Solenopsis laeviceps

Solenopsis laeviceps was collected on San Antonio, Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta, at more than 1,000 meters in Colombia. Additionally, S. laeviceps was collected in wet montane forest, old growth dry tropical rain forest, montane hardwood forest, wet montane cloud forest and oak forest litter extractions. Specimens were collected in surface and vegetation Vienna sausage baits in tropical primary rain forest. (Pacheco and Mackay 2013)

Identification
A New World thief ant that is a member of the molesta species complex. (Key to New World Solenopsis Species Complexes)

Pacheco and Mackay (2013) – Worker - This species is concolorous yellow (occasionally pale brown with yellow appendages) with a thickened petiole viewed laterally. The sides of the head are convex and the head is slightly narrowed at the posterior border. The lateral clypeal teeth are well developed and usually curved inwards, but the extralateral teeth are absent.

The workers of S. laeviceps are similar to those of Solenopsis striata (Costa Rica). The mesopleuron of S. laeviceps is nearly smooth and glossy which separates it from S. striata in which the mesopleuron is completely striated. Additionally, the petiole of S. laeviceps is thick viewed laterally, while the petiole of S. striata is thin with an elevated node. Solenopsis laeviceps is very similar to Solenopsis molesta and could be a synonym. We need to have sexuals of S. laeviceps so they can be directly compared with those of S. molesta in order to determine their relationship. Solenopsis laeviceps can be separated on the basis of differences in distribution, S. molesta is presently found only in North America (USA and Mexico).

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

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  laeviceps. Solenopsis laeviceps Mayr, 1870a: 406 (w.) COLOMBIA.

Worker
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=5). TL 1.50-1.56 (1.51); HL 0.402-0.408 (0.407); HW 0.330-0.360 (0.348); EL 0.036-0.042 (0.040); ED 0.030; SL 0.300; FSL 0.120-0.126 (0.125); CI 82.1-88.2 (85.5); SI 73.5-74.6 (73.7); PL 0.072-0.078 (0.073); PW 0.096-0.102 (0.098); PI 70.6-81.3 (74.5); PPL 0.102-0.108 (0.107); PPW 0.108-0.120 (0.118); PPI 90.0-94.4 (90.9); WL 0.300-0.324 (0.307); PSL 0.030-0.036 (0.032); PSW 0.024-0.030 (0.029).

Yellow; sides of head convex, narrowing posteriorly, rarely straight; minor segments of funiculus relatively long; lateral clypeal teeth well developed, curved inwards ( typically); extralateral teeth absent, yet bumps often interrupting anterior of clypeal margin; mesopleuron nearly completely smooth and glossy; horizontal striae on metapleuron; petiole thickened, wider than postpetiole viewed laterally.

Hairy, with erect and suberect hairs of various lengths covering all body surfaces; head covered with short (0.030 mm) suberect pilosity; long (0.102 mm) suberect hairs on mesosoma.

Type Material
Colombia, (lectotype worker and an additional 11 paralectotype workers [here designated] ). Solenopsis laeviceps antoniensis, Colombia, St Antonio, Sierra Nevada of Santa Marta.