Solenopsis desecheoensis

Known only from the type series, nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
A New World thief ant that is a member of the globularia species complex

Pacheco and Mackay (2013) – Worker - The worker is easily recognized as a member of the globularia species complex, based on its greatly dilated postpetiole. It can be identified based on its dark brown coloration (appears to have faded in time for Mann 1920 states they are jet black) with yellowish-brown appendages. Based on the material examined, it appears to be monomorphic with the medial clypeal tooth is well developed and the mesopleuron and metapleuron are horizontally striated.

Solenopsis desecheoensis is different from the widely distributed Solenopsis globularia in that it is a dark piceous brown with yellow-brown appendages, has a more developed medial clypeal tooth and an eye of 22-25 ommatidia. Based on the material examined (only three workers), it appears to be monomorphic, opposed to the polymorphic members of the rest of the globularia species group. We will be conservative and recognize S. desecheoensis as a valid species. However, further collection in Puerto Rico or the adjacent Antilles Islands, may show this species to be a color variant and synonym of S. globularia.

Distribution
Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Puerto Rico.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  desecheoensis. Solenopsis globularia var. desecheoensis Mann, 1920: 428 (w.) PUERTO RICO. Raised to species: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 148.

Worker
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=3). TL 2.10-2.16 (2.14); HL 0.582-0.600 (0.594); HW 0.480; EL 0.090-0.096 (0.094); ED 0.066-0.072 (0.070); SL 0.408-0.420 (0.416); FSL 0.180; CI 80.0-82.5 (80.8); SI 70.0; PL 0.120; PW 0.198-0.210 (0.204); PI 57.1-60.6 (58.9); PPL 0.240; PPW 0.288-0.318 (0.302); PPI 75.5-83.3 (79.6); WL 0.420; PSL 0.036; PSW 0.030.

Moderately large; concolorous dark brown Get black in original description Mann 1920), yellowish-brown appendages; head subquadrate, side convex, posterior border straight, finely punctate; five clypeal teeth present, angulate, including medial tooth; clypeal carinae well defined; eyes large, 22-25 ommatidia; scape long, reaching ¾ length to posterior lateral comer of head; minor funicular segments 3-8 long (0.180 mm in total length); pronotum smooth and shiny; metapleuron horizontally striated; notopropodeal suture well depressed, notch-like, groove breaks sculpture of mesosoma; posterior edge of propodeum angulate; propodeal spiracle small, circular; metapleuron horizontally striated; petiolar peduncle long (0.072 mm); anterior and posterior face of petiole nearly straight, petiolar peduncle lacking tooth or flange ventrally; postpetiole greatly dilated, globose, larger than petiole viewed laterally and dorsally, lacking tooth or flange ventrally.

Abundantly hairy, pilosity yellow; head with erect hairs of various lengths (0.030-0.120 mm); numerous hairs of various lengths on dorsum of mesosoma (0.030-0.120 mm) pointed in different directions; hairs on petiole, postpetiole and gaster curve posteriorly.

Type Material
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Antilles Is., Desecheo Is., W. I. Feb. 18-20 '14, M.C.Z. Cotype 1-3 20928, Wm. M. Wheeler, F3505D (lectotype worker [here designated] and 2 paralectotype workers ).