Pseudomyrmex cubaensis

Identification
Ward (1985) - Apart from the differences in eye length and petiole shape, P. cubaensis also tends to have a broader head, narrower fore femur (FI 0.42-0.48), longer post petiole (PPWI 1.01-1.25), and fewer (but longer) erect setae on the petiole, postpetiole, and fourth abdominal tergite. The body sculpture and appressed pubescence are lighter than in Florida Pseudomyrmex elongatus, producing a shinier appearance, particularly on the occiput, propleuron, petiole, and postpetiole. (Elsewhere P. elongatus may have an equally shiny integument. e.g. in Texas.)

Distribution
This taxon was described from Cuba.

It is also found in Paraguay, Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, Argentina, Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Greater Antilles, Bahamas and the United States.

Biology
Ward (1985) reports: In Florida, I have collected P. cubaensis in dead twigs of Rhizophora mangle and Conocarpus erectus. There are museum records of nests in Tillandsia (Florida) and Cladium (Bahamas), and of workers foraging on Ficus aurea, mangrove, sea grape, and acacia. Wheeler's (1905) records of Bahamaian "elongatus" in culms of Uniola and Cladium and in hollow twigs of gum mastic, sea grape, and buttonwood, refer in part to P. cubaensis (see also discussion of Pseudomyrmex subater Wheeler & Mann under Pseudomyrmex elongatus).

Nomenclature

 *  cubaensis. Pseudomyrma elongata var. cubaensis Forel, 1901e: 342 (w.) CUBA. Forel, 1913l: 215 (q.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1956: 384 (l., misidentified as elongatus). Combination in Pseudomyrmex: Creighton, 1957b: 18. Junior synonym of elongatus: Creighton, 1957b: 18. Revived from synonymy and raised to species: Ward, 1985b: 226. See also: Ward, 1989: 413.

Originally described as a variety of Pseudomyrmex elongatus, Pseudomyrmex cubaensis was synonymized with the former by Creighton (1955, p.18). However it appears to be consistently distinct from the smaller elongatus-like form with which occurs sympatrically in south Florida. The most important differences are in the relative length of the eye and the shape of the petiole. A two-dimensional plot of REL2 and PLI cleanly separates all Floridian and most other material into two taxa. In Jamaica the two forms are less distinct. It is possible that P. elongatus and P. cubaensis represent a remnant circular Rassenkreis stretching around the Gulf of Mexico, with intermediate populations in Jamaica (Ward 1985).

Worker
Worker Measurements (n = 21, except for HL, HW, CI, REL, REL2, and PLI, where n = 52): HL 0.84-1.05, HW 0.64-0.75, MC 0.017-0.029, CI 0.69-0.77, OI 0.52-0.58. REL 0.47-0.51, REL2 0.63-0.73, OOI 0.41-0.95, VI 0.74-0.83, FCI 0.024-0.044, SI 0.44-0.48, SI2 0.64-0.74, FI 0.42-0.48, POI 1.09-1.44, MPI 0.038-0.084, NI 0.53-0.63. PLI 0.65-0.78, PWI 0.55-0.69, PPWI 1.01-1.25.

A small, brown species with elongate head (HW 0.64-0.75. CI 0.69-0.77) and with erect pilosity on the mesonotum and propodeum. Very similar to Pseudomyrmex elongatus Mayr (q.v.), except averaging larger, with relatively short eyes (REL2 0.63-0.73) and a longer petiole and postpetiole (PLI 0.65-0.78). Head punctate, the punctures maximally separated by about their diameters.