Azteca diabolica

The five specimens were collected from the rain forest canopy, first with a flight-intercept trap, later by applying a chemical treatment to vegetation. Three gynes were collected by fogging; one from a tree where both Azteca sp.2 chartifex group and Azteca instabilis (Fr. Smith) occurred, the two others from a tree with Azteca sp.2 chartifex group. This suggests that A. diabolica may be a social parasite, in particular of carton-nesting species of the chartifex group. (Guerreo et al. 2010)

Identification
Guerreo et al. (2010) - Azteca diabolica is a member of the Azteca aurita group with a deep and smoothly rounded excavation at the posterior vertex margin extending to the corners that form posteriorly-projecting rounded horns. Mesosoma smooth, shiny and hairless. Propodeal spiracles protruding. Gastral tergum and sternum with hairless, polished surface.

The gyne differs from those of other species in the A. aurita group in being almost hairless, having only sparse, short and decumbent hairs on the clypeus, mandibles and legs. Some species in the aurita group have a strongly pronounced lateral vertex margin, but none is as pronounced as in Azteca diabolica.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Panama.

Castes
Known only from the queen caste.

Nomenclature

 *  diabolica. Azteca diabolica Guerrero, et al., 2010: 56, fig. 6 (q.) PANAMA.

Queen
Holotype: HLA 1.48, HLB 1.56, HW 1.12, AHW 0.72, SL 1.24, EL 0.30, OCW 0.06, CI 76, SI 84, MTSC 0.

Paratypes (N5 2): HLA 1.60–1.62, HLB 1.64–1.74, HW 1.20–1.24, AHW 0.78–0.80, SL 1.34–1.36, EL 0.30–0.32, OCW 0.06, CI 75–77, SI 84–85, MTSC 0.

Head: Palpal formula is 4,3. Dorsal and ventral surfaces of head hairless. Dorsal surface of mandibles mostly smooth and shiny, with fine longitudinal striae near masticatory margin; masticatory margin armed with five teeth and two denticles, with no angle or tooth separating it from basal margin; basal margin slightly serrated; surface of mandibles with scattered, sub-decumbent long hairs. Clypeal plate with sub-decumbent, sparse pilosity; medial clypeal lobe strongly convex and protruding, extending well beyond lateral clypeal lobes. Head almost rectangular, somewhat swollen between ocellar region and compound eye; posterior margin highly angular, horn-like laterally, deeply excavate medially. When laid back, scape reaches prolongations of vertex at apex of posterolateral projection; scape and funiculus provided with abundant, nearly erect pilosity.

Mesosoma: Smooth and shiny, without appressed hairs. Middle and hind tibiae lacking apical spur. Dorsal surface of propodeum shorter than posterior surface; propodeal spiracles protruding.

Metasoma: Petiolar node bluntly triangular, posterior surface straight, twice as long as anterior surface; posteroventral petiolar lobe very low, very shallowly convex, ending posteriorly in a somewhat abrupt shelf. Tergites and sternites hairless, smooth and shiny.

Body reddish brown, surface smooth and reflective.

Type Material
Holotype (gyne): PANAMA, San Lorenzo Forest, IBISCA project, 9°16’47.58’’N, 79°58’29.94’’W, Flight-interception trap in the canopy, 3–13 Ago 2004 (M. Rapp) ; paratypes: 1 gyne, same location, Fogging #FOC3-6C, 13 Oct. 2004 (J. Bail) ; 1 gyne, same location, Fogging FOG-R1-5, 20 Oct. 2003 (J. Schmidl). 2 gynes, same location, Fogging #J-2, 17 Oct. 2003 (J. Schmidl) CPDC,.

Etymology
The name refers to the form of the head of the gyne which suggests popular representations of the Devil.