Acropyga hirsutula

LaPolla (2004) - The specimens from Peru are alates (males and queens) marked as being collected at lights. A nest in Equador was discovered under a rock along the bank of a river. The nest was large, with many tunnels and indistinct chambers, and was found to contain multiple dealate queens (Alex Wild, pers. comm.).

Identification
From Lapolla (2004):

Diagnosis - Worker: 11 segmented antennae; head longer than broad; mandible with at least 4 teeth; when with 4 teeth a short diastema separates basal tooth from others; when with 5 teeth, 4th tooth smaller than others; clypeus with a dense covering of hairs. Queen: as in worker. Male: 12 segmented; parameres rectangular shaped covered in a thick layer of erect hairs; penis valve with prominent, roughly square, ventral extension, forming a long curve from tip. Compare with Acropyga decedens and Acropyga dubitata.

The queens of this species are quite distinctive, with an extremely hairy clypeus and gaster. The males are also of great interest since their penis valves have a dorsal notch, only observed in one other species, Acropyga dubitata, from Hispaniola. The elongated, square-shaped ventral extension and heavy contours of the surface of the penis valves also suggest a close relationship with A. dubitata.

Key to New World Acropyga Workers / Queens / Males

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Ecuador, Peru.

A. hirsutula is known from two localities: one in Ecuador and one in Peru.

Nomenclature

 *  hirsutula. Acropyga hirsutula LaPolla, 2004a: 52, figs. 38, 45 (q.m.) PERU.

Worker
Head: yellow; posterior margin slightly concave; covered in a thick layer of appressed hairs, with scattered suberect to erect hairs; 11 segmented, incrassate antennae; scape surpasses posterior margin by about the length of the pedicel; clypeus broad, convex medially, covered in a thick layer of appressed to erect hairs; mandible with 4-5 teeth; basal tooth offset by a diastema when with only 4 teeth, or with a smaller tooth present when with 5 teeth; gap exists between anterior clypeal margin and inner mandibular margin. Mesosoma: yellow, in lateral view pronotum rises steeply toward mesonotum; posteriorly pronotum with many erect hairs; mesonotum covered in a thick layer of appressed hairs, with many scattered erect hairs; mesonotum higher than propodeum; metanotal area distinct, with one or two sulci present; propodeum rounded with thick layer of appressed hairs, and scattered erect hairs; declivity steep. Gaster: petiole thick and erect; gaster yellow; covered in a thick layer of appressed hairs, with many erect hairs throughout.

Measurements (n=2): TL: 2.04-2.07; HW: 0.477-0.482; HL: 0.523-0.543; SL: 0.381-0.41; ML: 0.553-0.568; CI: 88.77-91.20; SI: 79.05-85.95.

Queen
As in worker with modifications expected for caste.

Measurements (n=2): TL: 2.89-2.96; HW: 0.609-0.629; HL: 0.653-0.655; SL: 0.588-0.591; ML: 0.929-1.21; CI: 93-96.3; SI: 94-98.1.

Male
Head: brown, slightly paler on clypeus, mandible and antennae, darker at apex around 3 prominent ocelli; head longer than broad; covered in layer of thick appressed hairs, becoming suberect to erect along posterior margin; posterior margin entire; eyes large, breaking outline of head when in full frontal view; 12 segmented, slightly incrassate antennae; apical segment about as long as preceding 2 segments; scape surpasses posterior margin by about the length of the first 2 funicular segments; clypeus narrow, convex medially, covered in a thick layer of appressed to erect hairs; mandible with 3 indistinct teeth, the basal tooth slightly offset from masticatory margin. Mesosoma: brownish-yellow; pronotum short and collar-like, overarched by rounded mesonotum; pronotum covered in thick layer of appressed to erect hairs; mesonotum broad and flat, covered in thick layer of appressed to erect hairs; propodeum gently rounded; declivity not distinct from propodeum. Gaster: petiole thick and erect; gaster brownish-yellow; covered in thick layer of appressed hairs, with scattered erect hairs throughout. Genitalia: in lateral view parameres roughly rectangular, covered in thick layer of erect hairs; cuspi cylindrical, with short, peg-like teeth at apices; digiti roughly anvil-shaped apically, with ventral portion elongated to a sharp point; cuspi and digiti meet dorsally, forming a roughly oval-shaped space between them; penis valves in dorsal view not reaching caudal ends of parameres; in ventral view, penis valve ventral extension prominent.

Measurements (n=2): TL: 2.08-2.16; HW: 0.414-0.456; HL: 0.45-0.487; SL: 0.406-0.412; ML: 0.714-0.779; GL: 0.816-1; CI: 92-93.93; SI: 90.4-98.1.

Type Material
Holotype queen, PERU: Tingo Maria and vicinity (W.L. Brown and W. Sherbrooke) (MCZC); 1 paratype queen, 5 paratype males, same locality as holotype (MCZC); 4 paratype workers, 4 paratype males, ECUADOR: Napo: Carlos 1. Arosemena Tola, 500 m, 010 09' S, 0770 53' W (A.L. Wild) (#AW2298) (JSLC) (MCZC). The holotype is labeled JSL TYPE # 104.

Etymology
The specific epithet hirsutula is Latin for hairy or bristly, in reference to the abundant pilosity of this species, especially on the clypeus and gaster.