Solenopsis globularia

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saint Helena. Neotropical Region: Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Greater Antilles, Grenada, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, Venezuela.

Nomenclature

 *  globularia. Myrmica globularia Smith, F. 1858b: 131 (w.q.m.) BRAZIL. Combination in Solenopsis: Roger, 1863b: 32; in S. (Euophthalma): Creighton, 1930b: 110. Material of the unavailable name curta referred here by Creighton, 1930b: 110. Current subspecies: nominal plus desecheoensis, littoralis, lucayensis, pacifica, steinheili.
 * borinquenensis. Solenopsis globularia var. borinquenensis Wheeler, W.M. 1908a: 131, pl. 11, fig. 7 (w.) PUERTO RICO. Junior synonym of steinheili: Creighton, 1930b: 116; of globularia: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 164.
 * cubaensis. Solenopsis globularia var. cubaensis Wheeler, W.M. 1913b: 493 (w.) CUBA. Junior synonym of steinheili: Creighton, 1930b: 116; of globularia: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 164.
 * littoralis. Solenopsis (Euophthalma) globularia subsp. littoralis Creighton, 1930b: 113, pl. 6, fig. 3 (w.q.m.) U.S.A. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1960b: 22 (l.). Senior synonym of mobilensis: Smith, M.R. 1951a: 813; of globularia: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 164.
 * mobilensis. Solenopsis globularia subsp. mobilensis Smith, M.R. 1931a: 20 (w.) U.S.A. (attributed to Creighton). Junior synonym of littoralis: Smith, M.R. 1951a: 813; of globularia: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 164.
 * pacifica. Solenopsis globularia subsp. pacifica Wheeler, W.M. 1919c: 273 (w.m.) ECUADOR (Galapagos Is). Wheeler, W.M. 1924a: 108 (q.). Junior synonym of globularia: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 164.
 * steinheili. Solenopsis steinheili Forel, 1881: 11 (w.) ANTILLES. Junior synonym of globularia: Wheeler, W.M. 1908a: 130; Emery, 1922e: 199. Revived from synonymy as subspecies of globularia and senior synonym of borinquenensis, cubaensis: Creighton, 1930b: 116. Junior synonym of globularia: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 164.

Worker
Creighton (1930) - Worker minor : Length 1 .7 mm. Head, exclusive of the mandibles, one-eighth longer than broad, the sides moderately convex, widest just behind the eyes, the occiput very feebly impressed. Clypeus feebly projecting, the two carinae very prominent and terminated by two strong, stout teeth, lateral denticles poorly developed, virtually absent in some specimens; a small median denticle is present on the anterior edge of the clypeus. Mandibles with four larger teeth. The antennal scape in repose fails to reach the occipital border by a distance slightly exceeding the length of the first funicular joint; joints 2-7 all slightly longer than broad; club slender, the terminal joint about two and one-half times as long as the penultimate. Eyes of about twenty-five facets, separated from the insertion of the mandible by a distance slightly less than their greatest diameter.

Promesonotum in profile flattened, forming a straight line with the epinotum, the mesoepinotal impression confined entirely to the suture which is narrow and slot-like. Epinotum in profile angular, the basal face much longer than the declivious. Node of the petiole in profile thick with a very bluntly rounded summit, the anterior face considerably longer than the posterior; the peduncle about two-thirds as long as the base of the node, rather slender and without a ventral tooth. Postpetiole in profile about two-thirds as high as the petiole, its anterior face strongly inclined forward and about equal in length to the unusually long ventral face, the latter bearing a prominent, tooth-like projection near the middle of its anterior edge; dorsum of the postpetiole evenly convex. Seen from above the node of the petiole is a trifle more than half as wide as the postpetiole, the latter is greatly dilated, sub circular with a truncate posterior border. The anterior edge of the first gastric segment is truncate, the truncation being about equal in width to the postpetiole.

Color reddish yellow; the mandibular teeth, the anterior edge of the clypeus and a broad band on the first gastric segment reddish brown, the occiput is also sometimes tinged with brown. The mesopleurae and the entire epinotum are covered with fine striae which give these portions a submatte appearance in contrast to the rest of the insect which is very smooth and shining with small and sparse punctures. Hairs sparse, rather short, stout and erect.

Worker major : Length 2.0 mm. (Plate VI, figs. 1, 2.) Head as broad as long, the sides less convex than in the minor worker. Eyes of about thirty facets. Median clypeal tooth almost as long as the carinal teeth. The area between the eye and the insertion of the mandible bears a few irregular striae. In other regards as in the minor worker.

Queen
Length 1 3/4 line - Rather darker red than the worker: the thorax oblong-ovate; the wings hyaline and beautifully iridescent; the nodes of the petiole of the same relative proportions as in the workers; abdomen oblong-ovate, rufo-fuscous, with the base and the apical margins of the segments pale rufo-testaceous.

Male
Creighton (1930) - Length : 3.0 mm. Head, including the eyes, slightly broader than long, the sides moderately convex from the eyes to the occiput, the latter flat. Ocelli large and prominent. Clypeus not projecting when seen from above, angular with a well-defined central portion when seen from the side. Mandibles narrow, bidentate. Eyes large, strongly convex, nearly circular when seen from the side, their anterior edge virtually reaches the insertion of the mandible. Antennal scape short, cylindrical, twice as long as the globose second joint, the following joints all two or more times as long as broad. Thorax wider than the head, approximately twice as long as broad. Node of the petiole in profile angular, depressed, not sharply separated from the peduncle. Postpetiole in profile also depressed, the dorsum feebly convex; slightly lower than the node of the petiole, the lower face with a prominent ventral tooth. Seen from above the node of the petiole and the postpetiole are both strongly transverse.

Color brownish black, the legs, antennae and mandibles dirty yellow. Smooth and shining with numerous, long, erect, yellow hairs. Wings hyaline, iridescent and clothed with numerous, short hairs.

Type Material
Hab. Brazil. (Coll. F. Smith.)

Additional References

 * [[Media:Pacheco, J.A. & Mackay, W.P. 2013. The systematics and biology of the New World thief ants of the genus Solenopsis.pdf|Pacheco, J.A. & Mackay, W.P. 2013. The systematics and biology of the New World thief ants of the genus Solenopsis (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston, New York. 501 pp.]]