Pogonomyrmex aterrimus

Identification
See the introduction to the Key to North American Pogonomyrmex

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

Nomenclature

 *  aterrimus. Pogonomyrmex (Ephebomyrmex) schmitti subsp. aterrimus Wheeler, W.M. 1936b: 197 (w.) HAITI. Combination in Ephebomyrmex: Kempf, 1972a: 106; in Pogonomyrmex: Bolton, 1995b: 339. Raised to species: Johnson & Cover, 2015: 233. Senior synonym of darlingtoni: Johnson & Cover, 2015: 233.
 * darlingtoni. Pogonomyrmex (Ephebomyrmex) schmitti subsp. darlingtoni Wheeler, W.M. 1936b: 197 (w.) HAITI. Combination in Ephebomyrmex: Kempf, 1972a: 106; in Pogonomyrmex: Bolton, 1995b: 340. Junior synonym of aterrimus: Johnson & Cover, 2015: 233.

Worker
Differing from the typical schmitti in being coal-black throughout, with only the apical portions of the mandibular blades and terminal tarsal joints brown, whereas the typical schmitti is brown-black or reddish brown, with red, mandibles, and brown legs and tips of epinotal and metasternal spines. Moreover, the whole body of aterrimus, except the posterior half of the first gastric segment and the following segments is decidedly more opaque, the thoracic rugosity coarser, the dense punctuation of the petiolar node, postpetiole and anterior half of the first gastric segment decidedly sharper. Epinotal spines longer; petiolar node narrower, less expanded anteriorly, with the anterior end more acuminate and pointed and its dorsal surface more coarsely and irregularly rugose.

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