Solenopsis bicolor

This species was collected among a nest of Atta cephalotes in Sierra Nevada de Santa Maria, Colombia (Forel 1912). Eidmann (1936) states that Forel (1912) found colonies in the nests of Nasutitermes (Diversitermes) sp. and Acromyrmex subterraneus from (Ettershank 1966). Mark Deyrup collected specimens in the Bahamas in a garden in a pile of old coconuts (pers. comm.). Solenopsis bicolor was also found nesting in the wall of a residence in Colombia. It has been collected with surface bait in rain forest and in forest leaf litter in Venezuela, foraging on a road in Belize, at 200 m in Peru and in Berlese leaf litter old growth dry tropical forest in Costa Rica at 300 m. (Pacheco and Mackay 2013)

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

Pacheco and Mackay (2013) – Worker - This is a bicolored species with a golden-yellow body and brown gaster. The defining character of this species is that the lateral and extralateral clypeal teeth are completely absent. The clypeal carinae extend from the anterior border of the clypeus posteriorly between the antennal insertions and turn medially back around to the anterior border of the clypeus, forming a relatively large socket. The petiole and postpetiole are robust. This species has long erect hairs, especially on the head and mesosoma. Workers are dimorphic, with the total length of the minor being about 1 mm, the major worker about 2 mm. The minor looks like a smaller version of the major.

Queen - Specimens are relatively small (Total Length 2.8-3.6 mm) bicolored (head and mesosoma red, gaster dark brown or black), with the clypeus in the same form as in the worker. The clypeal teeth are completely absent and the anterior border of the clypeus is defined by a raised flange. Specimens have long hairs as in the worker.

The workers of Solenopsis spei are identical in form and size to those of Carebarella bicolor. Both species are monomorphic and are thus recognized here as the same species. Carebarella bicolor is included in this monograph as it is apparently actually a species of Solenopsis.

The workers of C. bicolor are similar to those of Solenopsis altinodis which overlaps it in distribution, but can be differentiated from S. altinodis as this species has a conspicuously high, thick petiolar node (wider than high in profile). The minor workers of Solenopsis iheringi are nearly identical to those of S. bicolor and a subtle difference in the clypeal carinae distinguishes them if no major workers are collected in a series. The carinae reach the anterior border of the clypeus in S. bicolor, but do not touch the anterior border in minor workers of Solenopsis iheringi. Additionally, S. bicolor has longer setae on all body surfaces (especially on the head and mesosoma), as compared to S. iheringi (southern South America).


 * Key to New World Solenopsis Species Complexes

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Venezuela.

Castes
Workers are dimorphic, with the total length of the minor being about 1 mm, the major worker about 2 mm. The minor looks like a smaller version of the major.

Nomenclature

 *  bicolor. Carebarella bicolor Emery, 1906c: 138 (q.) ARGENTINA. Borgmeier, 1948b: 465 (w.m.). Combination in Solenopsis: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 37, 119. Senior synonym of punctatorugosa: Kempf, 1969: 281; of spei: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 119.
 * punctatorugosa. Carebarella bicolor var. punctatorugosa Emery, 1906c: 139 (footnote), fig. 18 (q.) ARGENTINA. Eidmann, 1936: 43 (w.l.). Raised to species: Ettershank, 1966: 115. Junior synonym of bicolor: Kempf, 1969: 281.
 * spei. Solenopsis spei Forel, 1912g: 11 (w.) COLOMBIA. Junior synonym of bicolor: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 37.

Worker
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) – Major Measurements (n=6). TL 1.98-2.04 (2.03); HL 0.534-0.570 (0.549); HW 0.420-0.480 (0.451); EL 0.048; ED 0.036; SL 0.324-0.360 (0.344); FSL 0.126-0.138 (0.133); CI 78.7-84.2 (82.0); SI 56.2-63.2 (60.9); PL 0.096; PW 0.156-0.186 (0.169); PI 51.6-61.5 (57.0); PPL 0.15; PPW 0.180-0.186 (0.185); PPI 80.7-83.3 (81.2); WL 0.390-0.420 (0.403).

Minor Measurements (n=2). TL 1.14-1.20; HL 0.306-0.450; HW 0.300-0.390; EL 0.036-0.042; ED 0.030-0.036; SL 0.186-0.258; FSL 0.078-0.108; CI 87-98; SI 57-61; PSL 0.036-0.042, PSW 0.030-0.036, PL 0.084-0.090; PW 0.126-0.132; PI 67-68; PPL 0.096-0.102; PPW 0.120-0.138; PPI 74-80; WL 0.366-0.474.

Worker description (major and minor). Bicolored, golden-yellow body, brown gaster; lateral and extralateral teeth absent; clypeal carinae extend from anterior border of clypeus between antennal insertions, turn medially back around to anterior border of clypeus forming elongated socket; scape reaches ¾ length of head, not reaching posterior border; funicular segments 2-4 slightly swollen; head nearly quadrate with posterior border straight; eyes small, approximately 3 to 5 ommatidia; notopropodeal suture well depressed, groove breaks sculpture of mesosoma; punctures present on mesosoma; propodeum has angular posterior edge dorsally; mesopleuron, metapleuron with horizontal striae; petiole, postpetiole thick, with roughened sculpturing, with petiole slightly wider when viewed laterally.

Long erect hairs present throughout body surfaces; approximately 30 hairs present on scape; seven hairs on anterior border of clypeus; approximately 14 suberect hairs line posterior border of head; when viewed in profile, pronotum has eight erect hairs (nearly 0.240 mm in length); propodeum nearly absent of pilosity; three to four hairs on petiole and postpetiole; first tergite of gaster has seven long suberect hairs.

Queen
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=2). TL 2.75-3.66; HL 0.510-0.516; HW 0.498-0.546; EL 0.174-0.180; ED 0.150-0.156; SL 0.270-0.288; FSL 0.108-0.132; CI 98-106; SI 53-56; PSL 0.054-0.060, PSW 0.048-0.051, PL 0.150; PW 0.234-0.246; PI 112-164; PPL 0.168-0.180; PPW 0.282-0.288; PPI 157-172; WL 0.504-0.510.

Bicolored, head, mesosoma, petiole, and postpetiole red, gaster mostly dark brown to black; mandible with four teeth; anterior border of clypeus without teeth, although slightly angulate latterly; anterior border with small upturned flange; eyes extending well past sides of head, scape extending 2/3 length to posterior lateral comer of head; ocelli well developed; sides of head broadly rounded, posterior border nearly straight; most surfaces of head smooth and glossy; mesosoma robust with evidence of wings; propodeal spiracle nearly circular in shape; anterior face of petiole concave, apex broadly rounded, posterior face concave, subpeduncular process developed into flange; dorsum of postpetiole broadly rounded; sides of petiole and postpetiole mostly punctae; surface of gaster finely coriaceous, mostly glossy and shining.

Erect and suberect hairs covering nearly all surfaces, including mandibles, clypeus, dorsum of head, sides of head, posterior border, antennae, mesosoma, legs, petiole, postpetiole and gaster; appressed hairs sparse, few on dorsum of head and dorsum of gaster.

Type Material
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Colombia, Guajira, Dibulla, (lectotype worker and 5 paralectotype workers [here designated] Forel coll. ).