Neivamyrmex punctaticeps

Identification
Jack Longino:

Posterior face of propodeum straight, not concave, as long or longer than dorsal face; eye without distinct convex cornea; apex of scape does not exceed eye level; anteroventral tooth of petiole broadly triangular, shallow to nearly absent; face with abundant strong puncta; mesosomal dorsum with roughened sculpture; pilosity of mesosomal dorsum relatively dense, short, and of uniform length (contrasting with Neivamyrmex swainsonii, which has longer, sparser pilosity of variable length).

Similar species: Neivamyrmex swainsonii.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.

Biology
Jack Longino: I know this species from several widespread and diverse situations. Dana Meyer collected workers from a rotten log at Sirena in Corcovado National Park. I collected workers from a column on the main road in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, at 1500m elevation. I observed the column at 1240hrs. The column was tight, with rows of stationary workers on the sides, mandibles open and pointed upward (Fig. 1). The column was partially on open ground, partially under a soil-covered gallery before disappearing underground. There were several phorid flies running with the column.

Nomenclature

 * . Eciton (Acamatus) punctaticeps Emery, 1894c: 181 (w.) BRAZIL (Rio de Janeiro).
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Brazil: Rio de Janeiro (Germain).
 * Type-depository: MSNG.
 * Replacement name for Labidus spinolae Westwood, 1842: 77. [Junior primary homonym of Labidus spinolae Shuckard, 1840c: 327.]
 * [Note: punctaticeps oldest junior synonym of spinolae Westwood (synonymy by Borgmeier, 1953: 7, Borgmeier, 1955: 409); hence punctaticeps first available replacement name (Bolton, 1995b: 291).]
 * Combination in Neivamyrmex: Borgmeier, 1955: 409.
 * Emery, 1894c: 181 (w.).
 * Junior synonym of spinolae Westwood: Borgmeier, 1953: 7; Borgmeier, 1955: 409; Kempf, 1972a: 159.
 * Status as species: Forel, 1895b: 141; Emery, 1910b: 25; Santschi, 1912e: 526; Santschi, 1916e: 368; Borgmeier, 1923: 48; Borgmeier, 1936: 62; Borgmeier, 1955: 409; Bolton, 1995b: 291; Palacio, 1999: 157 (in key); Wild, 2007b: 26; Branstetter & Sáenz, 2012: 254; Palacio, 2019: 621.
 * Distribution: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Suriname, Trinidad.
 * columbicum. Eciton (Acamatus) fiebrigi r. columbicum Forel, 1912c: 46 (w.) COLOMBIA.
 * Type-material: holotype worker.
 * Type-locality: Colombia: (no further data).
 * Type-depository: MHNG.
 * Junior synonym of commutatum: Borgmeier, 1953: 9.
 * Junior synonym of spinolae: Borgmeier, 1955: 409; Kempf, 1972a: 159.
 * Junior synonym of punctaticeps: Bolton, 1995b: 291.
 * commutatum. Eciton commutatum Emery, 1900a: 184 (w.) COLOMBIA.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * [Note: this taxon is based on nitens Mayr, 1868a: 168, sensu Mayr, 1870a: 398, misidentification.]
 * Type-locality: Colombia (“Neugranada”): (no further data).
 * Type-depository: NHMW.
 * Combination in E. (Acamatus): Emery, 1900a: 187;
 * combination in E. (Neivamyrmex): Smith, M.R. 1942c: 568;
 * combination in Neivamyrmex: Borgmeier, 1953: 6.
 * Status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1908e: 413; Wheeler, W.M. 1909b: 231; Emery, 1910b: 24; Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 562; Santschi, 1911d: 3; Smith, M.R. 1938b: 158; Smith, M.R. 1942c: 568 (redescription); Creighton, 1950a: 71; Smith, M.R. 1951a: 780.
 * Junior synonym of spinolae: Borgmeier, 1955: 409; Kempf, 1972a: 159.
 * Junior synonym of punctaticeps: Bolton, 1995b: 291.
 * fiebrigi. Eciton (Acamatus) fiebrigi Forel, 1909a: 255 (w.) PARAGUAY.
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: Paraguay: San Bernardino (Fiebrig).
 * Type-depositories: MHNG, NHMB.
 * Status as species: Emery, 1910b: 24.
 * Junior synonym of spinolae: Borgmeier, 1953: 9; Borgmeier, 1955: 409; Kempf, 1972a: 159.
 * Junior synonym of punctaticeps: Bolton, 1995b: 291.
 * hospes. Eciton latiscapum subsp. hospes Emery, 1906c: 111 (m.) ARGENTINA (Formosa).
 * Type-material: holotype male.
 * Type-locality: Argentina: Formosa (F. Silvestri).
 * Type-depository: MSNG.
 * Subspecies of latiscapus: Forel, 1907e: 2; Emery, 1910b: 26; Bruch, 1914: 215; Gallardo, 1920: 381.
 * Junior synonym of spinolae: Borgmeier, 1953: 7; Borgmeier, 1955: 409; Kempf, 1972a: 159.
 * Junior synonym of punctaticeps: Bolton, 1995b: 291.
 * ierense. Eciton (Acamatus) ierense Weber, 1938a: 207 (w.) TRINIDAD.
 * Type-material: 20 syntype workers.
 * Type-locality: Trinidad: Mayaro Bay, 24.xi.1934 (N.A. Weber).
 * [Note: Weber also mentions (as “metatypes”) “a few worker heads” Trinidad: St Augustine, 22.iii.1935, ex stomach Bufo marinus (N.A. Weber).]
 * Type-depositories: AMNH, MCZC.
 * Junior synonym of spinolae: Borgmeier, 1955: 409; Kempf, 1972a: 159.
 * Junior synonym of punctaticeps: Bolton, 1995b: 291.

Worker
Smith (1942), for the synonym commutatum - Major. Length 4-5 mm.

Eye extremely small, indistinct, apparently placed beneath general surface of head, and only observable after careful examination. Superior border of mandible with remarkably large, blunt, angular, basal tooth; margin deeply excised between this tooth and masticatory border; masticatory border usually with a number of small, irregular teeth, which may often be worn off. Antennal scape remarkably robust, short, less than three times as long as its greatest width; funiculus exceedingly short and broad, all segments, except first two and last, very noticeably broader than long. Antennal socket open in front, that is, without a flange (this best seen from above). Posterior border of head, from above, deeply emarginate, forming distinct, blunt,• angular posterior corners; posterior corners not outwardly curved as in wheeleri. Thorax compressed. Pronotum without transverse carina. Promesonotum approximately two and a half times length of epinotum when measured from the point where the carina should be back to meso-epinotal suture; meso-epinotal suture broad, distinct, but not deep. Anterior half of promesonotum, in profile, convex; posterior half distinctly flattened; posterior part of promesonotum clearly elevated above base of epinotum. Base of epinotum meeting declivity in blunt, obtuse angle, which in some aspects does not appear much greater than a right angle. Petiole robust, subquadrate, approximately seven-eighths as broad as long. Postpetiole scarcely shorter than petiole but very clearly broader, approximately one and one-fourth times as broad as long, broader posteriorly than anteriorly.

Body and appendages unusually smooth and highly polished, with the following exceptions: Mandibles subopaque, coarsely and longitudinally striated, and bearing scattered piligerous punctures near the masticatory border; anterior declivity of pronotum, propleura, and sides of petiole and postpetiole faintly shagreened, subopaque; meso- and metapleura more coarsely granulate-punctate; meso-epinotal suture granulate-punctate, with also longitudinal striae; tarsi and funiculi opaque owing to the abundant pile. Head with small, scattered, but distinct punctures.

Hairs yellowish, moderately abundant, of variable length, apparently sparse or absent on sides of thorax and head: Appressed pubescence more visible on gaster than elsewhere.

Deep yellowish brown to reddish brown, with lighter petiole, post-petiole, gaster, and legs; mandibles and frontal carinae much darker, especially around borders.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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