Megalomyrmex tasyba

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

Nothing is known about the biology of Megalomyrmex tasyba.

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -0.4° to -0.4°.

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.

• tasyba. Megalomyrmex tasyba Brandão, 1990b: 446, figs. 91, 92 (w.) ECUADOR.
  • Type-material: holotype worker, 1 paratype worker.
  • Type-locality: holotype Ecuador: Napo-Pastaza, Limoncocha, 3.viii.1972, colony F-163, no. 4911 (C.W. Rettenmeyer); paratype with same data.
  • Type-depositories: MZSP (holotype); MCZC (paratype).
  • Status as species: Brandão, 1991: 354; Bolton, 1995b: 250.
  • 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 with dental formula 2 + (3-4); palpal formula 3:2: anterior clypeal border without denticle: median area of clypeus depressed but not market by lateral carinae; occipital margin not raised; promesonotal suture faintly impressed: dorsal face and declivity of propodeum indistinct; declivity smooth: epipetiolar carina incomplete; inferior propodeal plates quadrate in side view; pedunculate petiole with anterior margin curve in side view; dorsal margin of petiolar node round in frontal aspect with a small prominence at the center; ventral face of petiole with an anterior denticle but no longitudinal flange; ventral process of postpetiole globose.

Pilosity: long erect and brigth hairs (ca. .15mm) at head, dorsum of thorax and pedicel and covering the gaster. Smaller subdecumbent hairs at legs.

Color: reddish brown except for the yellowish legs, mandibles and antennal club.

Type Material

Limoncocha, Napo-Pastaza, Ecuador (00°24'S, 76°36'W). Holotype at Museu de Zoologia da USP and paratype at Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard. The types have been collected by C.W. Rettenmeyer in August, 3, 1972 (accession number 4911, colony F- 163).

Etymology

The word tasyba is one of the names for ants in general 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 446, figs. 91, 92 worker described)