Hylomyrma longiscapa

This species inhabits forested areas in the Atlantic forest (Northeast Brazil), tropical rainforest (Amazon), “Cerrado” (Brazilian savanna), and semideciduous forest enclaves in the Atlantic forest biome (Minas Gerais, Brazil). Specimens are frequently found in leaf-litter samples, which suggests that this species nests in the leaf-litter, fallen logs, rotten wood, or inside natural cavities of the superficial soil layers. Except for the presence of intercastes, there is no further information available regarding the biology of H. longiscapa. (Ulyssea & Brandao, 2021)

Identification
Regular and longitudinal striae on head dorsum, parallel towards posterior margin; long scape; vermicular striae on mesosoma; dorsal margin of petiole discontinuous; ventral surface entirely covered with transverse striae; postpetiole with regular and longitudinal striae slightly anastomosed and thick; subpostpetiolar process sculptured on laterobasal region, midbasal region smooth; long striae on tergum of first gastral segment; body with many branched setae; branches of equal size; unbranched setae predominate in the gaster.

Hylomyrma longiscapa is similar to Hylomyrma marielleae regarding the body size and the sculpture pattern. However, H. longiscapa can be easily distinguished from H. marielleae (characteristic in parentheses) in the thin and light setae (vs. thick and dark), and the transverse striae on the ventral surface of petiole well-marked (vs. weakly marked). Both species have broad distribution in the center-north of South America, however H. longiscapa occurs in many localities in eastern portions of Brazil (from northeast to southeast regions) (Fig. 83) where H. marielleae does not occur (Fig. 85).

The type specimens (Surinam) have one central ocellus. This character, together with the larger body size [HL (0.92–0.98); HW (0.80–0.86); ML (0.58–0.66); SL (0.76–0.90); MOD (0.23–0.28); PNW (0.58–0.64): WL (1.16–1.30); PSL (0.28–0.32); PL (0.56–0.60); PW (0.18–0.23); PPL (0.33–0.36); PPW (0.29–0.32); GL (1.06–1.20); TL (4.65–5.08); CI (86.95–89.58); SI (95–104.65); OI (28.75–32.55)], and the promesonotal junction discernible by a more pronounced depression, likely indicate the specimens are intercastes. Intercastes were also sampled in Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. Specimens from Brazil (Novo Jardim, TO) have a spine on the mesoventral surface of petiole.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela.

Nomenclature

 * . Hylomyrma longiscapa Kempf, 1961b: 498, fig. 7 (w.) SURINAME.
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 2 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Suriname: Dirkshoop, v.1959, pitfall trap, primary forest (J.v.d. Drift); paratypes: 1 worker with same data, 1 worker Suriname: Vank, viii.1959, pitfall trap (J.v.d. Drift).
 * Type-depositories: MZSP (holotype); JVDC, MZSP (paratypes).
 * Ulysséa & Brandão, 2021: 60 (q.m.).
 * Status as species: Kempf, 1964e: 54 (in key); Kempf, 1972a: 118; Kempf, 1973b: 244 (redescription); Kempf, 1975c: 346; Kutter, 1977a: 88; Brandão, 1991: 347; Bolton, 1995b: 213; Pierce, M.P., Branstetter, et al. 2017: 137; Ulysséa & Brandão, 2021: 58 (redescription).
 * Distribution: Brazil, Ecuador, French Guiana, Peru, Venezuela.

Type Material

 * Holotype: SURINAM[E: Saramacca]: Dirkshoop, v.1959, I.v.d. Drift col., 10.iii a-2 (1W) (ANTWEB-1008991 MZSP67350) [MZSP] [examined by Ulyssea & Brandao (2021)].
 * Paratype: SURINAM[E]: Vank, viii.1959, I.v.d. Drift col., 32.xvii a-5 (1W) (MCZ31531) [MCZC] [examined by Ulyssea & Brandao (2021)].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Alonso L. E., J. Persaud, and A. Williams. 2016. Biodiversity assessment survey of the south Rupununi Savannah, Guyana. BAT Survey Report No.1, 306 pages.
 * Brandao, C.R.F. 1991. Adendos ao catalogo abreviado das formigas da regiao neotropical (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Rev. Bras. Entomol. 35: 319-412.
 * Fernandes I., and J. de Souza. 2018. Dataset of long-term monitoring of ground-dwelling ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the influence areas of a hydroelectric power plant on the Madeira River in the Amazon Basin. Biodiversity Data Journal 6: e24375.
 * Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
 * Franco W., N. Ladino, J. H. C. Delabie, A. Dejean, J. Orivel, M. Fichaux, S. Groc, M. Leponce, and R. M. Feitosa. 2019. First checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of French Guiana. Zootaxa 4674(5): 509-543.
 * Kempf W. W. 1961. A survey of the ants of the soil fauna in Surinam (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Studia Entomologica 4: 481-524.
 * Kempf W. W. 1973. A revision of the Neotropical myrmicine ant genus Hylomyrma Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Studia Entomologica 16: 225-260.
 * Kempf W. W. 1975. Miscellaneous studies on neotropical ants. VI. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Studia Entomologica 18: 341-380.
 * Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
 * Pierce M. P., M. G. Branstetter, and J. T. Longino. 2017 . Integrative taxonomy reveals multiple cryptic species within Central American Hylomyrma FOREL, 1912 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 25: 131-143.
 * Pires de Prado L., R. M. Feitosa, S. Pinzon Triana, J. A. Munoz Gutierrez, G. X. Rousseau, R. Alves Silva, G. M. Siqueira, C. L. Caldas dos Santos, F. Veras Silva, T. Sanches Ranzani da Silva, A. Casadei-Ferreira, R. Rosa da Silva, and J. Andrade-Silva. 2019. An overview of the ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the state of Maranhao, Brazil. Pap. Avulsos Zool. 59: e20195938.