Zatania gibberosa

Mann (1920) and Fontenla (2000) report Zatania gibberosa from forests; Mann observed nests in decayed logs. Where it occurs, it is apparently an active (workers move about quickly) and abundant species.

Identification
This species has the largest and most robust workers within the genus; the large, pilose workers of this species effectively separate it from other species. It possesses abundant erect setae on the head and mesosoma, including the propodeum, which is in contrast to Zatania albimaculata, the species most likely to be confused with Z. gibberosa.

Zatania Species Key

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Cuba, Dominican Republic, Greater Antilles, Haiti.

Nomenclature

 *  gibberosa. Prenolepis gibberosa Roger, 1863a: 161 (w.) CUBA. Combination in Zatania: LaPolla, Kallal & Brady, 2012: 209. Senior synonym of rogeri: Fontenla Rizo, 2000: 82. See also: Mann, 1920: 433.
 * rogeri. Prenolepis (Prenolepis) gibberosa var. rogeri Mann, 1920: 434 (w.) CUBA. Aguayo, 1932: 225 (q.). Junior synonym of gibberosa: Fontenla Rizo, 2000: 82.

LaPolla et al. (2012) - Mann (1920) described a variety of Z. gibberosa (var. rogeri, then in Prenolepis) based on the gaster being shiny as opposed to opaque. Fontenla (2000) stated that this character was variable and that the morphological division between opaque and shiny gasters was unclear. In fact we have seen specimens in which the gaster is both shiny in some places and opaque in other places. There is also some variation in the size of workers (suggesting workers might be slightly polymorphic), worker coloration and mesosomal setation (Fontenla, 2000), but with the fairly low number of specimens available for this study we cannot correlate these morphological characters in such a way that suggests there is more than one species present (as opposed to geographical variation). However, this species is reported from across Cuba and into Haiti (although interestingly it has not be collected from the Dominican Republic), and a more detailed study is needed to determine if cryptic species are present. For now we maintain the synonymy established by Fontenla (2000), until additional data suggest otherwise.

Description
Zatania gibberosa

(Roger, 1863)

Worker
LaPolla et al. (2012) - Large, robust species; head and mesosoma reddish brown, with darker gaster; entire body distinctly opaque (although there is some variation in gaster opacity, see below) with abundant erect setae and pubescence; scapes with very dense layer of suberect pubescence; dorsal face of propodeum distinctly dome-like and with abundant erect setae.

Measurements (n = 3): TL 3.0–3.1 mm; HW 0.9–0.96 mm; HL 1.0–1.1 mm; EL 0.22–0.25 mm; SL 1.63–1.8 mm; PW 0.6–0.65 mm; WL 1.73–1.85 mm; PrFL 1.32–1.35 mm; PrFW 0.17–0.24 mm; GL 1.2–1.3 mm.

Indices: CI 82–87; REL 20–24; SI 180–189.

Type Material
LaPolla et al. (2012) - Holotype worker, Cuba: Yateras District, Guantanamo, San Blas (examined).