Cephalotes biguttatus

Identification
A member of the multispinosus clade differing from its outgroup species by the presence of gastral spots and from the two ingroups by the superficial sculpture of the worker and soldier, and, in the soldier only, by the absence of cephalic disc. (de Andrade and Baroni Urbani 1999)

Distribution
Known from Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala.

This taxon was described from Costa Rica.

Nomenclature

 *  biguttatus. Cryptocerus gibbosus r. biguttatus Emery, 1890b: 73, pl. 9, fig. 3 (s.w.q.) COSTA RICA. [Also described as new by Emery, 1894k: 59.] Combination in Paracryptocerus: Kempf, 1951: 226; in Zacryptocerus: Kugler, C. 1978a: 474; in Cephalotes: Baroni Urbani, 1998: 326; De Andrade & Baroni Urbani, 1999: 303. Subspecies of multispinosus: Forel, 1899c: 50; Kempf, 1972a: 179. Raised to species: De Andrade & Baroni Urbani, 1999: 303.

Worker
Kempf (1951) - Differs from the typical form [= multispinosus] by the more sparsely foveolate upper surface of head, and thorax. The sides of head are somewhat converging anteriorly, not quite parallel. Mesoepinotal suture distinct. Epinotum bordered in its entire length by a continuous, converging caudad, semitransparent crest, the lower portion of the declivous face slightly impressed mesad. Laterotergite of pronotum finely reticulate-punctate, without longitudinal striae. Scales within the foveolae on head thorax and gaster more slender, longer, and silvery.

de Andrade and Baroni Urbani (1999) - Measurements (in mm) and indices: TL 5.52-6.52; HL 1.20-1.48; HW 1.52-1.68; EL 0.32-0.39; PW 1.40-1.76; PeW 0.76-0.88; PpW 0.83-1.00; HBaL 0.54-0.60; HBaW 0.17-0.18; CI 126.7-129.0; PI 106.8-111.1; PPeI 180.0-200.0; PPpI 156.5-176.0; HBaI 30.0-31.5.

Soldier
Kempf (1951) - The soldier may be recognized by the finer sculpture on head and thorax, the foveolae are as sparse as in the worker. The teeth on the vertex have no lateral crest between the sides of the head. The occipital angles are slightly upturned in very large soldiers. Sides of mesonotum without a conspicuous, projecting, rounded lobe. Epinotum as in the worker.

de Andrade and Baroni Urbani (1999) - Measurements (in mm) and indices: TL 7.00-7.04; HL 1.60; HW 2.04-2.06; EL 0.40; PW 1.92; PeW 0.90-0.92; PpW 1.00-1.04; HBaL 0.60; HBaW 0.19-0.20; CI 127.5-128.7; PI 106.2-107.3; PPeI 208.7-213.3; PPpI 184.6-192.0; HBaI 31.7-33.3.

Queen
Kempf (1951) - Length 1 1 mm. General color as in soldier and worker. Head longer, about as long as wide, the sides somewhat converging anteriorly. Vertex with two blunt teeth, connected by a blunt transverse crest. Occipital angles crested, subreetangular. Occiput truncate mesad and slightly excavated. Upper surface of head rather smooth, sparsely covered with small foveolae, containing a simple, appressed hair. Anterior corner of thorax rectangular, slightly notched behind the corner. Pronotum and mesonotum subfulgid, sparsely foveolate. Epinotum sharply marginate laterad, the basal face subopaque and densely foveolate, the declivous face subopaque, somewhat excavated, not foveolate. Upper mesopleura bulging, densely foveolate, the intervals rather fulgid. Lower mesopleura with a blunt tooth. Posterior portion of the sides of the thorax finely shagreened and subopaque. Femora not angulate above. Sides of petiole slightly diverging caudad until the last third, where it is suddenly constricted, forming a small tooth. Postpetiole with a short, slightly recurved, stout lateral tooth. Both peduncular segments densely but rather shallowly foveolate above. Gaster not crested antero-Iaterad, emarginate antero-mesad, with a large yellow spot on each anterior corner. Integument finely shagreened. Appressed hair minute. Wings infumated, veins brunneous. Fore wing with a close appendiculate marginal cell, the transverse cubital vein short to obsolete, the transverse median vein bisects the median vein into two subequal halves, the 2nd abscissa more than three times as long as the transverse median vein.

de Andrade and Baroni Urbani (1999) - Measurements (in mm) and indices: TL 10.80-10.86; HL 1.92-1.96; HW 2.20-2.32; EL 0.44-0.48; PW 2.20-2.50; PeW 0.92-1.10; PpW 1.24-1.30; HBaL 0.72-0.77; HBaW 0.22-0.26; CI 112.2-122.9; PI 88.0-105.3; PPeI 227.3-239.1; PPpI 177.4-192.3; HBaI 30.5-33.8.

Type Material
de Andrade and Baroni Urbani (1999) - Worker, soldier and gyne. Type locality: Jimenez (Costa Rica). Type material: 7 workers, 3 soldiers, 1 gyne (Syntypes) from Jimenez (Costa Rica) in, examined, 1 possible syntype soldier without locality label in , examined, 2 syntype workers and soldiers labeled Costa Rica in , examined.