Megalomyrmex timbira

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

The type material consisted of two foragers collected from the ground in tropical forest.

At a Glance

• Ergatoid queen

Identification

Brandão (1990) - M. timbira can be distinguished from all other species of the Leoninus group by the shape of propodeum, in lateral view.

Brandão (2003) - To distinguish M. timbira from Megalomyrmex staudingeri, as they seem to occur sympatrically at the Colombian- Venezuelan border, I used not only the peculiar propodeal shape in M. timbira, but also the fact that in M. timbira the petiole is almost twice as wide as the postpetiole, while in M. staudingeri, they are of similar width. The shape of the postpetiole is similar to that depicted in figure 83 in Brandão (1990), while the dorsal profile of the postpetiole is always evenly rounded.

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 8.983333333° to -0.6364°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Ecuador, Venezuela (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.

• timbira. Megalomyrmex timbira Brandão, 1990b: 439, figs. 45, 49 (w.) VENEZUELA.
  • Type-material: holotype worker, 2 paratype workers.
  • Type-locality: Venezuela: Tachira, La Flautera, ca Palmira, 8.viii.1983 (J. Lattke).
  • Type-depositories: MZSP (holotype); MIZA, MZSP (paratypes).
  • Status as species: Brandão, 1991: 355; Bolton, 1995b: 250; Brandão, 2003: 153; Fernández & Serna, 2019: 807.
  • Distribution: Colombia, Venezuela.

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

Description

Worker

Mandible smooth; anterior clypeal border straight without median denticle; 3-segmented antennal club: frontal suture impressed; 18 ocular facets at compound eyes largest diameter; promesonotal suture impressed dorsally; dorsal face and declivity of propodeum meeting, in side view, in a 120° angle, forming nonsharp teeth in lateral view; declivity smooth and non-depressed longitudinally: mesosternum and metasternum without acrotergites: epipetiolar carina complete: non-pedunculate petiole with anteroventral denticle: dorsal margin of petiolar node, in side view. concave; dorsal margin of petiolar node, in frontal view, subquadrate; ventral face of postpetiole without process; apex of femura acuminate.

Color: dark reddish-brown, almost black.

Brandão (2003) - To the original description, I should add that the epipetiolar carina in M. timbira is complete around the foramen, although in some specimens the carina almost fades out at the mid propodeal declivitous face. Some specimens are distinctly more hairy in relation to the type specimens and to other Megalomyrmex species in the Leoninus group.

Type Material

La Flautera, ca. Palmira. Tachira, Venezuela, 1200m (07°51'N, 72°13'W). Holotype and paratype at Museu de Zoologia da USP; paratype at Facultad de Agronomia de Maracay, Venezuela. The type workers have been collected by John Lattke, foraging isolated on the ground of a tropical forest in August 8, 1983.

Etymology

The word timbira means orphan in Tupi, referring to the lack of true queens in the Leoninus group.

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 439, figs. 45, 49 worker described)
• Brandão, C. R. F. 2003. Further revisionary studies on the ant gentus Megalomyrmex Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pap. Avulsos Zool. (São Paulo) 43: 145-159.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Brandao, C.R.F. 1991. Adendos ao catalogo abreviado das formigas da regiao neotropical (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Rev. Bras. Entomol. 35: 319-412.
• Brandão C. R. F. 1990. Systematic revision of the Neotropical ant genus Megalomyrmex Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae), with the description of thirteen new species. Arquivos de Zoologia (São Paulo) 31: 411-481
• Brandão C. R. F. 2003. Further revisionary studies on the ant genus Megalomyrmex Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Papeis Avulsos de Zoologia (São Paulo) 43: 145-159
• Fernández F., and E. E. Palacio. 1995. Hormigas de Colombia IV: nuevos registros de géneros y especies. Caldasia 17: 587-596.
• Salinas P. J. 2010. Catalogue of the ants of the Táchira State, Venezuela, with notes on their biodiversity, biogeography and ecology (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Amblyioponinae, Ponerinae, Proceratiinae, Myrmicinae, Ecitoninae, Formicinae, Pseudomyrmecinae, Dolichoderinae). Boletín de la SEA 47: 315-328.