Cyphomyrmex vorticis

Nothing is known about the biology of this species.

Identification
Kempf (1966) - The closest ally of vorticis is Cyphomyrmex salvini, differing the former from the latter in the following features: Body hairs simple, never scale-like; frontal lobes strikingly different in shape, broadly rounded cephalad, the curvature gradually decreasing caudad; the sigmoidal frontal carinae always fade out before reaching the spine-like occipital lobe; basal face of epinotum strongly and sharply carinate in its entire length; posterior mesonotal tubercles low, not tooth-like nor conical; petiole not noticeably constricted at each side just in front of postpetiolar insertion.

Distribution
Known from Bolivia and Brazil (and possible from Costa Rica, as stated in the nomenclature section below).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela.

Castes
Queens and males are undescribed but a collection of both castes may be in the USNM (see the nomenclature section below).

Nomenclature

 *  vorticis. Cyphomyrmex vorticis Weber, 1940a: 410 (diagnosis in key) (w.) BOLIVIA. See also: Kempf, 1966: 188.

Snelling and Longino (1992) stated the following:

Kempf (1966) reported this species only from Bolivia (Santa Helena, the type locality) and Brazil. We have seen a series of 9 workers, 2 females, and 1 male from Zent, costa rica, collected in March, 1924 by W. M. Mann (USNM). The workers agree well with Kempfs redescription, and with cotypes in the LACM, in all particulars except the pilosity. The appressed pilosity of the head and body is fine and hair-like in the cotypes and is very inconspicuous. The Zent specimens differ in having more conspicuous, though no more abundant, pilosity because the individual hairs are broad and scale-like.

Whether or not these represent a variant of C. vorticis, or an undescribed species, is uncertain. More material of both forms, as well as samples from intervening localities, must be available before the status of the Costa Rican specimens is clear. For the present they are tentatively assigned to C. vorticis.

Worker
Kempf (1966) - (lectotype). - Total length 3.8 mm; head length 0.88 mm; head width 0.85 mm; thorax length 1.28 mm; hind femur length 1.28 mm. Medium brown; dorsum of head, scapes, tibiae and gaster darker with ferruginous hues. Integument opaque; densely and minutely punctate-granulate.

Head (fig 1). Mandibles finely reticulate-rugulose, somewhat shining; chewing border with a broader diastema between 2nd and 3rd basal tooth. Clypeus with flattened anterior apron, the border of which is gently convex and notched in the middle; on each side it bears a prominent tooth. Frontal lobes very broadly expanded, the anterior curvature stronger than the posterior one; upper surface with a depressed circular area above the antennal socket. Frontal carinae sigmoidal, not quite reaching occipital corner, their border somewhat elevated at place of greatest constriction. Front with a feeble tumulus at frontal area, followed by a transverse shallow depression. Carinae of vertex semicircular, having as center a prominent tubercle; from there they diverge both cephalad and caudad. Occipital corners strongly dentate, tooth curving slightly upward and outward. Occiput oblique, not perpendicular. Preocular carina curving mesad above eyes. Postocular carina beginning below eye and extending backwards to the prominent supraocular tooth. Eyes with about 11-12 facets across greatest diameter. Inferior border of cheeks strongly and irregularly crested. Scapes gradually incrassate toward apex, surpassing the occipital corner by more than their maximum width. All funicular segments longer than broad, segment I as long as II and III combined.

Thorax (fig 15). Pronotum with small median, stronger lateral teeth; the latter connected with the feebly marked humeral angle by a blunt carina; antero-inferior tooth rectangular. Mesonotum with strong paired conical anterior teeth, followed by another pair of low elongate and blunt tubercles. Mesoepinotal constriction deep. Basal face of epinotum flanked by sharply carinate ridges in its entire length; space between ridges shallowly excavate. Declivous face laterally immarginate. Lateral blunt and oblique welt well developed, bearing the spiracle. Hind femora angular beneath in front of basal third, then gradually tapering toward apex; the postero-ventral border very slightly carinate.

Petiole and postpetiole (fig 15, 34). Petiolar node strikingly transverse without ridges or prominent postero-dorsal laminule. Postpetiole even broader, with a pair of low diverging tubercles near entire posterior border, separated by a shallow median depression. Gaster anteriorly sharply marginate; tergum I without an antero-median impression and a distinct lateral margination.

Pilosity inconspicuous, minute and appressed, not scale-like; more visible on appendages and sharp ridges of body where they become decumbent.

Type Material
Kempf (1966) - Workers taken by W. M. Mann at Santa Helena, Bolivia, in August 1921. A single specimen (lectotype NAW) seen.

Additional References

 * Snelling, R. R. and J. T. Longino. 1992. Revisionary notes on the fungus-growing ants of the genus Cyphomyrmex, rimosus group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Attini). Pages 479-494, English summary p. 653, Spanish summary p. 662-663 in D. Quintero and A. Aiello, editors. Insects of Panama and Mesoamerica: selected studies. Oxford University Press, Oxford. xxii + 692 p.