Neivamyrmex punctaticeps

Identification
Jack Longino:

Posterior face of propodeum straight, not concave, as long or longer than dorsal face; eye without distinct convex cornea; apex of scape does not exceed eye level; anteroventral tooth of petiole broadly triangular, shallow to nearly absent; face with abundant strong puncta; mesosomal dorsum with roughened sculpture; pilosity of mesosomal dorsum relatively dense, short, and of uniform length (contrasting with Neivamyrmex swainsonii, which has longer, sparser pilosity of variable length).

Similar species: Neivamyrmex swainsonii.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.

Biology
Jack Longino: I know this species from several widespread and diverse situations. Dana Meyer collected workers from a rotten log at Sirena in Corcovado National Park. I collected workers from a column on the main road in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, at 1500m elevation. I observed the column at 1240hrs. The column was tight, with rows of stationary workers on the sides, mandibles open and pointed upward (Fig. 1). The column was partially on open ground, partially under a soil-covered gallery before disappearing underground. There were several phorid flies running with the column.

Nomenclature

 * . Eciton (Acamatus) punctaticeps Emery, 1894c: 181 (w.) BRAZIL (Rio de Janeiro).
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Brazil: Rio de Janeiro (Germain).
 * Type-depository: MSNG.
 * Replacement name for Labidus spinolae Westwood, 1842: 77. [Junior primary homonym of Labidus spinolae Shuckard, 1840c: 327.]
 * [Note: punctaticeps oldest junior synonym of spinolae Westwood (synonymy by Borgmeier, 1953: 7, Borgmeier, 1955: 409); hence punctaticeps first available replacement name (Bolton, 1995b: 291).]
 * Combination in Neivamyrmex: Borgmeier, 1955: 409.
 * Emery, 1894c: 181 (w.).
 * Junior synonym of spinolae Westwood: Borgmeier, 1953: 7; Borgmeier, 1955: 409; Kempf, 1972a: 159.
 * Status as species: Forel, 1895b: 141; Emery, 1910b: 25; Santschi, 1912e: 526; Santschi, 1916e: 368; Borgmeier, 1923: 48; Borgmeier, 1936: 62; Borgmeier, 1955: 409; Bolton, 1995b: 291; Palacio, 1999: 157 (in key); Wild, 2007b: 26; Branstetter & Sáenz, 2012: 254; Palacio, 2019: 621.
 * Distribution: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Suriname, Trinidad.
 * columbicum. Eciton (Acamatus) fiebrigi r. columbicum Forel, 1912c: 46 (w.) COLOMBIA.
 * Type-material: holotype worker.
 * Type-locality: Colombia: (no further data).
 * Type-depository: MHNG.
 * Junior synonym of commutatum: Borgmeier, 1953: 9.
 * Junior synonym of spinolae: Borgmeier, 1955: 409; Kempf, 1972a: 159.
 * Junior synonym of punctaticeps: Bolton, 1995b: 291.
 * commutatum. Eciton commutatum Emery, 1900a: 184 (w.) COLOMBIA.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * [Note: this taxon is based on nitens Mayr, 1868a: 168, sensu Mayr, 1870a: 398, misidentification.]
 * Type-locality: Colombia (“Neugranada”): (no further data).
 * Type-depository: NHMW.
 * Combination in E. (Acamatus): Emery, 1900a: 187;
 * combination in E. (Neivamyrmex): Smith, M.R. 1942c: 568;
 * combination in Neivamyrmex: Borgmeier, 1953: 6.
 * Status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1908e: 413; Wheeler, W.M. 1909b: 231; Emery, 1910b: 24; Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 562; Santschi, 1911d: 3; Smith, M.R. 1938b: 158; Smith, M.R. 1942c: 568 (redescription); Creighton, 1950a: 71; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 780.
 * Junior synonym of spinolae: Borgmeier, 1955: 409; Kempf, 1972a: 159.
 * Junior synonym of punctaticeps: Bolton, 1995b: 291.
 * fiebrigi. Eciton (Acamatus) fiebrigi Forel, 1909a: 255 (w.) PARAGUAY.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Paraguay: San Bernardino (Fiebrig).
 * Type-depositories: MHNG, NHMB.
 * Status as species: Emery, 1910b: 24.
 * Junior synonym of spinolae: Borgmeier, 1953: 9; Borgmeier, 1955: 409; Kempf, 1972a: 159.
 * Junior synonym of punctaticeps: Bolton, 1995b: 291.
 * hospes. Eciton latiscapum subsp. hospes Emery, 1906c: 111 (m.) ARGENTINA (Formosa).
 * Type-material: holotype male.
 * Type-locality: Argentina: Formosa (F. Silvestri).
 * Type-depository: MSNG.
 * Subspecies of latiscapus: Forel, 1907e: 2; Emery, 1910b: 26; Bruch, 1914: 215; Gallardo, 1920: 381.
 * Junior synonym of spinolae: Borgmeier, 1953: 7; Borgmeier, 1955: 409; Kempf, 1972a: 159.
 * Junior synonym of punctaticeps: Bolton, 1995b: 291.
 * ierense. Eciton (Acamatus) ierense Weber, 1938a: 207 (w.) TRINIDAD.
 * Type-material: 20 syntype workers.
 * Type-locality: Trinidad: Mayaro Bay, 24.xi.1934 (N.A. Weber).
 * [Note: Weber also mentions (as “metatypes”) “a few worker heads” Trinidad: St Augustine, 22.iii.1935, ex stomach Bufo marinus (N.A. Weber).]
 * Type-depositories: AMNH, MCZC.
 * Junior synonym of spinolae: Borgmeier, 1955: 409; Kempf, 1972a: 159.
 * Junior synonym of punctaticeps: Bolton, 1995b: 291.
 * spinolae. Labidus spinolae Westwood, 1842: 77 (m.) BRAZIL (Goiás, and “Caisara”).
 * Type-material: 2 syntype males.
 * Type-localities: Brazil: Meia Ponte, 16.x.1827 (W. Burchell), and Caisara, 23.x.1827 (W. Burchell).
 * [Note: Caisara is the name of a municipality in both Rio Grande do Sul, and Paraiba.]
 * Type-depository: OXUM.
 * [Junior primary homonym of Labidus spinolae Shuckard, 1840c: 327.]
 * Combination in Eciton: Forel, 1895b: 121;
 * combination in E. (Acamatus): Emery, 1900a: 187;
 * combination in E. (Labidus): Bruch, 1914: 215;
 * combination in Neivamyrmex: Borgmeier, 1953: 17.
 * Status as species: Smith, F. 1859b: 8; Roger, 1863b: 42; Mayr, 1863: 425; Dalla Torre, 1893: 6; Forel, 1895b: 121; Emery, 1900a: 178 (in key); Emery, 1910b: 27; Forel, 1913l: 213; Bruch, 1914: 215; Borgmeier, 1923: 49; Borgmeier, 1955: 409 (redescription); Kempf, 1972a: 159; Watkins, 1976: 14 (in key); Watkins, 1982: 211 (in key).
 * Replacement name: Eciton (Acamatus) punctaticeps Emery, 1894c: 181 (Bolton, 1995b: 291).
 * [Note: punctaticeps oldest junior synonym of spinolae Westwood (synonymy by Borgmeier, 1953: 7, Borgmeier, 1955: 409); hence punctaticeps first available replacement name (Bolton, 1995b: 291).]

Worker
Smith (1942), for the synonym commutatum - Major. Length 4-5 mm.

Eye extremely small, indistinct, apparently placed beneath general surface of head, and only observable after careful examination. Superior border of mandible with remarkably large, blunt, angular, basal tooth; margin deeply excised between this tooth and masticatory border; masticatory border usually with a number of small, irregular teeth, which may often be worn off. Antennal scape remarkably robust, short, less than three times as long as its greatest width; funiculus exceedingly short and broad, all segments, except first two and last, very noticeably broader than long. Antennal socket open in front, that is, without a flange (this best seen from above). Posterior border of head, from above, deeply emarginate, forming distinct, blunt,• angular posterior corners; posterior corners not outwardly curved as in wheeleri. Thorax compressed. Pronotum without transverse carina. Promesonotum approximately two and a half times length of epinotum when measured from the point where the carina should be back to meso-epinotal suture; meso-epinotal suture broad, distinct, but not deep. Anterior half of promesonotum, in profile, convex; posterior half distinctly flattened; posterior part of promesonotum clearly elevated above base of epinotum. Base of epinotum meeting declivity in blunt, obtuse angle, which in some aspects does not appear much greater than a right angle. Petiole robust, subquadrate, approximately seven-eighths as broad as long. Postpetiole scarcely shorter than petiole but very clearly broader, approximately one and one-fourth times as broad as long, broader posteriorly than anteriorly.

Body and appendages unusually smooth and highly polished, with the following exceptions: Mandibles subopaque, coarsely and longitudinally striated, and bearing scattered piligerous punctures near the masticatory border; anterior declivity of pronotum, propleura, and sides of petiole and postpetiole faintly shagreened, subopaque; meso- and metapleura more coarsely granulate-punctate; meso-epinotal suture granulate-punctate, with also longitudinal striae; tarsi and funiculi opaque owing to the abundant pile. Head with small, scattered, but distinct punctures.

Hairs yellowish, moderately abundant, of variable length, apparently sparse or absent on sides of thorax and head: Appressed pubescence more visible on gaster than elsewhere.

Deep yellowish brown to reddish brown, with lighter petiole, post-petiole, gaster, and legs; mandibles and frontal carinae much darker, especially around borders.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Baroni Urbani C. 1977. Katalog der Typen von Formicidae (Hymenoptera) der Sammlung des Naturhistorischen Museums Basel (2. Teil). Mitt. Entomol. Ges. Basel (n.s.) 27: 61-102.
 * Basset Y., L. Cizek, P. Cuenoud, R. K. Didham, F. Guilhaumon, O. Missa, V. Novotny, F. Odegaards, T. Roslin, J. Schmidl et al. 2012. Arthropod diversity in a tropical forest. Science 338(6113): 1481-1484.
 * Borgmeier T. 1923. Catalogo systematico e synonymico das formigas do Brasil. 1 parte. Subfam. Dorylinae, Cerapachyinae, Ponerinae, Dolichoderinae. Archivos do Museu Nacional (Rio de Janeiro) 24: 33-103.
 * Borgmeier T. 1936. Sobre algumas formigas dos generos Eciton e Cheliomyrmex (Hym. Formicidae). Archivos do Instituto de Biologia Vegetal (Rio de Janeiro) 3: 51-68.
 * Borgmeier T. 1953. Vorarbeiten zu einer Revision der neotropischen Wanderameisen. Studia Entomologica 2: 1-51.
 * Bruch C. 1914. Catálogo sistemático de los formícidos argentinos. Revista del Museo de La Plata 19: 211-234.
 * Cuezzo, F. 1998. Formicidae. Chapter 42 in Morrone J.J., and S. Coscaron (dirs) Biodiversidad de artropodos argentinos: una perspectiva biotaxonomica Ediciones Sur, La Plata. Pages 452-462.
 * Emery C. 1910. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Dorylinae. Genera Insectorum 102: 1-34.
 * Esteves F. A., C. R. F. Brandão, and K. Viegas. 2008. Subterranean ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) as prey of fossorial reptiles (Reptilia, Squamata: Amphisbaenidae) in Central Brazil. Papeis Avulsos de Zoologia (São Paulo) 48: 329-334.
 * Favretto M. A., E. Bortolon dos Santos, and C. J. Geuster. 2013. Entomofauna from West of Santa Catarina State, South of Brazil. EntomoBrasilis 6 (1): 42-63.
 * Fernandes, P.R. XXXX. Los hormigas del suelo en Mexico: Diversidad, distribucion e importancia (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).
 * Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
 * Forel A. 1907. Formiciden aus dem Naturhistorischen Museum in Hamburg. II. Teil. Neueingänge seit 1900. Mitt. Naturhist. Mus. Hambg. 24: 1-20.
 * Forel A. 1913. Fourmis d'Argentine, du Brésil, du Guatémala & de Cuba reçues de M. M. Bruch, Prof. v. Ihering, Mlle Baez, M. Peper et M. Rovereto. Bulletin de la Société Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles. 49: 203-250.
 * 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.
 * Gallardo A. 1920. Las hormigas de la República Argentina. Subfamilia Dorilinas. Anales del Museo Nacional de Historia Natural de Buenos Aires 30: 281-410.
 * Lattke J. E., M. Kaspari, S. ODonnell, and S. Powell. 2007. Las hormigas ecitoninas de Venezuela (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ecitoninae): elenco preliminar. Entomotropica Vol. 22(3): 153-170.
 * Pacheco R., and H. L. Vasconcelos. 2012. Subterranean Pitfall Traps: Is ItWorth Including Them in Your Ant Sampling Protocol? Psyche doi:10.1155/2012/870794
 * Roeder K. A., and D. V. Roeder. 2016. A checklist and assemblage comparison of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. Check List 12(4): 1935.
 * Rosa da Silva R. 1999. Formigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) do oeste de Santa Catarina: historico das coletas e lista atualizada das especies do Estado de Santa Catarina. Biotemas 12(2): 75-100.
 * Ryder Wilkie K.T., A. L. Mertl, and J. F. A. Traniello. 2010. Species Diversity and Distribution Patterns of the Ants of Amazonian Ecuador. PLoS ONE 5(10): e13146.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0013146
 * Santschi F. 1912. Quelques fourmis de l'Amérique australe. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 20: 519-534.
 * Santschi F. 1916. Formicides sudaméricains nouveaux ou peu connus. Physis (Buenos Aires). 2: 365-399.
 * Silva R.R., and C. R. F. Brandao. 2014. Ecosystem-Wide Morphological Structure of Leaf-Litter Ant Communities along a Tropical Latitudinal Gradient. PLoSONE 9(3): e93049. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0093049
 * Smith M. R. 1936. A list of the ants of Texas. Journal of the New York Entomological Society 44: 155-170.
 * Smith M. R. 1942. The legionary ants of the United States belonging to Eciton subgenus Neivamyrmex Borgmeier. American Midland Naturalist 27: 537-590.
 * Ulyssea M.A., C. E. Cereto, F. B. Rosumek, R. R. Silva, and B. C. Lopes. 2011. Updated list of ant species (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) recorded in Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil, with a discussion of research advances and priorities. Revista Brasileira de Entomologia 55(4): 603-611.
 * Vittar, F. 2008. Hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) de la Mesopotamia Argentina. INSUGEO Miscelania 17(2):447-466
 * Vittar, F., and F. Cuezzo. "Hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) de la provincia de Santa Fe, Argentina." Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina (versión On-line ISSN 1851-7471) 67, no. 1-2 (2008).
 * Vásquez-Bolaños M. 2011. Lista de especies de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) para México. Dugesiana 18: 95-133
 * Weber N. A. 1938. New ants from stomachs of Bufo marinus L. and Typhlops reticulatus (L). Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 31: 207-210.
 * Weber N. A. 1938. The food of the giant toad, Bufo marinus (L.), in Trinidad and British Guiana with special reference to the ants. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 31: 499-503.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1908. The ants of Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. (Part I.). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 24: 399-485.
 * Young J., and D. E. Howell. 1964. Ants of Oklahoma. Miscellaneous Publication. Oklahoma Agricultural Experimental Station 71: 1-42.
 * Young, J. and D.E. Howell. 1964. Ants of Oklahoma. Miscellaneous Publications of Oklahoma State University MP-71