Leptogenys pittieri

Identification
Key to Leptogenys of the New World

A member of the famelica species group. Eye broadly convex, occupies less than one-fourth of lateral cephalic margin, situated laterally; mandible masticatory margin edentate except for single preapical denticle; petiole subquadrate in lateral view, anterior margin half the height of posterior margin; dorsal margin convex; node subquadrate in dorsal view, slightly longer than wide. (Lattke 2011)

Distribution
This taxon is known from northern Venezuela.

Castes
Male unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  pittieri. Leptogenys pittieri Lattke, 2011: 171, fig. 27 (w.q.) VENEZUELA.

This species has the smallest eyes of the group with EL less than OMD, and a relatively robust body and petiolar node compared with other famelica group members. One specimen has a mite latched on the clypeus next to an antenna. A specimen in the collection from the Serranía de Chiribiquete National Park in Caquetá, Colombia has an even more subquadrate petiolar node than L. pittieri, and a more slender mesosoma, the EL is greater than OMD, and has broader median clypeal lobe. Additionally several isolated specimens (from Putumayo, Colombia, and Amazonas, Brazil) that seem to represent other species belonging to this group are deposited in IAVH, and, but given the uncertainty with species determination concerning these specimens, it is best to wait until additional material can be gathered for another bout with this species group. All were labeled as Leptogenys famelica gp.

Worker
Metrics, holotype (paratypes, n = 5): HL 1.31 (1.18-1.31); HW 0.81 (0.64-0.81); ML 0.64 (0.57-0.64); EL 0.24 (0.17-0.20); SL 1.42 (1.35-1.48); PW 0.81 (0.74-0.78); WL 2.19 (2.09-2.19); PH 0.84 (0.74-0.84); PL 0.67 (0.61-0.67); DPW 0.61 (0.54-0.57) mm. CI 0.62 (0.51-0.69); MI 0.79 (0.74-1.00); OI 0.29 (0.21-0.32); SI 1.75 (1.67-2.26); LPI 1.25 (1.10-1.25); DPI 0.90 (0.80-0.89).

Head elongate in full-face view, wider anterad than posterad; lateral cephalic margin broadly convex; posterior cephalic margin convex; median clypeal process broadly triangular, laminate, apex pointed; lateral clypeal process narrow, joining smoothly with base of median process. Eye broadly convex, occupies less than one-fourth of lateral cephalic margin, situated laterally, anterad of mid-length of lateral cephalic margin. Cephalic dorsum mostly smooth and shining with abundant punctulae, and sparse piligerous punctae; clypeus mostly with oblique to longitudinal striae, smooth medially and posterolaterally close to tentorial pit, clypeus divided anterolaterally by fine straight sulcus defining a smooth strip from posterad of mandibular insertion to lateral clypeal lobe; PF: 4,3.

Longitudinal sulcus extends posterad from between frontal carinae to beyond one-half eye height; head ventral surface smooth and shining with scattered punctae. Scape densely punctulae, with abundant subdecumbent pilosity and scattered subdecumbent to suberect hairs, scape extends beyond posterior cephalic margin by under half its length; third antennal segment over 2 x longer than apical width, second antennal segment over half length of third segment; fourth antennal segment over three-fourths length of third segment, funicular segments subcylindrical. Mandible elongate, triangular, masticatory margin concave, edentate except for single pre-apical denticle, length of masticatory margin almost same as basal margin; dorsal mandibular surface smooth with scattered punctae.

Mesosoma with broad metanotal groove separating promesonotal margin in lateral view from broadly convex dorsal propodeal margin; mesosomal sculpture mostly smooth and shining with scattered piligerous punctae. Mesometapleural suture scrobiculate, well impressed along mesopleuron; metapleural-propodeal suture lacking; propodeal spiracle not elevated, broadly oval, oriented laterally with slight posterior angle; bulla of metathoracic spiracle convex; mesopleuron with weak striae-rugulae posteroventrad, anteroventral carina shaped as rounded triangular to subquadrate lobe; mesosternum mostly smooth; metapleuron with weak transverse striae posteroventrad; declivitous propodeal face smooth anterad, transversely striate posterad; propodeum rounded, without lateral lobe or tooth; mesonotum broader than long in dorsal view, anterior margin convex; metanotal groove straight, smooth.

Petiole subquadrate in lateral view, anterior margin half the height of posterior margin, dorsal margin convex, node highest posterad, posterior margin weakly sinuous. Subpetiolar process subquadrate in lateral view. Node subquadrate in dorsal view, slightly longer than wide, anterior margin convex; lateral margin broadly convex, posterior margin weakly convex. Node smooth and shining, posterior face not sharply separated from lateral face. Anterodorsal postpetiolar margin convex in lateral view; gaster with scattered punctulae, constriction between abdominal segments III and IV weak; procoxae smooth and shining in lateral view. Mesosoma mostly with no pilosity, only scattered standing to suberect hairs; decumbent to appressed pilosity present on cephalic dorsum and legs. Head, mesosoma, node and most of gaster black to dark brown; antenna, mandibles, clypeus, legs, and apex of gaster ferruginous to ferruginous brown. Apex of pro- and metatibia without setae; mesotibial apex with single external seta.

Queen
Metrics (n = 2): HL 1.31, 1.28; HW 0.81, 0.84; ML 0.57, 0.57; EL 0.20, 0.20; SL 1.45, 1.45; PW 0.74, 0.74; WL 2.09, 2.06; PH 0.74, 0.74; PL 0.57, 0.54; DPW 0.54, 0.57 mm. CI 0.62, 0.66; MI 0.71, 0.68; OI 0.25, 0.24; SI 1.79, 1.72; LPI 1.29, 1.38; DPI 0.94, 1.06. The queen is very much like the worker except for the usual differences.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Venezuela, [Aragua], Rancho Grande, 1100 m, 23. – 27.vii.1971, W.L. & D.E. Brown Jr., 1w deposited in. – Paratypes. 5 workers and 2 queens with same data as holotype deposited in MCZC.

The type locality, Rancho Grande, is located at 10°21′ N 67°41′ W.

The holotype is the top specimen on a pin with two point-mounted ants, the point has been partially stained red.