Nylanderia myops

Morphology features (small eyes, pale pigmentation) suggest foragers are nocturnal or hypogaeic.

Identification
LaPolla and Kallal (2019) - Uniformly pale yellow with very small eyes (REL: 9–11; SI2: 7–9).

Compare with Nylanderia zaminyops.

Nylanderia myops is quite distinct in its morphological appearance with very small eyes and a uniformly pale-yellow body color. The only other species it could be confused with is N. zaminyops which is known from Trinidad. The relative eye index is smaller in N. myops (REL 9–11) compared with N. zaminyops (REL 13–17). In N. myops the dorsal face of the propodeum is relatively flat and long, in contrast to the more rounded and short propodeal dorsal face of N. zaminyops.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Cuba, Greater Antilles, Puerto Rico.

Biology
While little is known about the biology of this species, its morphology (small eyes and very pale coloration) suggests it is either a hypogaeic or nocturnal forager. It has been collected from several localities across Cuba in sifted leaf litter and/or rotten wood. The type series was collected under a stone (Mann, 1920).

Nomenclature

 *  myops. Prenolepis (Nylanderia) myops Mann, 1920: 432 (w.q.m.) CUBA. Combination in Paratrechina (Nylanderia): Emery, 1925b: 222; in Nylanderia: Brown, 1955g: 135; in Paratrechina: Brandão, 1991: 367; in Nylanderia: LaPolla, Brady & Shattuck, 2010a: 127. Senior synonym of troglodytes: Brown, 1955g: 135.
 * troglodytes. Paratrechina (Nylanderia) troglodytes Weber, 1934a: 58, fig. 7 (w.) CUBA. Junior synonym of myops: Brown, 1955g: 135.

Worker
LaPolla and Kallal (2019) - (n=2): TL: 2.10–2.20; HW: 0.43–0.44; HL: 0.53–0.55; EL: 0.05–0.06; SL: 0.65– 0.67; WL: 0.67–0.69; GL: 0.85–0.98. SMC: 16–19 PMC: 3; MMC: 2. indices: CI: 78–83; REL: 9–11; SI: 147–155; SI2: 7–9. Head: sides of head in full face view nearly parallel; posterolateral corners rounded; posterior margin straight, slightly emarginate medially; anterior clypeal margin emarginate; ocelli absent; eye small. Mesosoma: in lateral view, pronotum convex; anterior margin of mesonotum raised slightly above posterior pronotal margin; metanotal area without a short flat area before spiracle; dorsal face of propodeum relatively flat; dorsal face of propodeum lower than mesonotum in lateral view. Color and pilosity: uniformly pale yellow; except on scapes with abundant pubescence, pubescence absent to sparse, most abundant on mesonotum and dorsum of gaster.

Type Material
LaPolla and Kallal (2019) - 6 syntype workers, CUBA: Mina Carlota, Trinidad Mts. (examined). Male and queen specimens described by Mann (1920) could not be found despite an extensive search of the and NMNH collections.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Alayo D. P. 1974. Introduccion al estudio de los Himenopteros de Cuba. Superfamilia Formicoidea. Academia de Ciencias de Cuba. Instituto de Zoologia. Serie Biologica no.53: 58 pp. La Habana.
 * Brandao, C.R.F. 1991. Adendos ao catalogo abreviado das formigas da regiao neotropical (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Rev. Bras. Entomol. 35: 319-412.
 * Brown W. L., Jr. 1955. Nylanderia myops (Mann), new combination (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Psyche (Camb.) 62: 135-136.
 * Fontanla Rizo J.L. 1997. Lista preliminar de las hormigas de Cuba. Cocuyo 6: 18-21.
 * Fontenla J. L., and J. Alfonso-Simonetti. 2018. Classification of Cuban ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) into functional groups. Poeyana Revista Cubana de Zoologia 506: 21-30.
 * Fontenla Rizo J. L. 1993. Composición y estructura de comunidades de hormigas en un sistema de formaciones vegetales costeras. Poeyana. Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática, Academia de Ciencias de Cuba 441: 1-19.
 * Fontenla Rizo J. L. 1993. Mirmecofauna de Isla de la Juventud y de algunos cayos del archipielago cubano. Poeyana. Instituto de Ecologia y Sistematica, Academia de Ciencias de Cuba 444:1-7.
 * Fontenla Rizo J. L. 1997. Lista preliminar de las hormigas de Cuba (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Cocuyo 6: 18-21.
 * Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
 * LaPolla J. S., and R. J. Kallal. 2019. Nylanderia of the World Part III: Nylanderia in the West Indies. Zootaxa 4658: 401-451.
 * Mann W. M. 1920. Additions to the ant fauna of the West Indies and Central America. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 42: 403-439.
 * Portuondo E. F., and J. L. Reyes. 2002. Mirmecofauna de los macizos montañosos de Sierra Maestra y Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa. Cocuyo 12: 10-13
 * Portuondo Ferrer E., and J. L. Fernández Triana. 2005. Species of hymenopterans (bees, wasps, and ants) recorded in Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, from literature records, revision of the collection at BIOECO, and collections before and during the rapid inventory, 12-22 February 2004. In Fong G., A., D. Maceira F., W. S. Alverson, y/and T. Wachter, eds. 2005. Cuba: Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt. Rapid Biological Inventories Report 14. The Field Museum, Chicago.
 * Portuondo Ferrer, E. and J. Fernandez Triana. Biodiversidad del orden Hymenoptera en Los Macizos Montanosos de Cuba Oriental. Boletin S.E.A. 35:121-136.
 * Reyes, J. L. "Inventario de la colección de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) del Centro Oriental de Ecosistemas y Biodiversidad, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba." Boletín de la Sociedad Aragonesa 36 (2005): 279-283.
 * Torres, Juan A. and Roy R. Snelling. 1997. Biogeography of Puerto Rican ants: a non-equilibrium case?. Biodiversity and Conservation 6:1103-1121.
 * Weber N. A. 1934. Notes on neotropical ants, including the descriptions of new forms. Revista de Entomologia (Rio de Janeiro) 4: 22-59.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1937. Ants mostly from the mountains of Cuba. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 81: 439-465.