Leptogenys pusilla

The locality labels point to moist forested areas as the habitat for this species, ranging from secondary to primary forest or cocoa plantations. Nests have been found in decomposing wood on the ground. One specimen has a mite adhered to the apical internal side of the metatibia.

Identification
Key to Leptogenys of the New World

Lattke (2011) - Head subrectangular in full-face view; median clypeal lobe longer than basal width, apex acutely pointed; eye weakly convex, distance between eye and mandibular insertion greater than ocular diameter; mesonotum 4 × wider than long in dorsal view; petiolar node trapezoidal in dorsal view, anterior margin convex and at least half the width of posterior margin.

A member of the pusilla species group. This ant is very similar to Leptogenys josephi but L. pusillus is a smaller ant, compared with L. josephi (WL 1.20–1.34), and its head is not as elongate in appearance.

Distribution
Known from Costa Rica and Panama.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama.

Castes
Males are Unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  pusilla. Lobopelta pusilla Emery, 1890b: 43 (w.) COSTA RICA. [Also described as new by Emery, 1894k: 49.] Combination in Leptogenys: Forel, 1899c: 18. See also: Lattke, 2011: 195.

Worker
Lattke (2011) - Metrics (n = 4) : HL 0.72 – 0.87; HW 0.47 – 0.50; ML 0.28 – 0.35; EL 0.08 – 0.15; SL 0.53 – 0.75; PW 0.42 – 0.48; WL 0.94 – 1.22; PH 0.37 – 0.45; PL 0.37 – 0.48; DPW 0.27–0.27 mm. CI 0.58–0.65; MI 0.61–0.70; OI 0.18 – 0.30; SI 1.14 – 1.50; LPI 0.89 – 1.00; DPI 0.55 – 0.73.

Head subrectangular in full-face view; lateral margin broadly convex; posterior cephalic margin weakly concave, almost straight; anterior clypeal margin with abrupt, relatively slender (longer than basal width) median lobe, apex acutely pointed; lateral lobe narrow, laterally extends as low crest on clypeal dorsum, weakly rounded close to median lobe; eye weakly convex in cephalic full-face view, placed closer to middle of lateral cephalic margin than to mandibular insertion; eye about same length as mid-width of scape, distance between eye and mandibular insertion greater than ocular diameter; head widest posterior to compound eyes, cephalic width slightly less anterad of eye. Scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by 1–2 apical widths; basal funicular segments approximately of same length; width of each segment more than half respective length. Mandibular basal margin broadly convex basad, concave and tapering apicad; masticatory margin short with blunt apical tooth, basal convexity with row of 2–3 setae; mandibular dorsum mostly smooth and shining with scattered punctulae; mandible of same width in oblique ventral view. Cephalic dorsum mostly smooth and shining with sparse punctulae.

Dorsal mesosomal margin mostly continuous in lateral view, straight to weakly convex, weak depression present at metanotal groove; curvature sharper at propodeal declivity, with blunt, modest triangular lobe at spiracular height; mesosomal sides smooth and shining, mesometapleural suture distinctly impressed, uninterrupted or scrobiculate; metapleural-propodeal suture absent; propodeal spiracle round with opening directed mostly laterally, weakly oblique; depression located between spiracle and propodeal lobe; mesosomal dorsum smooth and shining, propodeal declivity smooth and shining to transversely striate. Prosternum smooth and shining; mesopleuron with fine anteroventral carina; mesonotum 4 × wider than long in dorsal view, posterior margin with weak median concavity.

Petiole node subquadrate in lateral view, slightly inclined anterad; anterior and posterior margins vertical, anterior margin less than half the height of posterior margin; node highest posterad, dorsal margin convex, without sharp lateral edges. Subpetiolar process triangular-shaped in lateral view. Node trapezoidal in dorsal view, anterior margin convex and at least half the width of posterior margin, posterior margin straight to weakly concave, lateral margins straight to slightly convex. Anterior margin of postpetiole roughly vertical up to node height in lateral view; dorsal margin convex; constriction between abdominal segments III – IV well marked. Body ferruginous brown to black; legs and antenna brownish yellow to brown. No applied pilosity, with sparse erect and semi-erect hairs. Tibial apices lacking setae.

Queen
Lattke (2011) - Morphology similar to worker, with usual differences besides greatly swollen mandible, with convex internal and external margins. Body ferruginous, mandible yellow.

Type Material
Lattke (2011) - Syntype workers: Costa Rica, Jiménez (A. Alfaro) [examined]. The type specimens studied are 2 card-mounted workers from Jiménez, Costa Rica deposited in the.

Additional References

 * [[Media:Lattke 2011.pdf|Lattke, J. E. 2011. Revision of the New World species of the genus Leptogenys Roger (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny 69:127-264. [2011-12-13] PDF]]