Myrmelachista donisthorpei

Myrmelachista donisthorpei
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Myrmelachistini
Genus:	Myrmelachista
Species:	M. donisthorpei
Binomial name
Myrmelachista donisthorpei Wheeler, W.M., 1934 Specimen Labels

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Guyana (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.

Castes

Images from AntWeb

Holotype of Myrmelachista donisthorpei. Worker. Specimen code casent0903117. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by NHMUK, London, UK.

Nomenclature

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

• donisthorpei. Myrmelachista (Decamera) donisthorpei Wheeler, W.M. 1934g: 204 (w.) GUYANA. Combination in M. (Hincksidris): Kempf, 1972a: 149.

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

Description

Worker

Length about 1.3 mm.

Head subrectangular, convex dorsally, as broad as long and nearly as broad in front as behind, with feebly convex sides and posterior border. Eyes rather fiat, at the middle of the sides. Mandibles moderately convex, 5-toothed, the third and fifth tooth small. Clypeus broad, convex in the middle, anterior border transverse, nearly straight, without median denticle. Frontal area large, fiat, subtriangular, with indistinct posterior boundary. Antennae rather long; scapes reaching nearly to the posterior border of the head; funicular joints 2-6 small, slightly broader than long, except the second, which is as long as broad; two basal joints of club longer than broad, together shorter than the terminal joint. Thorax rather robust, of the usual hour-glass shape, the mesoepinotal constriction short but deep, both dorsally and laterally; promesonotum large, convex and hemispherical, considerably elevated above the epinotum; metanotum short, with prominent spiracles, without posterior suture; epinotum in profile with feebly convex, horizontal base, distinctly shorter than the straight and sloping declivity. Petiole stout, posteriorly pedunculate; scale strongly inclined forward, very thick, nodiform, as thick at the summit, which is rounded and entire, as at the base. Gaster of the usual shape. Legs long and slender, fore femora distinctly enlarged.

Smooth and shining, minutely and sparsely punctate; mandibles delicately reticulate-punctate.

Hairs rather abundant, yellow, of uneven length, bristly, long on the body, shorter on the appendages, appressed on the femora, suberect and conspicuous on the tibire, especially on the tarsi, funiculi and anterior surfaces of the scapes.

Pale yellow; mandibles reddish; vertex and middle of occiput with a large pale brown spot; gaster piceous or blackish.

Type Material

A single specimen, taken by the Oxford University Expedition (1929) on Morabelli Creek, Essequibo River, British Guiana and sent me for identification by Mr. Horace Donisthorpe. It is deposited in the British Museum together with a dealated female from the same locality and apparently belonging to the same species. This specimen unfortunately lacks the anterior half of the head. It is deep castaneous, with black gaster and yellow legs. Both body and legs are rather densely clothed with erect or suberect, coarse, yellow hairs, of uneven length. Petiolar scale or node broad and very thick, with transverse, somewhat sinuate superior border.

References

• Kempf, W. W. 1972b. Catálogo abreviado das formigas da regia~o Neotropical. Stud. Entomol. 15: 3-344 (page 149, Combination in M. (Hincksidris))
• Wheeler, W. M. 1934g. Neotropical ants collected by Dr. Elisabeth Skwarra and others. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 77: 157-240 (page 204, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
• Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
• Wheeler W. M. 1934. Neotropical ants collected by Dr. Elisabeth Skwarra and others. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 77: 157-240.