Zatania darlingtoni

Known only from the type collection. Wheeler (1936) reported: Described from seven workers taken by Dr. Darlington between La Visite and Kenscoff, Haiti, at an altitude of 5000-7000 ft. Except in the structure of the thorax, this ant seems to be more like a Prenolepis than a Nylanderia. The larger specimens are true repletes, with greatly distended gaster, like the repletes of our common North American Prenolepis imparis.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Greater Antilles, Haiti.

Nomenclature

 *  darlingtoni. Nylanderia darlingtoni Wheeler, W.M. 1936b: 210 (w.) HAITI.
 * Combination in Paratrechina: Brandão, 1991: 366.
 * Combination in Nylanderia: LaPolla, Brady & Shattuck, 2010a: 127.
 * Combination in Zatania: Williams & LaPolla, 2016: 252.

Worker
Length 1.8 -2.4 mm.

Head subrectangular, slightly longer than broad, as broad in front as behind, with feebly and evenly convex sides and straight posterior border. Eyes rather large, moderately convex, at the middle of the sides. Mandibles narrow, with oblique 6-toothed blades, the third and fifth tooth from the apex smaller than the others. Clypeus convex and subcarinate in the middle, its anterior border entire and broadly rounded. Frontal area large but indistinct. Antennae long and slender; scapes extending about two-fifths of their length beyond the posterior border of the head; second funicular joint small, broader than long, joints 3-10 subequal, nearly twice as long as broad, terminal joint nearly as long as the two preceding joints together. Thorax in profile with feebly convex promesonotum, gradually rising to the mesoepinotal impression which is very short, abrupt and shallow, the epinotum rising somewhat behind it to form a very short base and then falling in a very flat curve to the metasternal angles. Seen from above the thorax is about two and one-half times as long as broad, somewhat broader through the pronotum than through the posterior rectangular portion of the epinotum; pronotum broader than long, mesonotum longer than broad; metanotal spiracles not prominent, separated by a distance equal to fully three times their diameter. Petiole with low, thick, anteriorly inclined node, half as broad as the epinotum, with straight, transverse, blunt summit, its sides converging inferoposteriorly, its posterior surface feebly convex. Gaster rather large, convex dorsally, with acute tip, the first segment shaped as in Prenolepis imparis Say, with a concavity for the reception of the petiolar scale, medially marginate above and acutely angular on each side. Legs rather long and slender.

Very smooth and shining, with fine, sparse, piligerous punctures; gaster delicately shagreened. Mandibles finely, longitudinally striolate. Legs arid scapes less shining, very finely and densely punctulate.

Hairs on gaster and dorsal surface of head and pronotum yellowish, erect, sparse and tapering. Pubescence appressed, rather long on the head, shorter and denser on the gaster and even finer and denser on the legs. There are no bristle-like erect hairs on the legs and scapes.

Sordid, pale yellowish brown or brownish yellow; dorsal surface of gaster darker brown; scapes and median portions of femora and tibial feebly infuscated; coxae, trochanters and tarsi pale yellow; mandibles reddish, with darker reddish teeth.

Type Locality Information
Described from seven workers taken by Dr. Darlington between La Visite and Kenscoff, Haiti, at an altitude of 5000-7000 ft.