Leptogenys maya

Identification
Key to Leptogenys of the New World

Lattke (2011) - A member of the wheeleri species group. Head in full-face view widest anterad with slightly bulging oculo-malar margin; hypostomal teeth visible. Mesosomal dorsal margin in lateral view divided into two convexities by well-developed metanotal groove. Node slightly broader than long in dorsal view, widest at mid-length; lateral margin convex, posterior margin straight, anterior margin medially straight, laterally convex.

Distribution
Known from Belize and Mexico (Yucatán Peninsula).

This taxon was described from Mexico.

Biology
The 1985 Quintana Roo series all bear labels associating them with the bromeliad Aechmea bracteata. These ants, collected by A. Dejean, are vouchers of studies he carried out on ants associated with epiphtyes (Dejean et al. 1995; Dejean & Olmsted 1997). In Dejean et al. (1995: 68, table 4) an undescribed species of Leptogenys is mentioned as being found in dry, post fruited ramets of A. bracteata. L. maya would apparently be the species mentioned as Leptogenys n.sp. The pin bearing the holotype has a label placed by the late R. Snelling identifying it as a new species. (Lattke 2011)

Nomenclature

 *  maya. Leptogenys maya Lattke, 2011: 224, fig. 77 (w.q.m.) MEXICO.

This is the largest species of the wheeleri group and one of the largest species of the genus in the Americas. Besides their smaller size, the other wheeleri group members have a fairly continuous dorsal mesosomal margin when seen in lateral perspective, all lacking the deep metanotal groove of L. maya. No other wheeleri group species have visible hypostomal teeth when the head is in full-face view.

Worker
Metrics, holotype (paratypes, n = 5): HL 2.10 (1.95–2.10); HW 2.00 (2.00–2.10); ML 1.60 (1.50– 1.70); EL 0.55 (0.45–0.55); SL 2.70 (2.65–2.75); PW 1.40 (1.35 – 1.45); WL 3.75 (3.60 – 3.80); PH 1.40 (1.35 – 1.45); PL 1.00 (1.00 – 1.15); DPW 1.20 (1.05 – 1.20) mm. CI 0.95 (0.98–1.05); MI 0.80 (0.75–0.85); OI 0.28 (0.21 – 0.27); SI 1.35 (1.26 – 1.38); LPI 1.40 (1.17 – 1.40); DPI 1.20 (0.91 – 1.20).

Head roughly as long as broad in full-face view with widest distance anterad, lateral and posterior margins form diverging arch, ocular malar space with anterior convexity. Anterior clypeal margin with low, inconspicuous lateral lobes; median lobe broadly triangular, bordered by a translucent lamella. Scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by at least half its length, third antennal segment 5 × longer than wide, fourth antennal segment more than half the length of third segment. Eye convex, ocular diameter more than one-third length of lateral cephalic margin in cephalic full-face view. Mandible weakly arched, gradually widens apicad; separated from clypeal margin by at least its basal width, dorsal surface finely striolate; hypostomal teeth small but distinctly visible. Cephalic dorsum densely punctulate, opaque, some arched striae present next to antennal sclerite; clypeus with transverse to oblique striae, striae widest anterad. Cephalic ventral surface with median convexity, convexity as well as anteroventral cephalic margin with diminished sculpturing, shining; hypostomal margin smooth and shining; PF: 4,3.

Mesosoma with dorsal margin in lateral view divided into a broad convexity formed by promesonotum, and sharper convexity formed by propodeum, metanotal groove deeply impressed. Mesopleuron rectangular, anteroventral carina slightly wider anterad than posterad, small depression present between anterior apex of anteroventral carinae and metathoracic spiracle. Mesonotum subquadrate in dorsal view, only slightly wider than long (W/L 0.81). Propleuron densely punctulate with transverse striae medially. Mesometapleural suture well impressed, metapleural-propodeal suture obsolete, propodeal spiracle elongate, facing postero-laterad.

Petiole subrectangular in lateral view, anterior margin straight, anterodorsal margin slightly overhanging its base, dorsal margin convex, posterior margin straight to slightly concave. Node slightly broader than long in dorsal view, widest at mid-length; lateral margin convex, posterior margin straight, anterior margin medially straight, laterally convex. Node with convex lateral face in vertical section; posterior face slightly concave. Body densely punctulate and opaque, punctulae thin away along posterior tergite of abdominal segment IV, and posterior tergites; pygidium with median longitudinal smooth and shining strip; bulla smoothened and shining; legs punctulae and shining. Body with short appressed pubescence and no standing hairs, save sporadic hairs on ventral body surface. Body dark grey; clypeus, mandibles, antennae, gastral apex, and legs dark brown.

Queen
Metrics: HL 1.85; HW 1.85; ML 1.40; EL 0.50; SL 2.40; PW 1.30; WL 3.35; PH 1.50; PL 1.00; DPW 1.10 mm. CI 1.00; MI 0.76; OI 0.27; SI 1.30; LPI 1.50; DPI 1.10. Queen differences from the worker are the usual.

Male
Metrics: HL 1.10; HW 1.40; ML 0.30; EL 0.60; SL 0.35; PW 1.20; WL 3.10; PH 0.85; PL 0.60; DPW 0.65 mm. CI 1.27; MI 0.21; OI 0.43; SI 0.25; LPI 1.42; DPI 1.08. Clypeus in cephalic full-face view with prominent median longitudinal blunt ridge, laterally falling back; mostly punctate. Punctae on head sparsely distributed between ocelli and antenna, median ocellus bordered by anterior smooth and shining strip. Width of median ocellus more than distance between each posterior ocellus. Mesosoma mostly punctate and shining. Pronotum in lateral view forms a posterodorsal angle, from which the convex scutum abruptly emerges, gaster mostly smooth and shining with blue iridescence. Pronotum in oblique dorsal view with posterior strip of ventrally sloped cuticle that recedes to meet anterior margin of scutum.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Mexico, Quintana Roo, Reserva Sian Ka’an, 10.v.1985, A. Dejean, One worker deposited in the. – Paratypes. Same series as holotype: 9w, 2m deposited in the LACM.

Etymology
The species name alludes to the Mayan people, as this species is found in the same land once occupied by the Mayan Empire.