Megalomyrmex pacova

This taxon was described from the a specimen from the Neotropics intercepted in the United States.

Identification
Brandão (1990) - This species can be clearly distinguished from all other Leoninus group species by the lack of an anterior tooth at the petiole ventral face and by the head shape.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia.

Nomenclature

 *  pacova. Megalomyrmex pacova Brandão, 1990: 437, figs. 46, 55 (w.) U.S.A. [Intercepted in quarantine, from Neotropics.]

Worker
Mandibles smooth; anterior clypeal border round with median denticle; 18 ocular facets at compound eye largest diameter; 3-segmented antennal club; occipital margin raised: frontal suture impressed; promesonotal suture impressed; mesosternum and metasternum without acrotergites; dorsal face and declivity of propodeum meeting in low lateral tubercles, divergent at apex; dorsal face impressed transversally; declivity with concentric striations around the foramen; epipetiolar carina complete; pedunculate petiole in general without anteroventral tooth or flange; dorsal margin of petiolar node, in side view, concave; dorsal margin of petiolar node, in frontal view, round; ventral face of postpetiole with a low round process; apex of femura acuminate.

Color: deep-brown, almost black.

Type Material
Type specimens came from banana shipments arrived at U.S. Quarentine ports (Charleston, South Carolina; Brownsville, Texas and New York, NY). Holotype and 3 paratypes at Museu de Zoologia da USP; 2 paratypes at National Museum of Natural History, Washington; 2 paratypes at Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard.

Etymology
M. pacova has been named after the Tupi word pacova, meaning banana.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Ulyssea M. A., C. R. F. Brandao. 2013. Catalogue of Dacetini and Solenopsidini ant type specimens (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil. Papies Avulsos de Zoologia 53(14): 187-209.