Probolomyrmex brujitae

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Probolomyrmex brujitae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Proceratiinae
Tribe: Probolomyrmecini
Genus: Probolomyrmex
Species: P. brujitae
Binomial name
Probolomyrmex brujitae
Agosti, 1995

Probolomyrmex brujitae F12A.jpg

Probolomyrmex brujitae F12C.jpg

All known specimens of this species were obtained from leaf-litter samples, with the two type specimens being collected by Winkler bags of sifted leaf litter from a secondary Yungas forest.

Identification

Oliveira & Feitosa (2019) - Postero-ventral lobe of petiole long and subquadrate. Subpetiolar process weakly developed and anteriorly directed. Prora and protuberance on posterior region of first gastral tergite absent.

This species differs from all others by the weak, anteriorly directed subpetiolar process.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -14.31666667° to -27.5602°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Argentina (type locality), Brazil.

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

Worker

Oliveira & Feitosa (2019). Figure 11. SEM micrography of Probolomyrmex brujitae (worker - DZUP 549768). A. Habitus. B. Mandibles (he = hypostomal margin; esm = external surface of basal region of mandible). C. Antenna (ap = antennal pit; lah = long appressed hair; sh = short basicnonic hair). D. Metapleural gland. E. Petiole (pil = postero-inferior lobe of petiole; sp = subpetiolar process).

Queen

Oliveira & Feitosa (2019). Figure 13. Probolomyrmex brujitae queen - DZUP 549768. A. Habitus. B. head in frontal view. C. dorsal view.

Images from AntWeb

Probolomyrmex brujitae casent0104672 head 1.jpgProbolomyrmex brujitae casent0104672 profile 1.jpgProbolomyrmex brujitae casent0104672 dorsal 1.jpgProbolomyrmex brujitae casent0104672 label 1.jpg
Paratype of Probolomyrmex brujitaeQueen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0104672. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by AMNH, New York, NY, USA.

Nomenclature

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

  • brujitae. Probolomyrmex brujitae Agosti, 1995: 433, figs. 5, 6, 9, 10, 14 (w.q.) ARGENTINA (Jujuy).
    • Type-material: holotype worker, 1 paratype queen.
    • Type-locality: holotype Argentina: Jujuy, Aguas Blancas-Yaculica, Yungas Forest, 22°43’44’’S, 64°22’25’’W, 460 m., 55.x.1994 (D. Agosti & J.M. Carpenter); paratype with same data.
    • Type-depositories: MCZC (holotype); IMLT (paratype).
    • [Note: paratype in IMLT according to Agosti, but in AMNH according to Oliveira & Feitosa, 2019: 72.]
    • Status as species: O’Keefe & Agosti, 1998: 190 (in key); Feitosa, 2015c: 99; Oliveira & Feitosa, 2019: 72 (redescription).
    • Distribution: Argentina, Brazil.

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

Description

Oliveira & Feitosa (2019) - Worker measurements: (n=12) HL 0.48–0.56; HW 0.30–0.33; SL 0.28–0.33; WL 0.61–0.70; PL 0.22–0.34; PW 0.24–0.26; PH 0.20–0.24; TL 2.17–2.41; CI 56.5–64; SI 56.5–64.5; PI 75.5–92.5.

Worker description: Frontoclypeal shelflike projection and mandibles foveolate, with hair-bearing tubercles or cylindrical micro-pegs; external surface of mandibular basal margin transversely striolate. Tip of apical antennal segment bearing minute pits. Mesopleuron, metapleuron and lateral faces of propodeum alveolate and foveate; alveoli denser just above metapleural gland orifice; opening of metapleural gland narrow, with smooth anterior region, surrounded by rows of hairs. Petiolar node foveate, interval between foveae covered by micropunctures (punctulae); postero-ventral lobe and latero-ventral region of petiole alveolate, with short hair projecting from each alveolus; subpetiolar process alveolate. Posterior region of second gastral segment with foveae.

Space between mesosomal foveae covered by dense pubescence. Pygidium with hair-bearing tubercles or cylindrical micro-pegs.

Head 1.6 times longer than wide. Hypostomal margin curved. Antennal scapes extend to head mid length, distance from scape apex to of head more than two times pedicel length (SI 56.5–64.5). Propodeal declivity with lateral carina, laterodorsal teeth present. Petiole in lateral view at least 1.2 times longer than high (PI 75.5–92.5), apex with two weakly developed posterior teeth; posterior face short, concave and smooth; postero-ventral lobe long and subquadrate; subpetiolar process weakly developed and directed anteriorly. First gastral segment without prora or dorsal protuberance on posterior region of tergite.

Queen

Oliveira & Feitosa (2019) - (n=3) HL 0.50–0.52; HW 0.32–0.33; SL 0.31–0.33; WL 0.67; PL 0.23–0.25; PH 0.21–0.22; TL 2.21– 2.28. CI 64.5; SI 62.5–64.5; PI 85.5–92.

Queen presents the characters already described in the genus description and the diagnostic characters of the workers.

Type Material

  • Holotype 1 worker, Argentina, Jujuy, Aguas Blancas-Yaculica (Argentinian-Bolivian Frontier), 22°43'44"S 64°22'25"W, 460 m, 25 October 1994, D. Agosti & J. M. Carpenter, Winkler sample, leaf litter, Yungas forest (Museum of Comparative Zoology).
  • Paratype 1 female, same Winkler sample as holotype. Publication says deposited at Instituto Miguel Lillo Tucuman but Oliveira & Feitosa (2019) note this specimen is present in American Museum of Natural History (www.antweb.org; specimen CASENT0104672).

Taxonomic Notes

Oliveira & Feitosa (2019) - There is a record of a single individual of P. brujitae in Bahia, Brazil (Nascimento et al. 2004). However, after careful examination of the specimen, we concluded it actually corresponds to a different and undescribed species. We refrain from describing it since the only known specimen is in very poor condition.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Oliveira A. M., and R. M. Feitosa. 2019. Taxonomic revision of the genus Probolomyrmex Mayr, 1901 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Proceratiinae) for the Neotropical Region. Zootaxa 4614: 61–94.