Pogonomyrmex tenuispinus

Rarely collected and poorly known.

Identification
Key to North American Pogonomyrmex

Distribution
Mexico: Cape Region and offshore islands, Baja California.

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



Castes
Only known from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  tenuispinus. Pogonomyrmex desertorum var. tenuispina Forel, 1914d: 269 (w.) U.S.A. Subspecies of desertorum: Creighton, 1950a: 125. Raised to species and senior synonym of dentatus: Cole, 1968: 77.
 * dentatus. Pogonomyrmex dentatus Olsen, 1934: 505 (w.) MEXICO. Junior synonym of tenuispinus: Cole, 1968: 77.

Worker
Cole (1968) - HL 1.94-2.09 mm, HW 2.13-2.17 mm, CI 103.6-109.8, SL 1.37-1.44 mm, SI 64.3-66.7, EL 0.38-0.42 mm, EW 0.27-0.30 mm, OI 19.6-20.0, WL 2.13-2.28 mm, PNL 0.44-0.47 mm, PNW 0.42-0.46 mm, PPL 0.49-0.53 mm, PPW 0.65-0.68 mm.

Mandible as illustrated in Pl. III, Fig. 18; similar to that of Pogonomyrmex bicolor; penultimate and ultimate basal teeth widely separated. Base of antennal scape as in Pl. IV, Fig. 14; superior lobe strongly developed; basal flange not extending beyond apex of superior lobe; lip well developed, bipartite.

Lateral lobes of clypeus with a prominent, blunt, tooth-like projection in front of each antennal fossa. Frontal area smooth and shining, without a prominent median carina. Cephalic rugulae closely spaced, very delicate. Posterior corners of head smooth, at least somewhat shining. Contour of thorax, petiole, and postpetiole, in lateral view, as shown in Pl. V, Fig. 6. Epinotal spines long, very slender, of nearly the same diameter throughout. Contour of petiole and post petiole, in dorsal view, as illustrated in Pl. VII, Fig. 23. Venter of petiolar peduncle without a process. Postpetiole with a prominent ventral process. Pronotal pleura densely punctate, without rugae. Head, thorax, petiole, and postpetiole light to medium ferrugineous red; gaster darker.

Type Material
Cole (1968) - Type locality: Unknown; probably Miraflores and Sierra San Lazaro, Cape Region, Baja California, Mexico.