Hylomyrma peetersi

This species inhabits the leaf-litter of forested areas at elevations between 732 and 1200 m.

Identification
Regular and longitudinal striae on head dorsum diverge towards posterior margin, interspaces between striae smooth, striae crest punctuated; mesosoma covered with regular, longitudinal, parallel and thick striae; longitudinal striae on lateral of pronotum and mesepisternum continuing transversely on propodeum; dorsal margin of petiole continuous, strongly convex; subtriangular projection on mesoventral surface of petiole; node rounded with transverse striae on dorsum; subpostpetiolar process smooth, weak, convex; profemur posterior surface and protibia extensor surface mostly smooth, few striae on basal and apical regions; striation on tergum of first gastral segment restricted to base.

The diagnostic characters of this species are sufficient to distinguish it from most of its congeners. Hylomyrma peetersi is, however, more similar to Hylomyrma margaridae and Hylomyrma villemantae. All three species display a strongly convex petiole, with indistinguishable petiolar peduncle and node, and the body mainly covered with regular and longitudinal striae.

Hylomyrma peetersi and H. margaridae can be easily distinguished from H. villemantae (characteristic in parenthesis) by the striae on the head dorsum with punctuated crests (vs. with smooth crests), the mesosoma longitudinally striate (vs. with few elliptic and concentric striae), the shorter propodeal spine (vs. longer), the armed mesoventral surface of petiole (vs. unarmed), and the longitudinal striae on the dorsum of postpetiole and gaster (vs. smooth).

Hylomyrma peetersi can be distinguished from H. margaridae in the striae on the laterals of mesosoma that are directed transversely to the propodeal dorsum (vs. directed to the propodeal spine), the mesoventral surface of petiole armed with a subtriangular projection (vs. a conspicuous spine), the petiolar dorsum entirely covered with transverse striae (vs. with both transverse and longitudinal striae), and the weak subpostpetiolar process (vs. prominent).

All three species are allopatric; H. villemantae is recorded in Brazil (BA) (Fig. 86), whereas H. peetersi and H. margaridae occur in relatively close areas in northern South America (French Guiana, Guyana, and Venezuela) (Fig. 89).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Guyana, Venezuela.

Nomenclature

 * . Hylomyrma peetersi Ulysséa, in Ulysséa & Brandão, 2021: 86, figs. 57, 80D, 89 (w.) GUYANA, VENEZUELA.
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 8 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Guyana: Mt Ayanganna, Falls Camp, 1134 m., 5°22.332’N, 59°57.563’W, 11.x.2002, primary forest litter sample JSL021011-01-LS06 (T.R. Schultz, J. LaPolla, C.J. Marshall & R. Williams); paratypes: 5 workers with same data but -LS07, -LS09, -LS13, -LS14, -LS18, 1 worker Mt Ayanganna, Base Camp, 732 m., 9.x.2002, forest litter, JSL021009-03-LS07, 2 workers Mt Ayanganna, Cloud Forest, 1300 m., 13.x.2002, JSL021013-01-LS10, and -LS18  (T.R. Schultz, J. LaPolla, C.J. Marshall & R. Williams).
 * Type-depositories: USNM (holotype); DZUP, MCZC, MZSP, USNM (paratypes).
 * Distribution: Guyana, Venezuela.

Type Material

 * Holotype: GUYANA:  [Cuyuni-Mazaruni]:  Mt. Ayanganna  Falls  Camp,  1134m,  59°57.563′W,  5°22.332′N,  11.x.2002,  T.R. Schultz, J. LaPolla, C.J. Marshall, R. Williams, 1° forest, litter sample, JSL021011-01-LS06 (1W) (USNMENT00413223) [USNM].
 * Paratypes: same data as holotype except JSL021011-01-LS13 (1W) (USNMENT00413369) [USNM]; JSL021011-01-LS09 (1W) (USNMENT00413299) [MZCZ]; JSL021011-01-LS07 (1W) (USNMENT00413243) [DZUP]; JSL021011-01-LS18 (1W) (USNMENT 00413433) [MZSP 67407]; JSL021011-01-LS14 (1W) (USNMENT00413373 MZHY194) [MZSP]; Mt. Ayanganna Base Camp, 732m, 59°55.486′W, 5°20.063′N, 9.x.2002, J.S. LaPolla, forest, litter sample, JSL021009-03-LS07 (1W) (USNMENT00441070) [USNM]; Mt. Ayanganna Cloud Forest, 1300m, 59°57.969′W, 5°22.483′N, 13.x.2002, T.R. Schultz, J. LaPolla, C.J. Marshall, R. Williams, litter sample, JSL021013-01-LS10 (1W) (USNMENT00413807) [USNM]; JSL021013-01-LS18 (1W covered with gold, without postpetiole and gaster) (USNMENT 00413896) [USNM].