Wasmannia sulcaticeps

Kusnezov (1952) described the Wasmannia fauna of Argentina, and sulcaticeps and Wasmannia williamsoni were described as having an allopatric distribution. Wasmannia sulcaticeps occurred in more humid environments near Buenos Aires and in the northern provinces of Tucuman, Salta, and Jujuy. Wasmannia williamsoni occurred in the more arid habitats west of Buenos Aires. (Longino & Fernández 2007)

Identification
Wasmannia sulcaticeps and Wasmannia williamsoni are two related species that occur at the far southern limit of the genus, in Argentina. They are both distinguished from other members of the genus by the heavy striate sculpture on the face and by the very small propodeal spiracle. (Longino & Fernández 2007)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina, Paraguay.

Biology
Cuezzo et al. (2015) - In Argentina Wasmannia sulcaticeps was mostly found in mountain forests in northwestern Argentina (Yungas ecoregion), overlapping with Wasmannia auropunctata generally between 400-700 meters of altitude in secondary forests, such as the Parque Nacional Calilegua (Jujuy) and Parque Provincial La Florida (Tucumán). Additional individuals of this species were also found for the first time in secondary forest in the Catamarca province and in lowlands in a secondary gallery forest in the Reserva Natural Iberá, in the Corrientes province.

Nomenclature

 *  sulcaticeps. Wasmannia sulcaticeps Emery, 1894c: 195 (w.) ARGENTINA. Forel, 1914d: 280 (q.m.). Senior synonym of bruchi: Kusnezov, 1952e: 174 (in text); of weiseri: Longino & Fernández, 2007: 281.
 * bruchi. Wasmannia bruchi Santschi, 1919f: 43 (w.) ARGENTINA. Junior synonym of sulcaticeps: Kusnezov, 1952e: 174 (in text).

Worker
Cuezzo et al. (2015) - (n = 12): HL: 0.50-0.60; HW: 0.45-0.53; EL: 0.10-0.13; SL: 0.35-0.45; AD: 0.28-0.33; PSL:0.10; WL: 0.55-0.63; PD: 0.10; PTL: 0.10-0.20; PPTL: 0.13-0.15; PTW: 0.15; PPTW: 0.20-0.23; CI: 0.88-0.90; OI: 0.20-0.22.

Color variable from dark brown to yellowish brown in the workers of the same nest. Area between frontal carinaerugo-reticulatewith some regular carinae (8-10) reaching the frontovertexal margin. Malar space with four well developed longitudinal carinae. Antenna with 11 segments. Scrobe shallow and foveate. The ventral margin of scrobe formed by preocular carina which reaches frontovertexal margin. Clypeus with eight well-developed not bifurcated longitudinal carinae, the four central carinae reach posterior margin of clypeal disc and continue anteriorly. Sculpture between carinae foveate, bothonclypeal disc andfrons. Masticatory margin of mandible with 5 teeth and no denticles, basal margin smooth and without teeth. Vertexal margin weakly concave to straight, with six erect setae curved anteriorly, the two outer hairswith length similar to innermost and located on frontovertexal corner. Compound eye well developed, protruding from lateral margin of headin full face view. Promesonotum with eight longitudinal and irregular carinae. Propodeal spines long and straight, posteriorly directed. Propodeal declivity foveate. Petiole with two pairs of long setae weakly spatulatehairs; anterior margin distinct, forming a curve with the rest of the petiole. Anterior face not separated from dorsum nor defined by an angle. Petiole and postpetiole stronglyfoveate.Petiolelonger than wide in dorsal view; postpetiolewider than long and with rounded corners. Petiolar peduncle shorter than length of petiole in lateral view, with small anteroventral spine.First tergum of gasterfinely striate, with abundant, whitish, long and curved setae,thickenedatits apex.

Queen
Cuezzo et al. (2015) - (n = 1, dealate): HL: 0.63; HW: 0.59; EL: 0.19; WL: 0.80; CI: 0.93; OI: 0.28.

Color and pilosity similar to worker. Head wider behind compound eyes. Scape barely reaches vertexal margin. Frontal carinae separated by 10-12 longitudinal, strong, and very regular striae. Antennal scrobe well developed and punctuate, longitudinally crossed by carina that starts in ventral margin of antennal torulusand almost reaches posterior margin of compound eye. Preocular carina forming the ventral margin of antennal scrobe, this carina runs almost to occipital angle. Compound eye well-developed, bulky. Antennae with 11 segments, terminal club with two antenomeres. Dorsal surface of mandible with longitudinal thin striae. Masticatory margin of mandible with five teeth. Malar space rugo-reticulate. Disc of clypeus longitudinally striate, well developed, similar to striae between frontal carinae. Pronotum poorly developed antero-dorsally, so that scutum in dorsal view encompasses more than half of mesosoma. Humeral angle well developed, angulate, not rounded. Mesonotal dorsumwith more than 20 strong, longitudinal and very regular striae. Axilla well developed, almost triangular and medially continuous by a narrow strip of integument. Scutellum strongly striate. Anapleural sulcus completely separates anepisternum from katepisternum, but sulcus weakly impressed. Anepisternum, katepisternum and metakatepisternum finely striate. Propodeal spine short and thick at base. Propodeal lobe acute. Cinctus 1 and 2 well-developed. Petiolar peduncle about same length as petiolar node in lateral view. Sterno-postpetiolar process shaped as blunt and short spine. Metasoma 3 weakly punctate and covered with abundant and subdecumbent, thin setae.

Male
Cuezzo et al. (2015) - (n = 1): HL: 0.52; HW: 0.47; EL: 0.22; WL: 0.92. Dark brown, with yellowish mandibles, antennae and legs. Head rectangular in full face view. Mandible triangular with five teeth. Antenna with 13 segments, last antennomere of funicle longest. Scape not reaching frontovertexal margin of head. Compound eye well developed, covering half of lateral side of head. Three ocelli well developed; lateral ocellus reaching frontovertexal margin of head. Area between ocelli with 4-5 strongly impressed rugae. Malar space reduced, crossed by two strong longitudinal carinae. Rest of head in full face view punctuate and crossed by longitudinal and thin striae. Clypeal disc with several parallel and longitudinal carinae. Fore wing with three closed cells, plus open radial cell. Pterostigma present. Hind wing with one basal closed cell. Hamuli with 4 hooks. Peduncle short. Petiolar node triangular in profile with blunt apex and no dorsal margin. Abdominal sternum IX (=subgenital plate) medially projecting as triangle and distally rounded. Pygostyle well developed, one segmented. Telomere short and thick. Digitus and cuspis not observed.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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