Dacetinops

Identification
Brown and Wilson (1957) - worker Small myrmicine ant, apparently closest to Lachnomyrmex of the American tropics. Body compact, integument hard and thick. Head subtriangular (with mandibles triangular), widest across occipital region, tapering toward mandibles. Antennal scrobes present, deep and distinctly scrobes near midlength of head. Antennae 11-segmented, with a fairly distinct 3-segmented club. Both sets of palpi 2-segmented. Clypeus convex, obscurely bicarinate, its anterior border forming a broadly rounded translucent apron. Mandibles triangular, broad, with straight, crenulate masticatory margins. Alitrunk compact, arched and sutureless dorsally; propodeal dorsum and declivity almost continuous; a pair of small but distinct propodeal teeth present. Petiolar node sessile (a small condylar extension is visible from above), rounded above, and sloping from a median summit; postpetiole transversely ellipsoidal, rounded above. Gaster broad and somewhat depressed; first segment taking up nearly all the length, nearly circular in outline as seen from above, bluntly margined along the sides in front; remaining- segments small, retracted. Sting sclerotized, acute, exsertile. The lower halves of the petiole, postpetiole and anterior part of the first gastric segment bearing and covered by bulky festoons of whitish spongiform tissue. Sculpture consisting predominantly of very coarse longitudinal costation, becoming more reticulate on head, nodes and sides of alitrunk; posterior half of gaster smooth and shining, as is also the propodeal declivity. Mandibles striate. Legs and antennal scrobes finely and densely punctulate. Pilosity consisting of sparse, long, flexuous tapered hairs, mostly situated at definite bilateral positions over the body. Pubescence forming a thin cover mostly only on appendages. Color deep brownish red.

Queen Dealate, but with thoracic flight segments well developed, as usual for winged myrmicines of small size; wing stumps present. Size only slightly larger than worker; form, except as mentioned, similar to that of worker, with only the usual slight differences of caste. The compound eyes are larger than in the worker, but are still modest in size. Scutum and scutellum forming together a nearly plane platform, crossed by the distinct transscutal suture; prescutellum reduced to two small lobes, one on each side of the suture, so that the scutum and scutellum meet at the suture. Scuto-scutellar platform evenly costate longitudinally.

Nomenclature

 *  DACETINOPS [Myrmicinae: Stenammini]
 * Dacetinops Brown & Wilson, 1957a: 1. Type-species: Dacetinops cibdelus, by original designation.