Solenopsis shiptoni

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) – Worker - This is a bicolored species with golden brown body and a darker brown head and gaster. The posterior margin of the head is nearly straight. The lateral clypeal teeth are well developed and extend past the anterior clypeal margin by 0.024 mm. In full face view, the eye extends past the lateral margin of the head by 0.003 mm. There are horizontal striae present on the mesopleuron and propodeum but are lacking on the pronotum. There is roughened (coriaceous) sculpturing on the lower halves of the sides of the petiole and postpetiole.

It is obvious that S. shiptoni is closely related to Solenopsis metanotalis and Solenopsis emiliae but can be distinguished by its smaller eye and lack of sculpturing on the pronotum. This lack of pronotal sculpturing is the diagnostic character for this species and separates it for all other members of the metanotalis subgroup. Solenopsis shiptoni does not have as well developed lateral clypeal teeth as does S. metanotalis and S. emiliae (extend past anterior clypeal border by approximately 0.050-0.060 mm). In addition, S. emiliae has more roughened sculpturing covering the petiole and postpetiole compared to S. shiptoni.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina, Bolivia.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  shiptoni. Solenopsis shiptoni Forel, 1914d: 276 (w.) ARGENTINA. Subspecies of metanotalis: Creighton, 1930b: 127. Revived status as species: Wild, 2007b: 54. Senior synonym of steigeri: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 299.
 * steigeri. Solenopsis shiptoni var. steigeri Santschi, 1916e: 378 (w.) ARGENTINA. Subspecies of metanotalis: Bolton, 1995b: 391. Raised to species: Wild, 2007b: 37. Junior synonym of shiptoni: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 299.

Worker
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=6). TL 1.80-1.92 (1.82); HL 0.480-0.528 (0.510); HW 0.420-0.456 (0.434); EL 0.096-0.108 (0.101); ED 0.060; SL 0.342-0.354 (0.349); FSL 0.162; CI 82.4-87.5 (85.2); SI 67.0-71.3 (68.5); PL 0.078; PW 0.132-0.144 (0.137); PI 54.2-59.1 (56.9); PPL 0.120; PPW 0.168-0.180 (0.173); PPI 66.7-71.4 (69.5); WL 0.360-0.420 (0.386); PSL 0.036; PSW 0.036.

Bicolored; with golden brown body, darker brown head and gaster; head longer than wide, posterior occipital margin nearly straight; clypeal margin between lateral teeth concave; lateral teeth well developed; extralateral teeth angular, break margin of clypeus; scape does not reach posterior lateral corner of head; eye extends past lateral margin of head, approximately 17 ommatidia; horizontal striae on mesopleuron, side of propodeum, lacking on pronotum; notopropodeal suture well depressed, groove breaks sculpture of mesosoma; dorsal propodeal margin angular, propodeal spiracle relatively small; roughened sculpturing basal on petiole, postpetiole; petiole wider than postpetiole viewed laterally, triangular node; well-developed flange on subpeduncular process; postpetiolar node oval, larger than petiole when viewed dorsally.

Hairy with hair covering all body surfaces; erect and suberect hairs of various lengths from head to gaster.

Type Material
Coll. Forel, Argentina, Tucuman (Shipton) (lectotype worker and 1 paralectotype worker [here designated], ). Solenopsis shiptoni steigeri. Sammlung, Dr. F. Santschi, Kairouan, Argentina, Chaco (von Steiger (lectotype worker and 3 paralectotype workers ),).