Solenopsis abdita

The type material of Solenopsis abdita was collected from a palm log in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (Thompson 1989). This species is also known to nest in rotten wood in pine oak forests and pine wetlands and has been collected in litter from a tree base. Moreover, S. abdita was collected in leaf litter from a slash pine stand north of buildings and from a long unburned sand pine scrub in Highlands County. (Pacheco and Mackay 2013)

Identification
A New World thief ant that is a member of the molesta species complex. (Key to New World Solenopsis Species Complexes)

Pacheco and Mackay (2013) – Worker - This species is concolorous golden yellow, with coarse punctures present on the dorsum of the head. There are two angular lateral clypeal teeth. The funicular segments 3-8 are short (0.078 mm). Most of the hairs present on the posterior tibia are appressed. Queen - The gyne has a golden brown body with yellow appendages (antennae and legs) and is similar to the worker with modifications present in the caste. The posterior propodeal margin has an angular ridge. The postpetiole is larger than the petiole when viewed dorsally and is globular in shape. Male - This caste is a golden brown color with yellow appendages. The anterior clypeal margin is straight. The posterior propodeal margin is rounded. The propodeal spiracle is large at 0.06 mm in length. The petiolar node is elongate compared to the postpetiole in profile.

Solenopsis abdita is difficult to separate from Solenopsis texana, unless queens are available, in which the queen of S. abdita is golden brown and Solenopsis texana yellow. The scapes of the workers are shorter (0.240 mm, head length 0.378-0.402 mm) and the petiole is relatively wider than in S. texana (0.060 mm, postpetiole width 0.078-0.090 mm). Based on material examined, S. texana apparently does not occur in Florida, where S. abdita is only known from Florida (although we feel it is likely to occur in the surrounding states). There should thus be little confusion between these two allopatric species from samples of known geographic province.

Solenopsis abdita may be confused with Solenopsis carolinensis as well, but the shorter scape and the wider petiole in the worker will distinguish it from S. carolinensis. The workers can often be separated as the posterior tibiae have appressed hairs, which are mostly suberect in S. carolinensis. If queens are available, they are separated by the darker color and the smaller eye, compared to the yellow queens of S. carolinensis. At the present time, S. carolinensis has not been reported from Florida.

Distribution
Florida

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States.



Nomenclature

 *  abdita. Solenopsis abdita Thompson, 1989: 275, figs. 1-4 (w.q.m.) U.S.A. See also: Thompson & Johnson, 1989: 698.

Worker
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=6) (range with average in parentheses). TL 1.02-1.20 (1.12); HL 0.378-0.402 (0.389); HW 0.288-0.300 (0.297); EL 0.030; ED 0.018-0.024 (0.023); SL 0.240 (0.240); FSL 0.090-0.096 (0.091); CI 74.6-78.1 (76.46); SI 59.7-63.5 (61.8); PL 0.042-0.048 (0.044); PW 0.072-0.090 (0.083); PI 46.7-61.5 (53.9); PPL 0.072-0.084 (0.078); PPW 0.102-0.108 (0.105); PPI 66.7-77.8 (75.0); WL 0.240 (0.240); PSL 0.024-0.030 (0.025); PSW 0.018-0.024 (0.021).

Small, concolorous yellow species; lateral posterior margin of head quadrate, head longer than wide with coarse punctures present; lateral clypeal teeth present as angles with extralateral teeth present as bumps; clypeal anterior margin between lateral teeth lacking medial tooth, slightly concave in shape; eyes small with no more than five ommatidia; pronotum sloped posteriorly with notopropodeal suture depressed and notch shaped, metanotal groove breaking sculpture of meso soma, mesopleuron smooth, shiny, lacking striae or roughened sculpturing; posterior propodeal margin slightly angled with poorly defined ridge present, propodeal spiracle small (0.024 mm diameter); metapleuron with few, thin horizontal striae present that cover gland; petiole with rounded triangular node; postpetiole rhomboid oval when viewed in profile, both petiolar peduncle and postpetiole lack tooth or flange ventrally, with only very small subpeduncular.

Hairy with erect and suberect hairs covering all body surfaces; scape mostly with appressed hairs present; approximately 10 suberect hairs present on mesosoma when viewed in profile; hairs on posterior tibia mostly appressed; petiole and postpetiole have suberect hairs that curve posteriorly; gaster fully covered in suberect hairs.

Queen
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=2). TL 2.82-3.00 (2.91); HL 0.540 (0.540); HW 0.480 (0.480); EL 0.174-0.180 (0.177); ED 0.156 (0.156); MOL 0.042-0.048 (0.045); MOD 0.060 (0.060); SL 0.360 (0.360); FSL 0.150-0.162 (0.156); CI 88.9 (88.9); SI 66.7 (66.7); PSL 0.048 (0.048); PSW 0.042 (0.042); PL 0.090-0.102 (0.096); PW 0.180-0.210 (0.195); PI 48.6-50.0 (49.2); PPL 0.150-0.162 (0.156); PPW 0.240 (0.240); PPI 62.5-67.5 (65); WL 0.720 (0.720).

Concolorous golden brown with golden yellow appendages (antennae and legs); head quadrate and longer than wide with coarse punctures; lateral clypeal teeth not well developed and present as angles with extralateral teeth present as bumps; clypeal carinae present, well developed; torulae without striae; eye large (approximately 132 ommatidia); medial ocellus small; posterior margin of propodeum slightly angled, propodeal spiracle small at 0.03 mm in diameter; latitudinal striae present on metapleuron; petiole with triangular node, lacks tooth or flange at subpeduncular process; postpetiole globular node, lacks ventral tooth or flange.

Hairy with setae on all body surfaces; scape covered in suberect hairs equal or longer than width of scape; mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole and gaster covered with suberect hairs that curve posteriorly.

Male
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements, (n=l). TL 2.64; HL 0.390; HW 0.402; EL 0.180; ED 0.174; MOL 0.054; MOD 0.078; SL 0.162; FSL 0.762; CI 103; SI 41.5; PSL 0.066; PSW 0.060; PL 0.090; PW 0.180; PI 50.0; PPL 0.120; PPW 0.198; PPI 60.6; WL 0.720

Concolorous golden brown with yellow appendages; posterolateral margin of head rounded, head wider than long; eyes large (approximately 280 ommatidia); posterior margin of head dorsal to ocelli granulate; medial ocellus large; striae present lateral to antennal insertion; posterior margin of propodeum rounded, propodeal spiracle large; metapleuron with latitudinal striae present; petiole wider than postpetiole when viewed in profile, both petiole and postpetiole lacking teeth or flanges ventrally.

Hair encompassing all body surfaces; suberect hairs cover mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole, as well as gaster with majority curving posteriorly.

Type Material
Solenopsis abdita Thompson, Florida, Broward Co., Ft. Lauderdale (holotype worker, several workers, queens and male paratypes, numbers not specified, listed as deposited in, , , none found, 26-iv-1984 (Thompson, 1980).