Neoponera moesta

From Mackay and Mackay (2010): Two nests were found in dead twigs hanging from the canopy (2 cm diameter). Winged sexuals and brood were collected in a nest in July. A dealate female was collected in a twig in Nicaragua (July). Wheeler and Bequaert (1929) reported that this species was collected from the foliar domatia of Tococa sp. (near formicaria).

Identification
From Mackay and Mackay (2010): The workers of N. moesta are most similar to those of Neoponera crenata, but differ in the shape of the petiole, in which the apex is distinctly lower anteriorly than posteriorly and the pronotal carina is less well developed as is the malar carina. The unusual shape of the petiole would separate it from all of the others in Pachycondyla.

Wheeler and Wheeler (1974) provide characteristics to separate the larva of N. moesta from that of N. crenata.

The male of N. moesta is noticeably larger than the male of N. crenata (total length about 5 mm). The clypeus of the male of N. moesta is more swollen and slightly overhangs the anterior edge of the clypeus. The surface forms a small rounded lobe in N. crenata. The apex of the petiole of N. moesta is slightly angulate, but is broadly rounded in N. crenata. The third discoidal cell of the wing of N. moesta is more elongated (longest diagonal length of cell 0.63 mm) and wider anteriorly, as compared to N. crenata (length 0.41 mm). The workers of the two species are very similar and difficult to distinguish, but the multiple differences in the males leave little doubt that they are different species. The specimens from Nicaragua are nearly identical to the types, differing in that the medial process on the clypeus is more lobe-like, the pronotal carina is less developed and the appressed pubescence on the dorsum of the gaster is finer. Apparently species JTL-013 (Longino, website) is N. moesta (single specimen was not seen).

The identity of this species has been confused in the past and it has thus been described several times under several names, which accounts for the numerous synonymies.

Distribution
Central and South America. (Mackay and Mackay 2010)

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

Habitat
This species was found in tropical wet, cloud forest, at 1285 meters elevation. (Mackay and Mackay 2010)

Biology
DaRocha et al. (2015) studied the diversity of ants found in bromeliads of a single large tree of Erythrina, a common cocoa shade tree, at an agricultural research center in Ilhéus, Brazil. Forty-seven species of ants were found in 36 of 52 the bromeliads examined. Bromeliads with suspended soil and those that were larger had higher ant diversity. Neoponera moesta was found in 5 different bromeliads but was associated with the twigs and bark cavities, rather than suspended soil or litter, of the plant.

Nomenclature

 *  moesta. Pachycondyla moesta Mayr, 1870a: 395 (w.) COLOMBIA. Forel, 1909a: 252 (q.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1971b: 1205 (l.). Combination in Neoponera: Emery, 1901a: 47; Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014: 151. Subspecies of pallipes: Emery, 1890b: 42; of crenata: Forel, 1899c: 13; Forel, 1912c: 37; Santschi, 1921g: 86. Junior synonym of crenata: Mayr, 1887: 534; Brown, 1957e: 234. Revived from synonymy: Mackay & Mackay, 2010: 468. Senior synonym of confusa, mesonotalis, stipitum, sulcatula: Mackay & Mackay, 2010: 469. Material of the unavailable names lata, subcarinata referred here by Mackay & Mackay, 2010: 469.
 * stipitum. Neoponera stipitum Forel, 1901f: 348 (w.q.) COLOMBIA. Junior synonym of crenata: Brown, 1957e: 234; of moesta: Mackay & Mackay, 2010: 468.
 * sulcatula. Neoponera unidentata st. sulcatula Santschi, 1919f: 38, fig. 2 (w.) ARGENTINA. Subspecies of carinulata: Santschi, 1939e: 313. Junior synonym of crenata: Brown, 1957e: 234; of moesta: Mackay & Mackay, 2010: 469.
 * confusa. Neoponera crenata st. confusa Santschi, 1921g: 86 (w.) BRAZIL. Junior synonym of crenata: Brown, 1957e: 234; of moesta: Mackay & Mackay, 2010: 469.
 * mesonotalis. Neoponera mesonotalis Santschi, 1923c: 246 (w.m.) BRAZIL (originally misspelled as mesorotalis). Combination in Pachycondyla: Brown, in Bolton, 1995b: 307. Junior synonym of moesta: Mackay & Mackay, 2010: 468. See also: Mariano, et al. 2006: 278.

Type Material
Colombia; Colombia, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta: San Antonio; Argentina, Cordoba: Cruz Grande; Brasil; Brasil: Santa Catarina: Blumenau. Specimens identified by Mayr, and Santschi seen, ; lectotype worker, 5 paralectotype workers, 2 paralectotype females here designated,, 2 paralectotype workers here designated, ; lectotype here designated, ; lectotype here designated, ; lectotype and 2 paralectotypes here designated, NHNG. (Mackay and Mackay 2010)

Worker
From Mackay and Mackay (2010): The worker is a relatively small (total length 6.5 mm) reddish brown specimen. The head length is 1.5 mm; the head width is 1.3 mm. The scape (length 1.25 mm) extends approximately the first funicular segment past the posterior lateral corner. The mandible has 11 teeth, the anterior border of the clypeus is weakly angulate. The malar carina is poorly developed, but extends the entire length to the anterior edge of the eye. The eye is relatively large (maximum diameter 0.35 mm) the diameter is nearly twice the length of the distance from the eye to the anterior border of the head (side view). The pronotal shoulder is swollen, but barely forms a carina. The metanotal suture is barely obvious on the dorsum of the mesosoma. The propodeal spiracle is elongated and the posterior lateral edges of the propodeum are rounded. The petiole is shaped like a loaf of bread with a broad convex horizontal dorsal face, which is longer than the anterior or posterior faces. The subpetiolar process is formed into a broadly rounded lobe with a small anterior angle.

Erect hairs are moderately abundant on most surfaces, including the mandibles, clypeus, dorsum of the head, ventral surface of the head, scapes, mesosoma, petiole and all surfaces of the gaster, the hairs on the legs are erect or suberect.

The mandibles are finely striate and weakly shining, the dorsum of the head is covered with fine punctures, with the surfaces between the punctures shining, the sculpture on the dorsum of the mesosoma is similar, that on the side of the mesosoma is coriaceous with poorly defined striae on the mesopleuron and side of the propodeum, with the surfaces weakly shining. The petiole is finely punctate and weakly shining; the gaster is finely punctate and moderately shining.

The head and mesosoma are reddish brown, the petiole and gaster are dark reddish brown, the appendages are pale brown to nearly yellow.

Queen
From Mackay and Mackay (2010): The female is slightly larger than the worker (total length 7 mm) and similar to the worker, except that three small ocelli are present and the petiole is more cuboidal-shaped, with the length being approximately equal to the length of the anterior and posterior faces (as seen from the side). The mesosoma is adapted for flight and is equipped with well-developed wings.

Erect and suberect hairs are abundant on the mandibles, clypeus, dorsal and ventral surfaces of the head, shaft of the scape; a few are on the side of the head and along the posterior margin; erect hairs are present on the mesosoma, petiole and gaster. The legs (including the tibiae) have mostly suberect hairs. Appressed fine golden pubescence is present on nearly all surfaces and is especially obvious on the head, dorsum of the mesosoma and all surfaces of the gaster.

The mandibles are finely striate with scattered punctures and are weakly shining; the remainder of the surfaces are punctate and moderately shining, especially the dorsum of the pronotum, mesopleuron and dorsum of the gaster.

Male
From Mackay and Mackay (2010): The male is a small (total length 6 mm, head length 0.95 mm, head width 0.5 mm, scape length 0.2 mm) dark reddish brown specimen with slightly lighter colored appendages. The mandibles are tiny, edentate and do not meet when closed. The clypeus is swollen medially and the eyes occupy more than ½ of the side of the head. The ocelli are much larger than those of the female (0.12 mm in diameter). The petiole is broadly rounded dorsally and does not form a well-developed horizontal dorsal face. The gaster is constricted between the posterior edge of the postpetiole and the remainder of the gaster.

Erect hairs are abundant on the mouthparts, clypeus, posterior border of the head, few are present on the scapes and sides of the head; erect hairs are abundant on the dorsum of the mesosoma, petiole and all surfaces of the gaster, the legs (including the tibiae) have many erect and suberect hairs. Appressed golden pubescence is present on most surfaces and especially conspicuous on the dorsum and side of the mesosoma, posterior face of the petiole and all surfaces of the gaster.

Most surfaces are finely punctate and at least moderately smooth and glossy.

Etymology
Apparently derived from the Latin word maestus, a feminine normative form of the word, meaning sad or sorrowful. (Mackay and Mackay 2010)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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