Neivamyrmex baylori

This species is known from only three specimens, all collected in Texas. The worker and queen of this species is unknown, but is likely to be Neivamyrmex pauxillus or, less probably, Neivamyrmex moseri. (Snelling and Snelling 2007)

Identification
Watkins (1973) - Male: small size (5.8 mm); clypeus without teeth; first gastric tergite as long as second; subgenital plate with 3 teeth; mandibles sickle-shaped; dorsoapical projection of sagitta rounded at apex and only slightly longer than the sharp-pointed, down-turned ventroapical projection; distance from lateral ocellus to margin of compound eye almost one and one-half times the diameter of median ocellus; posterior corners of head strongly swollen; volsella narrow, blade-shaped; stipes, in profile, somewhat truncate at apex, with a broad, low, triangular dorsal projection; head, alitrunk and petiole black; antennae, legs and gaster reddish-brown with blackish mottling.

The male of N. baylori may be keyed to Neivamyrmex cloosae in Borgmeier (1955: 298), except the lateral ocelli of N. baylori are almost 1.5 times their diameters from the margins of the compound eyes rather than “at least twice their diameters” as stated in couplet 44a. The smaller body size, truncate sagitta, and blade-shaped volsella of N. baylori will distinguish it from N. cloosae. The male of Neivamyrmex digitistipus Watkins (1973) may also be keyed to N. cloosae in Borgmeier (1955), but N. digitistipus can be readily distinguished from N. baylori and N. cloosae by its yellowish-brown coloration and distinctly different stipes.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality - Waco, Texas.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States.

Castes
Known only from the male caste.

Nomenclature

 *  baylori. Neivamyrmex baylori Watkins, 1973: 430, figs. 1-8 (m.) U.S.A.

Male
Length 5.8 mm. Head height 0.575 mm; width (including compound eyes) 0.925 mm. Posterior margin of head, viewed from the front, with rounded corners strongly projecting posterolateral from the ocelli and dorsal from compound eyes. Border between lateral ocelli slightly indented, almost straight. Median and lateral ocelli 0.12 mm in diameter. Distance between lateral ocelli 0.225 mm. Distance from lateral ocellus to border of compound eye 0.175 mm. Height (diameter) of compound eye (lateral view) 0.325 mm. Labrum bilobed. Anterior border of clypeus between frontal carinae straight. Edges of frontal carinae between antennal fossae sharp, then becoming more rounded as they curve laterally to form strongly projecting ridges above the antennal fossae and below the ocelli, then curving downward to form smaller ridges between the outer borders of the antennal fossae and the compound eyes. Area between frontal carinae with a very shallow diamond-shaped depression. Mandibles sickle-shaped, gradually tapering from bases to pointed apices. Scape length 0.375 mm, moderately widened distally. Flagellum length 1.8 mm, filiform; segment 1 narrowest (0.087 mm), 2 shortest (0.075 mm), apical segment longest (0.25 mm). Segment 1 longer than wide, 2 wider than long, 3 and 4 equal in length and width, 5-12 longer than wide (apical segment 2.5 times longer than wide).

Alitrunk length 1.9 mm, greatest height 1.1 mm, greatest width 0.8 mm, arched anteriorly over about one-half the thickness of the head. Pronotum strongly compressed. In profile, promesoscutal and promesopleural sutures prominent; dorsal surface of scutum anteriorly rounding into a level posterior surface. Ventral surface of mesosternum convex. Vertical suture between metaepimeron and propodeum distinct and ending ventrally in a deep, pin-hole sized depression. Narrow horizontal depression below propodeum extends about one-half the distance to the posterior border. In profile, dorsal surface of propodeum 0.2 mm long, rounded and depressed below the dorsal surface of the thorax; posterior surface 0.35 mm long, steeply sloping, slightly concave, almost straight.

Forewing length 5.0 mm, greatest width 1.7 mm, second submarginal (cubital) cell 2.5 times longer than wide, veins brown with darker stigma, entire surface thickly covered with short brownish setae. Hindwing length 3.8 mm, greatest width 0.9 mm.

Metaleg: length of coxa 0.5 mm, trochanter 0.1 mm, femur 0.675 mm, tibia 0.725 mm, tarsal segment one 0.45 mm, two 0.175 mm, three 0.15 mm, four 0.1 mm, five 0.175 mm. Coxa 2.5 times longer than wide, trochanter as wide as long, femur gradually widened distally (proximal width 0.1 mm, distal width 0.15 mm), tibia straight; tarsal segment one longest, four shortest; claws curved, without teeth.

Petiole, from dorsal view, about 1.5 times wider than its median length (width 0.625 mm, median length 0.4 mm); lateral borders straight; posterior border concave; dorsal surface transversely concave. Node of petiole, in profile, higher than long (height 0.475 mm, length 0.4 mm); anterior surface gradually rounding into dorsal surface which forms a prominent corner with anteriorly sloping posterior border; ventral surface almost straight.

Gaster elongate, cylindrical; length 3.1 mm, height 1.1 mm. Subgenital plate “shovel-shaped” with two outer apical teeth and one shorter median tooth. Stipes, in profile, with truncate apex and broad, somewhat triangular dorsal projection. Volsella, in profile, narrow “blade-shaped” with pointed, slightly upturned apex, not forked. Sagitta, in profile, with a short, apically rounded, posterodorsal projection and a slightly shorter, down-turned, sharp-pointed posteroventral projection.

Head, alitrunk and petiole black. Antennae, legs and gaster reddish-brown with blackish mottling. All surfaces smooth, except for setae bearing punctations especially prominent on the head and alitrunk.

Type Material
Holotype male with red label, collected by J. F. Watkins, 3 October 1972, Waco, McLennan County, Texas, U. S. A., deposited in Watkins's collection, Baylor University, Waco, Texas.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * O'Keefe S. T., J. L. Cook, T. Dudek, D. F. Wunneburger, M. D. Guzman, R. N. Coulson, and S. B. Vinson. 2000. The Distribution of Texas Ants. The Southwestern Entomologist 22: 1-92.
 * Snelling G. C. and R. R. Snelling. 2007. New synonymy, new species, new keys to Neivamyrmex army ants of the United States. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80: 459-550
 * Watkins J. F., II 1973. Neivamyrmex baylori, n. sp. (Formicidae: Dorylinae) from Waco, Texas, U.S.A. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 46: 430-433.
 * Wheeler, G.C. and J. Wheeler. 1985. A checklist of Texas ants. Prairie Naturalist 17:49-64.