Holcoponera latistriata

There are no data on the biology of this species, since there is no additional information associated with the labels.

Identification
Camacho et al. (2020) - Medium size (TL 3.75−4.75). Scape surpassing the vertex margin by at least two times the width of the scape apex. Vertex margin straight. Compact mesosoma, with a slight metanotal impression; mesonotal dorsum not higher than propodeal dorsum in lateral view. Propodeal spiracle located directly on the declivitous face of propodeum margin. Mesosoma covered by wide costulae, at least 0.03 mm wide. Five longitudinal costulae on the dorsal surface of mesosoma. Petiolar node posteriorly inclined.

The width and number of costulae on mesosoma and the propodeal spiracle positioned at the lateral margins of the propodeum are enough to distinguish Holcoponera latistriata from any other of its closely related species. The species is very similar to Holcoponera strigata, a commonly collected species of wet montane transandean forests, that occurs throughout Central America, from Mexico to Colombia.

Holcoponera latistriata differs from H. strigata by its flat vertex margin and propodeum dorsum not depressed in relation to mesonotal dorsum. Aside from these differences and to the great geographic distance between the records of both forms, phylogenomic analysis revealed that H. latistriata represents a distinct lineage within Holcoponera, not closely related to H. strigata (Camacho et al., in prep).

Distribution
As of 2020 all known collections are from the coastal region of Bahia, Brazil.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Nomenclature

 * . Gnamptogenys latistriata Camacho, et al. 2020: 465, fig. 18 (w.) BRAZIL (Bahia).
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 7 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Brazil: Bahia, Ilhéus/Repartimento, 9.viii.1999 (J.R.M. Santos); paratypes: 2 workers with same data, 3 workers Brazil: São José da Vitória, 15°34’2’’S, 39°20’39’’W, 22.v.2000 (J.R.M. Santos), 2 workers Brazil: São José de Buerarema, 15°03’06’’S, 39°18’48’’W, 14.ix.2000 (J.R.M. Santos).
 * Type-depositories: CPDC (holotype); CPDC, DZUP, MZSP (paratypes).
 * Combination in Holcoponera: Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 11.
 * Status as species: Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 11.
 * Distribution: Brazil.

Worker
Worker: HL 0.86−1.05; HW 0.69−0.85; ML 0.39−0.51; SL 0.80−1.05; EL 0.13−0.19; WL 1.15−1.44; PL 0.30−0.46; GL 1.03−1.29; TL 3.75−4.75; CI 79.71−82.86; SI 114.04−123.03; OI 16.05−22.06 (n=8).

Reddish to reddish-brown, with lighter appendages, coppery. Body predominantly covered by thin, long and medium, erect and suberect hairs. Scape covered by many decumbent hairs and some medium suberect hairs.

Mandible striated on its dorsal face. Head dorsum covered with long, slightly irregular longitudinal costulae, semiparallel from the anterior margin of clypeus to the occipital margin of the head; head costulae wider than in other species of the genus, at least 0.03 mm wide; wide intervals between costulae, at least 0.0125mm. Mesosoma glossy and completely covered by wide costulae with a width ranging from 0.03 to 0.06 mm and slightly irregular margins. Pronotum with transverse costulae anteriorly and subparallel costulae on the dorsal surface. Dorsal surface of mesonotum, metanotum and propodeum with semiparallel and longitudinal costulae. Declivitous face of propodeum with longitudinal costulae throughout its length. Coxae always covered by transverse costulae; on procoxae, costulae not as wide as on mesosoma and head. Petiole with sculpture similar to mesosoma, very wide, concentric in dorsal view. Segments I and II of gaster entirely covered by longitudinal costulae, not as wide as the rest of the body. First gastral segment without transverse costulae on anterior face. Mandible triangular. Anterior margin of clypeus strongly convex, giving it a rounded shape in frontal view. Clypeal lamella prominent, translucent and extending across the entire width of the anterior margin. Lateral margins of the head straight and subparallel. Antennal scape narrow, slightly wider apically, surpassing vertex margin by about one fifth of its length. Well-developed compound eyes, rounded and convex, located just behind the anterior half of the head in frontal view and with about seven ommatidia at larger diameter. Vertex margin straight; occipital corners prominent and rounded in lateral view.

Mesosoma compact, with a slight metanotal impression, but with mesonotal dorsum at the same level as propodeal dorsum in lateral view. Propodeal spiracle elevated above the sculpture, with very narrow opening; propodeal spiracle located directly on the margin of declivitous face of propodeum. Propodeum without spines or projections. Metacoxa with conspicuous spine. In lateral view, posterior margin of petiole slightly concave; dorsal margin of petiole slightly convex; petiole not pedunculated. Subpetiolar process predominantly opaque, subquadrate and large, occupying nearly half of ventral surface of the petiole; subpetiolar process with a fenestra next to its posterior limit. Prora very prominent, V-shaped; its central angle with a keel; angled lateral margins in ventral view.

Type Material



 * Paratypes: BRAZIL: Bahia: Ilhéus / Repartimento, 09.viii.1999, Santos, J.R.M. col. (2 workers) ; São José da Vitória, 15°34 2 S, 39°20 39  W, 22.v.2000, Santos, J.R.M col. (3 workers) ; São José de Buerarema, 15°03 06  S, 39°18 48  W, 14.ix.2000, Santos, J.R.M. col. (2 workers) (, DZUP549799).

Etymology
From Latin: latus=wide and striatus=striated, referring to the wide costulae on the dorsal surface of the mesosoma. The species name is a feminine adjective in the nominative singular.