Cephalotes jamaicensis

Specimens have been collected from a nest in dead wood from secondary scrub habitat.

Identification
A member of the pallens clade characterised by the following apomorphies: in the worker the propodeum with a pair of narrow, membranaceous, lateral expansions, in the soldier by the head disc with contiguous foveae, by the hind femora with superficial carina, and by the head slightly broader than long. Workers resemble resemble Cephalotes varians in the propodeal and head shapes the large workers of varians from Yateras and Cienfuegos (Cuba). Small differences in microsculpture and propodeal morphology (see description below) may be regarded as sufficient to separate the two species. Soldier differs from varians soldiers by having the foveae of the head disc larger and contiguous on the whole disc (more spaced and absent on the border of the disc in varians). In addition, each fovea bears a subdecumbent or decumbent hair slightly longer than in varians. Other characters separating Cephalotes jamaicensis from varians in the soldier caste are the propodeal and pedicellar spines much larger in jamaicensis. (de Andrade and Baroni Urbani 1999)

Key to Cephalotes Workers

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Dominican Republic, Greater Antilles, Jamaica.

Nomenclature

 *  jamaicensis. Cryptocerus (Cyathocephalus) varians var. jamaicensis Forel, 1922: 97 (w.) JAMAICA. De Andrade & Baroni Urbani, 1999: 467 (s.). Combination in Cephalotes: De Andrade & Baroni Urbani, 1999: 465. Junior synonym of varians: Kempf, 1958a: 155. Revived from synonymy and raised to species: De Andrade & Baroni Urbani, 1999: 465.

Worker
de Andrade and Baroni Urbani (1999) - Differing from Cephalotes varians in the following: propodeal sides with a pair of broader membranaceous expansions slightly convex and gently converging posteriorly. Gaster with a pair of anterolateral membranaceous expansions of different thickness, continuing after the stigma as a carina.

Sculpture. Foveae on the head dorsum more superficial than in varians, shallower on the frontal carinae. First gastral tergite with denser and deeper foveae more impressed on the anterior half.

Pilosity. As in varians except for the gaster where the hairs arc more appressed.

Colour. Dark brown to black with slightly lighter legs.

Measurements (in mm) and indices: TL 4.56-4.96; HL 1.08-1.14; HW 1.28-1.34; EL 0.27-0.30; PW 1.06-1.16; PeW 0.65-0.72; PpW 0.61-0.64; HBaL 0.35-0.38; HBaW 0.12-0.13; CI 116.1-118.5; PI 115.5-120.7; PPeI 155.6-173.1; PPpI 173.8-196.6; HBaI 34.2-35.1.

Soldier
de Andrade and Baroni Urbani (1999) - Differing from varians in the following: head disc slightly broader than long, almost round. Floor of the disc more convex medially. Promesonotal suture less impressed. Sides of the basal face of the propodeum with a pair of small, triangular teeth followed by a pair of long, thick teeth strongly curved up and forwards. Declivous face of the propodeum narrowing posteriorly and with strongly carinate border.

Pedicel with well developed spines.

Gaster with a pair of strongly protruding anterior lobes.

Sculpture. Head dorsum minutely punctate, superficially shining and completely covered with large, dense, subhexagonal foveae contiguous each other. Posterior sides of the head with foveae similar to those on the head dorsum; the foveae less regular and smaller on the anterior sides of the head. Ventral part of the head reticulate, opaque and with small, slightly irregular foveae separate by short, irregular rugosities on the posterior sides and on the anterior half. Anterior third of the first gastral tergite covered by deep, oval foveae; the foveae more superficial on the remaining tergites and sternites.

Pilosity. Hairs arising from the foveae of the disc subdecumbent to decumbent and longer than in varians.

Colour. Black with slightly lighter legs.

Measurements (in mm) and indices: TL 6.95; HL 1.84; HW 1.90; EL 0.36; PW 1.78; PeW 0.72; PpW 0.72; HBaL 0.38; HBaW 0.15; CI 103.3; PI 106.7; PPeI 247.2; PPpI 247.2; HBaI 39.5.

Type Material
de Andrade and Baroni Urbani (1999) - Worker. Type locality: Kingston (Jamaica). Type material: 2 syntype workers in labelled: "Kingston, Jard. bot. (Forel), Cryptocerus (Cyathocephalus) varians Sm. v. jamaicensis, worker, type, For., Cr. (Cy) v. jamaicensis For.", examined.