.

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

Description

Worker

Mandibles smooth; anterior border of clypeus with median denticle; flat median area of clypeus limited by carinae (better seen at 80x); 3-seg­mented antenna! club; 10-12 ocular facets at eye largest diameter; occipital margin not raised; dorsal profile of promesonotum continuous, promesonotum suture impressed laterally; meso­ sternum and metasternum without acrotergites; dorsal face and declivity of propodeum meeting in a gentle angle; declivity with 3-4 concentric rugosities over the foramen; petiole with an­ teroventral denticle; petiolar node, in frontal view, acuminate; postpetiole ventral process glo­bose.

Pilosity: 6 long erect hairs (more than .2mm) at pronotum, 4-6 at the apex of petiole and post­ petiole, 15-16 at the gaster segments and anterior face of fore coxae. Small subdecumbent hairs (circa .lmm) uniformly distributed over the body surface. Color: uniform bright light-yellow.

Queen

Clypeal carinae only at the posterior region of clypeus; ocelli equally developed; parapsidal sutures impressed on mesonotum; scutum and scutellum with 2 parallel rows of long hairs; ven­tral process of postpetiole acuminate.

Type Material

3 Km SW Bucay, prov. Guayas, Ecuador (02°10'S, 79° 06'W). Holotype (worker) and 2 paratypes (workers) at Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard Univ.; 1 paratype (worker) at British Museum of Natural History; 2 paratypes (queen and workers) at Museu de Zoologia da USP.

Etymology

Caete means forest in Tupi.

References

• Brandão, C. R. F. 1990b. Systematic revision of the Neotropical ant genus Megalomyrmex Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae), with the description of thirteen new species. Arq. Zool. (São Paulo) 31: 411-481 (page 422, figs. 2, 9, 27 worker, queen described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Ulyssea M. A., C. R. F. Brandao. 2013. Catalogue of Dacetini and Solenopsidini ant type specimens (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil. Papies Avulsos de Zoologia 53(14): 187-209.