Holcoponera ejuncida

Identification
On account of size, sculpture, pilosity and posteriorly inclined petiole node this species seems to be most closely related to Gnamptogenys pilosa, a very similar species found in an Andean canyon NW of Cali, Colombia. The sculpture of pilosa is much finer and its pilosity is a bit denser, including abundant erect hairs, practically lacking in ejuncida. The presence of erect to suberect hairs in pilosa vs. subdecumbent to decumbent hairs in ejuncida is especially notable on the femora. In lateral view the angle formed by the junction of the dorsal and declivitous propodeal faces is greater in ejuncida than in pilosa, giving it a more slender appearance. (Lattke 1995)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia.

Nomenclature

 *  ejuncida. Gnamptogenys ejuncida Lattke, 1995: 165, figs. 48, 50 (w.) COLOMBIA.

Worker
Holotype measurements: HL 1.10; ML 0.26; HW 0.88; SL 1.02; ED 0.18; WL 1.54 mm, CI 0.80; SI 1.56; OI 0.21.

With head in frontal view: vertexal margins slightly convex, lateral margins broadly convex and anterior clypeal margin convex; mandibles triangular and with rugose dorsum; anterior pronotal face with six transverse costulae, dorsum with longitudinal costulae; mesonotum with anteriorly convex costulae, transverse at metanotum and posteriorly convex on dorsal propodeal face; anepisternum with three transverse costulae that descend from mesonotum; rest of mesosomal side obliquely costulate, some curve around propodeal spiracies; declivitous propodeal face with longitudinal costulae; in lateral view dorsal mesosomal outline evenly convex, with no abrupt breaks or depressions; petiolar node posteriorly inclined: in lateral view transversely costulate with convex anterior margin, concave posterior margin and overhanging apex; subpetiolar process triangular and projecting anterad. Anterior face to dorsal two-thirds of postpetiolar dorsum with transverse costulae; rest of gastric sculpture longitudinal; postpetiolar sternum anteriorly transversely costulate, posteriorly divergent; transverse costulae on procoxae and anterior faces of meso- and metacoxae; metacoxal tooth well developed. Abundant suberect hairs and pubescence on body and extremities.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Colombia, Putumayo, Mocoa, 610 m, 4-1-77, C. Kugler, leg. Deposited in.

Etymology
This sleek species inspired the use of the Latin word for slender, ejuncida.