Hylomyrma dandarae

This species inhabits sites at elevations from 1250 to 2048 m. Specimens were collected with pitfall traps and winkler extractors, which suggests that workers forage on the forest floor, and that nests are located in fallen logs, rotten wood, between leaves, or inside natural cavities of the superficial soil layers. (Ulyssea & Brandao, 2021)

Identification
Irregular striae on head dorsum diverge to posterior margin; rugose striae on mesosoma and petiole; promesonotal junction and metanotal groove distinguishable by a slight depression and altered sculpture; dorsal margin of petiole discontinuous; transverse striae on node ventral surface weakly marked; profemur posterior surface smooth; protibia extensor surface striation weakly marked; striation on tergum of first gastral segment restricted to base.

Hylomyrma dandarae is similar to Hylomyrma adelae, Hylomyrma mariae, and Hylomyrma wachiperi with respect to the sculpture of the head dorsum and mesosoma, and the profile of the mesosoma. Hylomyrma dandarae can be distinguished from H. adelae (characteristics in parentheses) based on the following characters: oval eye (vs. dropshaped), irregular divergent-longitudinal striae on the head dorsum (vs. rugose striae), distinct promesonotal junction and metanotal groove (vs. both indistinct), and tergum of the first gastral segment with short striae (vs. long striae). The two species occur allopatrically in Bolivia (Fig. 83), H. adelae in Cochabamba and H. dandarae in La Paz.

Hylomyrma dandarae differs from Hylomyrma mariae in the oval eye (vs. drop-shaped), the longer petiolar node (vs. shorter), and the short striae on tergum of the first gastral segment restrict to its first third (vs. long striae). Also, both species occur in nearby geographic areas, H. dandarae in the south (Fig. 83) and H. mariae in the center and north of Colombia (Fig. 88).

Hylomyrma dandarae can be distinguished from Hylomyrma wachiperi in the irregular striae on the head dorsum (vs. regular striae), the rugose striae on the mesosomal dorsum (vs. irregular striae), the distinct metanotal groove (vs. indistinct), the short propodeal spine (vs. long), and the tergum of the first gastral segment with long striae (vs. short striae). Hylomyrma wachiperi occurs in Peru whereas H. dandarae occurs in Bolivia and Colombia.

There is morphological variation across the range of H. dandarae. The shape of the propodeal spines vary from being entirely straight to having a downwardly curved apex. The specimens from La Paz, Bolivia, have irregular and transverse striae on the petiolar dorsum.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Bolivia, Colombia.

Nomenclature

 * . Hylomyrma dandarae Ulysséa, in Ulysséa & Brandão, 2021: 37, figs. 29, 83 (w.) COLOMBIA, BOLIVIA.
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 9 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Colombia: Caquetá, San José de Fragua, R. Turayaco, 1250 m., 10-15.ix.2000 (E.L.G.); paratypes: 2 workers with same data, 1 worker with same data but 1500 m., 7-10.ix.2000, 1 worker Putumayo, Mocoa, 01°08’N, 76°38’W, Los Mayos, 1800 m., i.1999, winkler 11 (E. González), 1 worker with same data as last but winkler 10, 1 worker with same data but winkler 1, 2 workers with same data but winkler 14, 1 worker caida, T1T10.
 * Type-depositories: IAVH (holotype); IAVH, MCZC, MZSP (paratypes).
 * Distribution: Bolivia, Colombia.

Type Material

 * Holotype: COLOMBIA: Caquetá: San José de Fragua, R. Turayaco, 1250m, 10–15.ix.2000, E.L.G. [leg.], W5 (1W) [IHVL].
 * Paratypes: same data as holotype (1W covered with gold) [IHVL]; (1W) (MZHY210) [MZSP]; same except 1500m, 07–10.ix.2000 (1W) [MCZC]; Putumayo: Mocoa, 01°08′N, 76°38′W, Los Mayos, 1800m, i.1999, E. González leg., winkler 11 (1W covered with gold) [IHVL]; same except winkler 10 (1W covered with gold) [MZSP]; winkler 1 (1W) [IHVL]; winkler 14 (2W, one covered with gold) (MZSP67317, MZSP67318) [MZSP]; caida, T1T10 (1W) [MCZC].