Hylomyrma margaridae

This species has been recorded with winkler extractors in forested areas at high elevations ranging from 1038 to 1050 m in Guyana and at lower elevations in French Guiana (Nouragues Station is located at about 124 m and Mitaraka Mountain at 554 m). (Ulyssea & Brandao, 2021)

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, mesepisternum and propodeum directed to propodeal spine; dorsal margin of petiole continuous, strongly convex; spiniform projection on mesoventral surface of petiole; node rounded with transverse striae anteriorly and longitudinal striae posteriorly on dorsum; subpostpetiolar process smooth, prominent, subtriangular; profemur posterior surface and protibia extensor surface mostly smooth, with few striae on basal and apical regions; striation on tergum of first gastral segment restricted to base.

This species can be misidentified mainly as Hylomyrma peetersi and Hylomyrma villemantae. The three species are allopatric; H. villemantae occurs in one locality in northeastern Brazil (BA) (Fig. 86), H. margaridae occurs in Guyana and French Guiana (Fig. 89), and H. peetersi in areas near the Guyana - Venezuela border (Fig. 89).

Hylomyrma margaridae can be distinguished from H. peetersi (characteristic in parentheses) in the striae on the laterals of mesosoma that are directed transversely towards the propodeal spine (vs. directed to the propodeal dorsum), the mesoventral surface of petiole armed with a conspicuous spine (vs. a subtriangular projection), the petiolar dorsum covered with both transverse and logitudinal striae (vs. entirely covered with transverse striae), and the prominent subpostpetiolar process (vs. weak). Hylomyrma margaridae can be distinguished from H. villemantae in the striae on the head dorsum with punctuated crests (vs. with smooth crests), the mesosoma longitudinally striate (vs. with few elliptical and concentric striae), the shorter propodeal spine (vs. longer), the armed mesoventral surface of petiole (vs. unarmed), and the smooth dorsum of postpetiole and gaster (vs. striate).

Hylomyrma margaridae and H. lopesi have similar shape and sculpture of the mesosoma. Nevertheless, H. margaridae has a reniform eye (vs. oval eye of H. lopesi), the striae on the head dorsum with punctuated crests (vs. with smooth crests), and the continuous dorsal margin of petiole (vs. discontinuous). The two species are allopatric (Fig. 89); H. margaridae occurs in Guyana and French Guiana, and H. lopesi in Brazil.

Regarding morphological variation, the queen collected in French Guiana has the petiolar node covered with concentric striae that circumscribe its anterodorsal, lateral and posterior regions.

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

Nomenclature

 * . Hylomyrma margaridae Ulysséa, in Ulysséa & Brandão, 2021: 72, figs. 48, 49, 89 (w.q.) GUYANA, FRENCH GUIANA.
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 5 paratype workers, 2 paratype queens.
 * Type-locality: holotype Guyana: Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo, Acarai Mts, nr New Romeo Camp, 01°20.066’N, 58°57.876’W, 1038 m., 14.x.2006, winkler, JSC06101-LS04 (T.R. Schultz, J. Sosa-Calvo, C.J. Marshall & R. Williams); paratypes: 3 workers, 1 queen with same data, 1 worker with same data but 1050 m., JCS061014-LS03, 1 queen French Guiana: Nouragues Station, FT2-Transition For., 4°09’N, 52°68’W, ix.2009, #5635, FT2 Tr5 W29 (S. Groc et al.), 1 worker French Guiana: Mitaraka Mts, Plateau, 2.233158N, -54.44381W, 27.ii.2015, Winkler 48h, C-P7-3, MI15-0079-15 (J. Orivel & F. Petitclerc).
 * Type-depositories: USNM (holotype); MCZC, MZSP, USNM (paratypes).
 * Distribution: French Guiana, Guyana.

Type Material

 * Holotype: GUYANA: Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo: Acarai Mts., nr. New Romeo Camp, 1038m, 58°57.876′W, 1°20.066′N, 14.x.2006, T.R. Schultz, J. Sosa-Calvo, C.J. Marshall, R. Williams, 1° forest, leaf litter, Winkler sample, JSC061014-LS04 (1W) (USNMENT00688842) [USNM].
 * Paratypes: same data as holotype (1W) (USNMENT00688836 MZHY195) [MZSP]; (2W 1Q, one worker covered with gold) (USNMENT00688820, USNMENT00688844, USNMENT00688842) [USNM]; same  except  1050m,  58°57.876′W,  1°20.048′N,  JSC061014-LS03  (1W)  (USNMENT00688740)  [MCZC]. FRENCH  GUIANA:  [Cayenne:  Saint-Élie],  Nouragues  Station,  FT2-Transition  For.,  4°09′N,  52°68′O,  ix.2009,  Sarah Groc & al, #5635, FT2 Tr5 W29 (1Q) (MZSP67391) [MZSP]; [Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni: Maripasoula], Mitaraka Mts, Plateau, 2.233158N -54.44381W, 27.ii.2015, J. Orivel & F. Petitclerc cols., winkler 48h, C-P7-3, MI15-0079-15 (1W) (MZSP67392) [MZSP].