Dolichoderus plagiatus

Identification
Key to North American Dolichoderus Species

Distribution
This taxon was described from the United States. It is also found in Canada.

Nomenclature

 *  plagiatus. Hypoclinea plagiata Mayr, 1870b: 960 (w.) U.S.A. Wheeler, W.M. 1905d: 311 (q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1951: 175 (l.). Combination in Dolichoderus: Mayr, 1886d: 436; in D. (Hypoclinea): Emery, 1894c: 229. Senior synonym of borealis: Emery, 1895c: 330; of inornatus: Creighton, 1950a: 335. See also: Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1966: 727; Smith, D.R. 1979: 1416; Johnson, C. 1989a: 3; Mackay, 1993b: 81; Shattuck, 1994: 61.
 * borealis. Dolichoderus borealis Provancher, 1888: 408 (w.) CANADA. Junior synonym of plagiatus: Emery, 1895c: 330.
 * inornatus. Dolichoderus plagiatus var. inornatus Wheeler, W.M. 1905d: 313 (w.) U.S.A. Junior synonym of plagiatus: Creighton, 1950a: 335.

Worker
Johnson (1989) - This ant has a mottled color pattern compared to the other species. The mandibles and head are dark brown to near-black, paler in callow specimens. The antennae, alitrunk; legs and petiole are brown-orange; dorsum of the alitrunk becoming dark brown in older specimens. There are laterally-spaced spots of pale brownish-orange on the first and second segments of gaster; the remainder of gaster is dark brown.

Structurally, head and complete dorsum of alitrunk are sculptured with well-defined depressions or foveolae. The pronotum is sculptured as strongly as the mesonotum, a definitive feature for this species. Granulation of the alitrunk occurs within the depressions and the surface is essentially opaque; the reflectivity of cuticle broken into small, disjunct regions. A fine granulation occurs on the petiole, and the integument of the gaster is smooth and shining. Erect hairs are numerous on head and alitrunk; a few scattered erect hairs occur on gaster, and there are short, fine erect hairs on scapes. In dorsal view, length of propodeum exceeds its width. Integument within concavity of the declivous face of propodeum is smooth and highly reflective.