Probolomyrmex kelleri

Probolomyrmex kelleri
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Proceratiinae
Tribe:	Probolomyrmecini
Genus:	Probolomyrmex
Species:	P. kelleri
Binomial name
	Probolomyrmex kelleri; Oliveira & Feitosa, 2019

An entire colony of this species was found in an area of dry forest with much thorny scrub vegetation in Lara, Venezuela, under a stone, containing 16 workers, two queens, two males, three pupae, and 15 late instar larvae. When uncovered, most of the ants were found clinging to the underside of the stone. They did not run away, presenting a sluggish and frozen behavior (John Lattke, unpublished data). One of these workers and another specimen from Aragua (Venezuela) have eyes formed by a unique omatite. Locality data suggests that it inhabits mesic as well as dry forests.

Identification

Oliveira & Feitosa (2019) - Postero-ventral petiolar lobe short and rounded. Subpetiolar process well developed, ventrally concave to subrectangular, with the postero-ventral angle acute and directed towards the gaster. Prora and protuberance on the posterior region of the first gastral tergite present.

Probolomyrmex kelleri resembles Probolomyrmex boliviensis, but is smaller, with shorter antennal scapes and subpetiolar process well developed.

Keys including this Species

Key to Neotropical Probolomyrmex

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 10.49059° to 10.46075°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Guyana, Peru, 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.

Biology

Castes

Worker

Oliveira & Feitosa (2019). Figure 20. SEM micrography of Probolomyrmex kelleri (worker A, B, C, D: USNM 00412443; E: USNM 00446592.). A. Habitus (pr = prora; ppd = dorsal protuberance in the posterior region of the first gastral tergite). B. Mandibles (he = hypostomal margin; esm = external surface of basal region of mandible). C. Antenna (ap = antennal pit; lah = long appressed hair; sh = Short hair). D. Metapleural gland. E. Petiole (pil = postero-inferior lobe of petiole; sp = subpetiolar process).

Queen

Oliveira & Feitosa (2019). Figure 22. Probolomyrmex kelleri. (paratype queen - DZUP 549765). A. Habitus. B. head in frontal view. C. dorsal view.

Male

Oliveira & Feitosa (2019). Figure 23. Probolomyrmex kelleri' paratype male - DZUP 549766. A. Habitus. B. head in frontal view. C. dorsal view. D. Wings.

Nomenclature

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

kelleri. Pobolomyrmex kelleri Oliveira & Feitosa, 2019: 81, figs. 20-23 (w.q.m.) VENEZUELA, GUYANA, PERU.
- Type-material: holotype worker, 3 paratype workers, 1 paratype queen, 1 paratype male.
- Type-locality: holotype Venezuela: Lara, Finca Sta Maria, 3.8 km. ESE Barbacoas, 9°49’N, 70°2’W, 26.xii.2005, no. 2978 (J. Lattke); paratypes with same data.
- Type-depositories: DZUP (holotype); DZUP, MIZA, MZSP (paratypes).
- Distribution: Guyana, Peru, Venezuela.

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

Description

Worker

(n=8) HL 0.57–0.64; HW 0.35–0.40; SL 0.35–0.41; WL 0.70–0.78; PL 0.25–.28; PW 0.28–0.34; PH 0.25–0.30; TL 1.96–2.62; CI 56.5–64.5; SI 59.5–64.5; PI 93.5–106.5.

Frontoclypeal shelflike projection and mandibles with hair-bearing tubercles or cylindrical micro-pegs; external surface of mandibular basal margin transversely micro-striate. Tip of apical segment of antennae bearing minute pits. Mesopleuron foveated and micropunctate; metapleuron alveolate and foveated; lateral faces of propodeum foveated and micropunctate; alveoli denser just above metapleural gland orifice; opening of metapleural gland large, with a smooth anterior region, surrounded by rows of hairs. Petiolar node and postero-ventral lobe of petiole with incomplete foveae and micropunctures; subpetiolar process alveolate and latero-ventral region of petiole alveolate. Posterior region of second gastral tergite with transversal rows of deep rounded pits.

Space between mesosomal foveae covered by dense pubescence. Pygidium with dense pubescence and some long and thick hairs.

Head 1.6 times longer than wide. Hypostomal margin curved. Antennal scapes extend to head midlength, distance from scape apex to of head more than two times pedicel length (SI 59.5–64.5). Propodeum emarginated posteriorly on each side by a narrow carina, with teeth at their apexes. Petiole as long as high (PI 93.5 106.5), without teeth; posterior face long, slightly concave and smooth; postero-ventral lobe short and rounded; subpetiolar process with a projection ventrally concave or subrectangular with the posteroventral angle acute, directed downwards or towards the gaster. First gastral segment with prora and a dorsal protuberance on posterior region of tergite, characterized by a gentle elevation of the integument.

Queen

(n=4) HL 0.57–063; HW 0.37–0.40; SL 0.35–0.43; WL 0.78–0.85; PL 0.26–0.30; PH 0.26–0.28; TL 2.59–2.85; CI 62.5–67.5; SI 61–67; PI 93–100.

With the morphological modifications described for Probolomyrmex queens and the diagnostic characters of the workers

Male

(n=1) HL 0.44; HW 0.44; SL 0.26; PL 0.19; PH 0.17; TL 1.98; CI 98; SI 58.3; PI 85.7.

Scapes long, distance from scape apex to of anterior ocellus lesser then pedicel length. Propodeum without lateral carina, teeth absent, lateral surface smooth and shining. Petiole slightly longer than high, apical teeth absent. Anterior face longer then posterior face, apex rounded. Subpetiolar process weakly developed. First gastral segment with weakly developed prora and dorsal protuberance on posterior region of tergite.

Type Material

Holotype: VENEZUELA: Lara: Finca Sta. Maria 3.8km, ESE Barbacoas, 9°49’N 70°2’W, 26.xii.2005, J. Lattke col 2978 (worker) [DZUP, unique specimen identifier DZUP 549763].
Paratype: same data as holotype, except: (1 worker) [DZUP, unique specimen identifier DZUP 549764]; (1 queen) [DZUP, unique specimen identifier DZUP 549765]; (1 male) [DZUP, unique specimen identifier DZUP 549766]; 2978 (1 worker) [MZSP]; 2978 (1 worker) [MIZA].

Etymology

This species is described in honor of Dr. Roberto Keller, prominent ant morphologist whose work has been inspiring old and new generations of myrmecologists.

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.