Leptogenys yocota

A nest series collected by Bill Brown was found under a small log in a forest.

Identification
Lattke (2011) - Head widest anterad; eye laterally placed, separated from mandibular insertion by less than one ocular diameter; node subquadrate in dorsal view; wider posterad than anterad, anterior margin convex, more than half as wide as posterior margin; body with scattered long suberect to erect hairs.

A member of the quiriguana species group. This ant could be mistaken for Leptogenys consanguinea because of many morphological similarities but the following traits will help in separating the two species. The compound eye is placed more anterad on the head in L. yocota when observed in full-face view, the distance separating the eye from the mandibular insertion being less than one ocular diameter, whilst in L. consanguinea this distance is more than one ocular diameter. The petiolar node is more subquadrate in dorsal view than in L. consanguinea, which is elongate, with the anterior node margin half as wide as its posterior margin at the most. The antennal scape has short uniform pilosity in L. consanguinea, but in L. yocota it has abundant long hairs, of a somewhat thickened appearance, as well as pilosity. The contrasts in the gauge and density of body hairs is apparent between the two species as L. consanguinea has sparsely distributed, short, and fine suberect to erect hairs.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Honduras.

Nomenclature

 *  yocota. Leptogenys yocota Lattke, 2011: 208, fig. 64 (w.q.) HONDURAS.

Worker
Metrics, holotype (paratypes, n = 4): HL 1.16 (1.19–1.21); HW 0.83 (0.83–0.89); ML 0.66 (0.63– 0.66); EL 0.20 (0.18–0.20); SL 1.11 (1.09–1.16); PW 0.68 (0.68 – 0.73); WL 1.82 (1.82 – 1.95); PH 0.68 (0.76 – 0.81); PL 0.61 (0.61 – 0.66); DPW 0.51 (0.53 – 0.58) mm. CI 0.72 (0.70–0.73); MI 0.79 (0.74–0.79); OI 0.24 (0.21 – 0.23); SI 1.33 (1.23 – 1.39); LPI 1.13 (1.15 – 1.28); DPI 0.83 (0.81 – 0.96).

Head longer than wide in full-face view; widest anterad; lateral margin broadly convex, posterior margin weakly convex; vertexal carinae narrow, but visible throughout most of posterior cephalic margin; eye laterally placed, relatively flattened, separated from mandibular insertion by less than one ocular diameter; median clypeal process triangular with bluntly pointed apex, laterally lamellate; lateral clypeal lobe narrow; clypeus mostly smooth with few short striae and scattered piligerous tubercles. Head mostly smooth and shining, with scattered piligerous punctulae. Scape smooth with abundant piligerous punctulae, abundant decumbent pilosity and scattered subdecumbent hairs present, scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by less than one-third its length; third antennal segment approximately twice as long than wide, second antennal segment slightly shorter than third; fourth antennal segment shorter than third antennal segment. Mandible shuts tight against clypeus, elongate, mostly parallel-sided, weakly widening apicad, basal margin mostly broadly convex; mandibular dorsum smooth and shining, sparsely punctate; cephalic ventral face shining with weak longitudinal striae and sparse piligerous punctulae.

Mesosomal dorsal margin forms relative continuous line in lateral view; pronotal margin broadly convex anterad, weakly convex to straight posterad; mesonotal margin weakly convex; dorsal propodeal margin weakly convex to straight; joining declivity through continuous curve. Mesosoma mostly smooth and shining; mesonotum wider than long in dorsal view, anterior margin convex, posterior margin broadly convex, metanotal groove distinctly impressed. Mesometapleural suture well impressed, scrobiculate; metapleural propodeal suture lacking; propodeal spiracle small, rounded to weakly oval, laterally to posterolaterally facing; a ledge stretches from ventral propodeal margin to dorsal margin of bulla; mesopleuron with rounded and low, triangular anterior lobe, anteroventral carina distinct; propodeum with low, blunt tooth at spiracular height; declivity transversely striate posterad. Cervix with transverse striae; prosternal process with posterior minute denticle in lateral view; mesosternum with transverse parallel fine striae.

Petiole subrectangular in lateral view, higher than long; dorsal margin broadly convex, highest posterad; anterior margin longer than half posterior margin, posterior margin straight to very broadly convex; triangular ventral lobe present; node subquadrate in dorsal view; wider posterad than anterad, anterior margin convex, more than half as wide as posterior margin, posterior margin broadly convex, lateral margin straight to weakly convex; postpetiolar anterior margin vertical to weakly convex in lateral view, with distinct blunt angle separating broadly convex dorsal margin. Node and gaster smooth and shining; procoxa smooth and shining in lateral view; head, scape, thorax, and most of abdomen brown; funiculus, clypeus, mandibles, legs and apical gastral segments ferruginous; coxae and femora may be darker. Body with scattered long suberect to erect hairs, no pilosity.

Queen
Metrics (n = 2): HL 1.16 – 1.19; HW 0.99 – 0.89; ML 0.66 – 0.66; EL 0.18 – 0.18; SL 1.11 – 1.14; PW 0.68 – 0.68; WL 1.85 – 1.82; PH 0.66 – 0.71; PL 0.56 – 0.51; DPW 0.58–0.63 mm. CI 0.85–0.74; MI 0.67–0.74; OI 0.18 – 0.20; SI 1.13 – 1.29; LPI 1.18 – 1.40; DPI 1.05 – 1.25. Ergatoid with usual differences from workers. Both queens present vestigial median ocellus.

Male
Male lacking head, not studied.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Honduras, Cortés, L. Yojoa, 18 km NE El Mochito, 600 m, 20.viii.1974, E.M. & J.L. Fisher. Deposited in. – Paratypes. (1) Two workers, one male, two queens from the same series as the holotype. All deposited in LACM. (2) Honduras, Cortés, Lago Yojoa, E side island hill, 750 m, iii.1979, W.L. Brown. Three workers deposited in.

Etymology
The species name is derived from a transformation of the name of a lake (Lago Yojoa) close to where the type series specimens were collected.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.