Leptogenys cordoba

A specimen collected in Apazapán, Mexico was found in an area of coffee and banana fields.

Identification
Key to Leptogenys of the New World

Lattke (2011) - Median clypeal lobe with subparallel sides apicad, apex truncate sometimes with median denticle, sides of lobe lamellate; eye weakly convex, length not more than 6 ommatidia across, ommatidia not distinctly separated; mesometapleural suture broad, scrobiculate, widening anterad; petiolar node subquadrate in dorsal view, wider posterad than anterad, anterior margin broadly convex and more than half width of posterior margin.

A member of the rufa species group. Some specimens bear a truncate median clypeal lobe, without a denticle, and a mesometapleural suture that notably widens anterodorsad, differences evident even amongst nestmates. The mesometapleural suture may be mostly smooth and shining or (usually) with varying amounts of transverse striae or scrobiculate.

Distribution
This taxon was described, and is only known, from (eastern) Mexico.

Castes
Queens and males are unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  cordoba. Leptogenys cordoba Lattke, 2011: 209, fig. 65 (w.) MEXICO.

Worker
Metrics, holotype (paratypes, n = 4): HL 0.87 (0.85–0.90); HW 0.65 (0.60–0.67); ML 0.43 (0.38– 0.50); EL 0.10 (0.10–0.12); SL 0.70 (0.67–0.78); PW 0.52 (0.48 – 0.55); WL 1.27 (1.24 – 1.30); PH 0.50 (0.52 – 0.53); PL 0.42 (0.40 – 0.43); DPW 0.35 (0.35 – 0.38) mm. CI 0.75 (0.71–0.74); MI 0.67 (0.59–0.75); OI 0.15 (0.15 – 0.18); SI 1.08 (1.03 – 1.19); LPI 1.20 (1.19 – 1.29); DPI 0.84 (0.84 – 0.96).

Head mostly subrectangular in full-face view, wider anterad than posterad with greatest width at posterior margin of eyes; lateral margin broadly convex; posterior cephalic margin straight to weakly concave; median clypeal lobe with subparallel sides apicad, apex truncate sometimes with median denticle, sides of lobe lamellate, apical seta lacking; lateral lobe narrow, widest towards median lobe, forming blunt angle. Eye laterally placed on head, weakly convex in cephalic full-face view, length under one-fourth lateral cephalic margin, not more than 6 ommatidia across, ommatidia not distinctly separated. Scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by 2 apical widths, mostly smooth and shining with abundant piligerous punctulae; antenna segment II longer than segments III – IV, length of antennal segments II – IV approximately equal to width or slightly longer, each funicular segment wider apicad than basad. Mandible elongate, external and basal margins parallel, most of mandibular basal margin broadly concave, basally weakly convex, row of 2 – 3 stiff hairs present basad; basal angle shaped as blunt angle, masticatory margin short with pointed apical tooth; mandibular dorsum mostly smooth and shining with scattered punctulae. Cephalic dorsum mostly smooth and shining with sparse punctulae; clypeus smooth with irregular striae at base of median lobe and scattered, low, piligerous tubercles.

Dorsal pronotal margin convex anterad in lateral view, posteriorly weakly convex to straight; metanotal groove broad, well developed; dorsal propodeal margin mostly straight to weakly convex, separated from declivitous margin by blunt angle, declivity weakly convex, ending in rounded triangular lobe posterodorsad of spiracle. Propodeal spiracle oval, facing posterolaterad; shallow depression located between spiracle and propodeal lobe. Pronotum mostly smooth and shining with scattered punctulae except for transverse striae on collar, anterodorsal pronotal surface occasionally with shallow piligerous lacunae; mesopleuron mostly smooth and shining with irregular shallow undulations, posteroventrad rugulose, anterodorsad with transverse sulcus of variable length; mesometapleural suture broad, scrobiculate, widening anterad; metapleural-propodeal suture absent; metapleuron-propodeal lateral face smooth with undulations anterad, posterad rugulose. Mesosomal dorsum smooth and shining with scattered piligerous punctae, propodeal declivity with carina uniting apex of each tooth, surface anterad of carina concave in cross-section and with transverse striae, declivity posterad of carina forms broad transverse sulcus. Prosternum smooth and shining; mesopleuron with anteroventral carina widest anterad; mesonotum 2.5 × wider than long in dorsal view, posterior margin straight, metanotal groove scrobiculate.

Petiole node subquadrate in lateral view; anterior and posterior margins vertical, anterior margin less than half the height of posterior margin; node highest posterad, dorsal margin convex, without sharp lateral edges; node mostly smooth and shining. Subpetiolar process broadly triangular in lateral view, with brief anterior convexity and long, broadly convex anteroventral margin. Node subquadrate in dorsal view, wider posterad than anterad, anterior margin broadly convex and more than half width of posterior margin, posterior margin straight to weakly convex, lateral margin straight to slightly convex. Anterior postpetiolar margin broadly convex in lateral view, dorsal margin convex, both margins forming right angle; constriction between abdominal segments III–IV well marked; gaster mostly smooth and shining with scattered punctulae. Body ferruginous to dark brown; mandibles, clypeus legs, and antenna brownish-yellow. Body with scattered erect and semi-erect hairs, appressed pilosity wanting. Coxae mostly smooth and shining; metacoxal dorsum with posterior rounded crest basad; pro- and metatibial apices lacking setae, mesotibia with single external seta.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Mexico, Veracruz, Córdoba, 13.vii.1966, J.S. Buckett, M.R. & R. Gardner coll. One worker deposited in. – Paratypes. Four workers with same data as holotype deposited in UCDC.

Etymology
The species name is derived from the name of the town closest to where the ants were taken, Córdoba.