Adelomyrmex vaderi

This is a large species known from montane forest sites in the cordillera just east of Bogotá. The holotype came from a nest series that contained the only known Adelomyrmex males. (Longino 2012)

Identification
A distinctive feature of A. vaderi is that the postpetiole is long and narrow in dorsal view, longer than wide, and projecting posteriorly over the gaster. In this regard it is similar to Adelomyrmex silvestrii. In contrast to A. silvestrii, the postpetiole is tall, with the posterodorsal projection higher and not closely appressed to the gaster. (Longino 2012)

A. vaderi is one of the largest species in the genus. It can be separated from other species (especially from the closely-related Adelomyrmex myops) by body size, eye size, mesosomal sculpture and postpetiole shape, and from Adelomyrmex grandis by mesosomal profile, sculpture, and size. (Fernández, 2003)

Key to Adelomyrmex of the New World mainland

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia.

Nomenclature

 *  vaderi. Adelomyrmex vaderi Fernández, 2003b: 33, figs. 41-44, 75 (w.q.m.) COLOMBIA.

Worker
Holotype (Paratypes, n=13). HL 0.97 (0.90–0.93) HW 0.89 (0.85–0.89) SL 0.61 (0.54–0.61) EL 0.09 (0.08–0.09) WL 0.96 (0.90–0.97) GL 1.13 (1.06–1.15) TL 3.99 (3.64–3.88) CI 90 (91–98) SI 69 (60–68).

Mandibles with 6 teeth decreasing in size from the apical teeth. Eyes with 22 to 30 facets. Hypostomal tooth broad, low, with rounded apex. Promesonotum convex, metanotal groove distinct. Propodeum sloping with two short spines directed upward, outward and backward. Petiole high, campaniform with anterior side sloping and posterior side more or less convex. Postpetiole high, campaniform, and with posterior face concave. Head and promesonotum coarsely reticulate-rugulose with longitudinal trend in head dorsum and central area of promesonotum dorsum. Propodeal dorsum irregularly rugulated. Space between propodeal spines with curved transverse rugulae. Hairs blackish to dark brown. Body black, sides of mesosoma and petiole dark brown. Gaster, legs and antennae light brown.

Queen
HL 0.98–0.99 HW 0.92–0.94 SL 0.56–0.59 EL 0.19–0.20 WL 1.11–1.13 GL 1.23–1.24 TL 4.24–4.26 CI 92–94 SI 60–64.

Differing from workers in the normal myrmicine queen traits. Three ocelli present, the anterior in fossae. Eyes with more than 120 facets. Wings large (front wing 3.85 mm long). Wings densely and finely hairy.

Male
HL 0.57 HW (including eyes) 0.65 SL 0.52 EL 0.25 WL 0.95 GL 1.1 TL 3.31 CI 114 SI 80.

With the general traits of myrmicine male. Head hemispheric with prominent and globose eyes. Mandibles simple, pointed. Palpal formula (in situ) 2,2. Clypeus medially protuberant, convex. Frontal carinae covering covering only partially antennal receptacles. Eyes with numerous facets (>30 in maximun diameter line). Three prominent spherical ocelli. Scape less curved than in workers, surpassing conspicuously vertexal border. Antennae 13-segmented, flagellomeres increasing in size from scape to apex, without evident club. Propodeal spiracle posterad and laterad. Propodeum without spines. Wings densely hairy, but less than in females. Petiole subcampaniform, with the node evenly meeting in a rounded summit, postpetiole dome-shaped, devoid of ventral transverse carinae. Promesonotum, major areas of sides of thorax and gaster smooth and shining, promesonotum with several punctures. Head, mesonotum, propodeum lateral and dorsal, petiole and postpetiole irregularly rugulated, in anterior head border with transverse trend, as well as propodeal, petiolar and postpetiolar dorsum. Body heavily hairy. Head, mesosomal dorsum, petiole, postpetiole and gaster with conspicuous suberect long hairs, those of petiole and postpetiole more dense and reclined. Antennae heavily covered with short decumbent hairs. In full face view, several long hairs produced outward and forward from clypeal area. Mandibles with long curved hairs produced outward and forward. Numerous short, erect hairs on eyes.

Type Material
Holotype worker: COLOMBIA, Cundinamarca, Medina, Gazaunta river, Cristalina creek, 1750m, 8.iii.1997, F. Escobar leg., deposited in. Paratypes: 9 workers, same data as Holotype, deposited in, , , , , , and ; 3 workers, COLOMBIA: Cundinamarca, Medina, Farallones de Medina, 1800m, 1.vi.96, G. Fagua leg., deposited in IAvH, ICN. 3 Paratype queens, same data as holotype worker. Deposited in IAVH and MZC. 2 paratype males, same data as Holotype, deposited in IAVH.