Leptogenys vogeli

Identification
Key to Leptogenys of the New World

Lattke (2011) - A member of the crudelis species group. Head subrectangular in full-face view, slightly wider anterad than posterad; eye weakly convex, placed slightly dorsad from lateral margin, ocular mid-distance just anterad of mid-length of lateral cephalic margin, eye occupies one-third of lateral cephalic margin; second antennal segment one-half the length of third segment; node elongate and cuneiform in dorsal view.

Borgmeier (1933: 226) compares L. vogeli with L. anacleti, a junior synonym of Leptogenys luederwaldti, but L. vogeli is very similar to Leptogenys gaigei. L. vogeli principally differs from L. gaigei in the more elongate head, and lack of the transparent cuticular lobe next to the strigil on the protibial apex. Additionally, the compound eye in L. vogeli is broadly convex, not as flattened as in L. gaigei. The metanotal groove as well as the constriction between abdominal segments III and IV is more impressed than in L. gaigei. It usually has a more convex promesonotal margin when viewed laterally but this can vary as well as the degree of development of the propodeal lobes.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Castes
Queen, male. Unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  vogeli. Leptogenys (Lobopelta) vogeli Borgmeier, 1933b: 226 (w.) BRAZIL. See also: Lattke, 2011: 154.

Worker
Lattke (2011) - Two type specimens were examined in São Paulo, one lacks both foretibia, but the other is complete, save one antenna, and the gaster is separated from the rest of the body but firmly glued to the mounting cardstock. The two specimens used for the present description were unfortunately somewhat caked with dirt, partially obscuring at least some fine details such as setae, pilosity, and iridescence.

Metrics (n = 2): HL 1.29-1.32; HW 0.78-0.83; ML 0.58-0.61; EL 0.28-0.30; SL 0.96-0.96; PW 0.73-0.76; WL 2.07-2.23; PH 0.61-0.68; PL 0.78-0.81; DPW 0.43-0.46 mm. CI 0.61-0.63; MI 0.73-0.74; OI 0.35-0.36; SI 1.15-1.23; LPI 0.75-0.87; DPI 0.53-0.58.

Head subrectangular in full-face view, slightly wider anterad than posterad; posterior margin straight to weakly concave; lateral margin broadly convex; median lobe with blunt apex; lateral lobe not projecting anterad. Eye weakly convex, placed slightly dorsad from lateral margin, ocular mid-distance just anterad of mid-length of lateral cephalic margin, eye occupies one-third of lateral cephalic margin. Scape surpasses posterior cephalic margin by distance more than one-third its length, scape thickest at basal third, thinner apically; mostly smooth and shining with piligerous punctulae. Second antennal segment one-half the length of third segment, length of fourth segment over half that of third; funicular segments subcylindrical. Cephalic dorsum mostly smooth and shining with sparse to dense piligerous punctulae; clypeus with low striae. Cephalic ventral surface mostly smooth and shining. Mandible shuts tight against clypeus, mandible of uniform width, basal margin sinuate, masticatory border edentate, separated from basal margin by blunt angle, dorsum mostly smooth and shining, basal groove strongly impressed.

Mesosoma with promesonotum forming broad convexity in lateral view, slightly higher than broadly convex dorsal propodeal margin; metanotal groove distinctly impressed, propodeal declivity with triangular lobe at spiracular height, lobe usually jagged on dorsal margin due to transverse striae. Pronotum smooth and shining with sparse piligerous punctae; ventral sulcus weakly impressed; mesosomal sides mostly smooth and shining, some transverse striae present along ventral margin of mesometapleura. Mesopleuron rectangular; mesometapleural suture broad, weakly scrobiculate; metapleural-propodeal suture absent, propodeal spiracle oval and facing laterad; metathoracic spiracle crescent shaped, spiracular prominence flattened to slightly convex, oval to elliptical. Mesonotum wider than long in dorsal view, posterior margin anteriorly convex; propodeal declivity with transverse strigae, median area with broad transverse concavity. Posterior mesosoma widest just anterad of propodeal spiracle in oblique dorsal view, becoming narrower towards metathoracic spiracles.

Petiole in lateral view triangular with convex antero-dorsal margin and a vertical to weakly convex posterior margin, smooth and shining; node elongate and cuneiform in dorsal view with anterior margin less than half as wide as posterior margin, lateral margin broadly concave. Third abdominal segment with convex anterodorsal margin in lateral view; constriction between abdominal segments III and IV well developed; gaster smooth and shining with sparse piligerous punctulae; pygidial dorsal margin broadly convex in lateral view. Procoxa mostly smooth and shining in lateral view, with sparse punctulae. Scape, mandible, legs, and gastral apex dark brown; funiculus ferruginous brown.

Type Material
Lattke (2011) - Syntype workers: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Petropolis, i.1930 (M. Vogel) [examined].

Additional References

 * Lattke, J.E. 2011. Revision of the New World species of the genus Leptogenys Roger (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny 69:127-264.