Solenopsis leptanilloides

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
A New World thief ant that is a member of the pygmaea species complex.

Pacheco and Mackay (2013) – Worker This is a very small concolorous pale yellow species. The head is elongate with coarse punctures. The lateral clypeal teeth are angular and the extralateral teeth are absent. The clypeal carinae are nearly absent in this species. The notopropodeal suture is weakly depressed. The postpetiole is oval-shaped when viewed dorsally. Solenopsis leptanilloides could be confused with Solenopsis pygmaea (North America) but can be distinguished by its more elongate head. Additionally S. pygmaea has more developed, sharp lateral clypeal teeth that extend past the anterior clypeal margin, which is easily distinguished from the short, angular clypeal teeth with S. leptanilloides.

Solenopsis leptanilloides may be confused with Solenopsis westwoodi (southern South America), but can be distinguished as it is pale yellow, not medium dark brown as S. westwoodi. Moreover, although S. westwoodi has coarse cephalic punctures, they are scattered and smooth and shiny between, compared to the numerous punctures present in S. leptanilloides. Solenopsis leptanilloides is also similar to Solenopsis dysderces as both species have noticeably elongate heads. Close comparison reveals that S. dysderces has a larger head, in length, width and when measured from the dorsal to ventral surface. Additionally, S. leptanilloides has a noticeably slender body compared to the more robust S. dysderces. Solenopsis dysderces is only known from the mountains of Chile, while S. leptanilloides is found in northeastern Argentina.

Distribution
Santa Fe, Rosario, Argentina.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  leptanilloides. Solenopsis (Diplorhoptrum) leptanilloides Santschi, 1925e: 159, fig. 4 (w.) ARGENTINA. See also: Pall & Quirán, 2009: 381.

Worker
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=6). TL 0.960-l.20 (l.06); HL 0.312-0.360 (0.335); HW 0.240; EL 0.012; ED 0.012; SL 0.180-0.198 (0.183); FSL 0.060-0.066 (0.061); CI 66.7-76.9 (71.9); SI 50.0-60.0 (54.8); PL 0.060-0.084 (0.070); PW 0.072-0.084 (0.077); PI 83.3-100.0 (90.7); PPL 0.066-0.078 (0.072); PPW 0.072-0.102 (0.085); PPI 76.5-92.3 (85.3); WL 0.210-0.240 (0.224); PSL 0.018; PSW 0.018.

Small, concolorous pale yellow; head much longer than wide, with coarse cephalic punctures; lateral clypeal teeth angular, extralateral teeth absent; clypeal carinae nearly absent; scape short, reaches about ¾ length of head; minor funicular segments 3-8 short; mesopleuron smooth and shiny; notopropodeal suture weakly depressed, mesonotum and propodeum on straight line at dorsal mesosomal margin; propodeal spiracle small; posterior propodeal margin rounded; petiole slightly wider than postpetiole viewed laterally, postpetiole oval viewed dorsally.

Not very pilose; head with short (0.006-0.010 mm) erect and suberect hairs; scape pilose with suberect hairs; most suberect hairs on mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole curve posteriorly.

Type Material
Argentina, Santa Fe, Rosario (Hubrich), Sammlung, Dr. F. Santschi, Kairouan (lectotype worker and 5 paralectotype workers [here designated] ). M.C.Z. Cotype 1-2 21914, Wm. M. Wheeler (2 cotype workers [seen] ). Rosario, Argentina, Hubrich (1 cotype worker [seen] ).