Oxyepoecus longicephalus

O. longicephalus was recorded in only one locality at south Brazil, and one at southern Brasil, geographically separated.

Identification
Albuquerque and Brandao (2004) - The exclusive character of the workers of O. longicephalus is mainly the proportion between the head length and head width (very elongate, low c.i.); also the irregularly reticulate sculpture over the body (visible only at magnifications over 80 X).

Key to Oxyepoecus species

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  longicephalus. Oxyepoecus longicephalus Albuquerque & Brandão, 2004: 69, figs. 4a-c (w.) BRAZIL.

Worker
Holotype and paratype within brackets t.l.= 3.00 (3.06); h.l.= 0.72 (0.72); h.w.= 0.48 (0.50); s.l.= 0.42 (0.46); m.l.e.= 0.08 (0.12); m.w.pr.= 0.42 (0.45); a.l.= 0.84 (0.84); h.f.l.= 0.41 (0.45); m.w.p.= 0.18 (0.22); m.w.pp.= 0. 30 (0. 30); c.i. 66 (69). Color chestnut brown to dark brown. Integument smooth and shining, with the following exceptions: frontal carinae longitudinally costulate, prolonged posteriorly, surpassing the level of the superior orbit of the compound eyes; genae with well marked longitudinal rugae that do not reach superiorly the inferior orbit of compound eyes but reach inferiorly the mandibular insertion; pronotum with some irregular and superficial rugae; the neck, the mesopleuron (anepisternum and katepisternum), the metapleuron and the propodeum almost entirely covered by irregularly reticulate sculpture, except around the propodeal spiracle, which is smooth; the inferior region of the metapleuron with two longitudinal and well marked costulae that prolong over the metapleural gland bulla; superior face of the petiole peduncle and lateral face of the petiole also with the irregularly reticulate sculpture; the superior and lateral face of the postpetiole with some irregular rugae that give a rough aspect. Hairs abundant, short and decumbent, irregularly distributed on cephalic disc; scarce, long, suberect and relatively curved forwards on pronotum; metapleuron and mesopleuron with scarce and short hairs; propodeum, petiolar node, postpetiole, and gaster with some long and erect hairs, somewhat backwards oriented.

Head. Mandibles elongated with a broad and relatively shallow diastema between the basal and subbasal tooth. Anterior teeth of clypeus with small, blunt and lobe-like lateral denticles. Frontal carinae relatively short, subparallel, reaching the level of the inferior orbit of the compound eyes, the maximum width between their outer edges less than a fifth of the head width. Compound eyes small, with about 3-5 facets r.g.d.; total number of ommatidia about 8. Antennal scape failing to reach the occipital corner by a distance larger than the maximum thickness of the scape. Funicular segment I as long as II-IV combined, segments II-VII distinctly broader than long, VIII and IX as long as broad.

Mesosoma. Promesonotum immarginate in front and laterally; shoulders marked, but without a defined angle. Metanotal groove perceptible by a break in the profile. Dorsal face of the propodeum posteriorly with two acute teeth. Declivous face laterally marginate and weakly carinate.

Petiole node high and rounded at superior face, antero-posteriorly compressed but not scale-like, about 2/3 as broad as postpetiole; subpetiolar process as a sagital and undulated keel anteriorly ending in a prominent tooth-shaped plate. The postpetiole broad, in a scale like fashion, the level of the superior face lower than the petiole node; subpostpetiolar process small, almost imperceptible, extremely shallow.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Brasil: Rio Grande do Sul: Itatí 29°30’S, 50°10’W, 28.v.1997, J. Ketterl [col.], CPCN Pró-Mata, deposited in. Paratype: workers. Brasil: Rio Grande do Sul: Itatí 29°30’S 50°10’W, 29.v.1997, J. Ketterl [col.], CPCN Pró-Mata deposited in MZSP. São Paulo: Cunha 23°15’S, 45°00’W, 21-22.iv.2001, A.A. Tavares, R.R. Silva cols, P.E. Serra do Mar, Winkler, deposited in MZSP.

Etymology
The shape of the head (f.f.v.) where the length is more developed than the width.