Pseudomyrmex kuenckeli

An uncommon species with a large range.

Worker
A member of the P. viduus group, easily recognized by the shiny broad head (CI 1.12), short eyes (REL 0.46), flattened mesosoma, blocky petiole, and abundant pilosity (Ward 1993).

Distribution
Mexico to Argentina and Brazil.

This taxon was described from Costa Rica.

Biology
P. kuenckeli appears to have a preference for nesting in large dead branches, in somewhat open or seasonally dry forest. Its association with ant acacias is sporadic at best and based upon two records from Costa Rica: Emery (1891:168) reported a single specimen collected by Alfaro from a swollen-thorn acacia, and Menozzi (1927b) recorded a collection by H. Schmidt from Acacia "spadicigera" (probably a misidentification of A. collinsii) near San Jose. (Ward 1993)

Nomenclature

 *  kuenckeli. Pseudomyrma kuenckeli Emery, 1890b: 62, pl. 6, fig. 5 (w.q.) COSTA RICA. [Also described as new by Emery, 1894k: 51.] Combination in Pseudomyrmex: Kusnezov, 1953e: 214. Senior synonym of bierigi, crenulata, dichroa: Kempf, 1961a: 402. See also: Ward, 1993: 158; Ward, 1999b: 493.
 * dichroa. Pseudomyrma kuenckeli var. dichroa Forel, 1904c: 41 (w.) COLOMBIA. Junior synonym of kuenckeli: Kempf, 1961a: 402.
 * bierigi. Pseudomyrma kuenckeli var. bierigi Santschi, 1932e: 412 (w.) PANAMA. Junior synonym of kuenckeli: Kempf, 1961a: 402.
 * crenulata. Pseudomyrma crenulata Enzmann, E.V. 1944: 84, pl. 2, fig. 22 (w.) MEXICO. Junior synonym of kuenckeli: Kempf, 1961a: 402.

Type Material
Pseudomyrma kuenckeli var. dichroa Forel 1904:41. Syntype workers, Dibulla, Colombia (A. Forel) [Examined].

Pseudomyrma kuenckeli var. bierigi Santschi 1932:412. Holotype worker, Juan Diaz, Panama (A. Bierig) (NHMB) [Examined].

Pseudomyrma crenulata Enzmann 1945:84. Holotype worker, "Guernavaca", Mexico (not in MCZC) [Not examined; but other P. kuenckeli workers in the MCZC from Cuernavaca, Mexico (Wheeler) evidently represent the source series].