Simopelta curvata

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Mackay and Mackay (2008) - This species is nearly identical to Simopelta pergandei, being the same size and color. It can be separated by the four-toothed mandible (three toothed in P. pergandei). It can be separated from many of the other species with four mandibular teeth, by the presence of the narrow process on the anterior medial border of clypeus. It shares this characteristic with Simopelta laticeps and Simopelta mayri. It can be separated from S. laticeps by the nearly straight posterior margin of the head (strongly concave in S. laticeps). It is much smaller than S. mayri, and lacks the well defined, transverse striolae on the posterior half of the head, that are present in S. mayri.

Key to Simopelta

Distribution
Southern Brasil: Mato Grosso (Kempf, 1972); Santa Catarina (Borgmeier, 1950), interior of southern Brazil, São Paulo (Gotwald and Brown, 1966).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  curvata. Belonopelta curvata Mayr, 1887: 532 (w.) BRAZIL. Combination in B. (Simopelta): Mann, 1922: 10; in Simopelta: Wheeler, W.M. 1935d: 13; in Belonopelta: Baroni Urbani, 1975b: 300; in Simopelta: Bolton, 1995b: 383. See also: Gotwald & Brown, 1967: 265; Mackay & Mackay, 2008: 300.

Worker
Mackay and Mackay (2008) - The worker is a small (total length 3.5 mm), ferrugineous red species. The mandibles have four, well-developed teeth. The medial anterior border of the clypeus terminates in a sharp point, or a spatulate spine. The head is slightly widened anteriorly, and the posterior border is nearly straight. The eye is small (maximum diameter 0.03 mm), located about three maximum eye diameters from the anterior edge of the head. The scape is relatively short, and barely reaches the posterior lateral corner of the head. The mesosoma is broadly depressed at the metanotal suture, the petiole is relatively narrow when viewed in profile, with the anterior face being slightly concave.

Long (up to 0.15 mm), erect hairs are present on the mandibles, and on the ventral surface of the gaster. Shorter (0.03 mm) erect hairs are abundant on the head, mesosoma, petiole, and dorsum of the gaster. The hairs on the legs are nearly appressed to the surface.

The surface of the mandible is shiny and glossy, with scattered punctures, the dorsum of the head is covered with fine punctures, which are weakly arranged in transverses rows. The dorsum of the mesosoma has poorly defined, transverse striolae, similar striolae are present on the side of mesosoma, but are predominantly longitudinal. The petiole is finely striolate, and moderately to strongly shining. The gaster is slightly coriaceous and shining.

Type Material
Mackay and Mackay (2008) - Worker, Brasil: Santa Catarina (without locality) [lectotype and paralectotype workers seen, ]