Solenopsis wasmannii

Solenopsis wasmannii was collected under a stone in a cerrado (forest) at 450 m in elevation and in a ground nest in a tropical dry forest at 1400m in elevation in Bolivia.

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

Pacheco and Mackay (2013) – Major and minor worker - The workers are polymorphic and the largest majors are moderately large in total length at over 5 mm. The minor workers have five well-developed clypeal teeth and quadrate heads with fine punctation, while the larger workers tend to have blunt, rounded teeth, often lacking the medial tooth and with an enlarged head that is coarsely punctate. The eyes are large, ranging from approximately 8 to 18 ommatidia. Both the mesopleuron and metapleuron are horizontally striated. The minor workers lack a tooth or flange ventrally on the petiolar peduncle, but it is present in the larger workers. Queen - The queen is large (6-9 mm total length) and concolorous brown in coloration. Four clypeal teeth are present but reduced. The frontal lobes are vertically striated, in which the striae extend halfway between the frontal lobes and medial ocellus of the head. The propodeum, petiole and postpetiole are striated. The petiolar peduncle has a thin flange along the ventral surface. Male - The male is large (approximately 5 mm total length) and dark brown with lighter brown appendages. The head, propodeum, petiole and postpetiole are striated. The medial ocellus is large at a maximum diameter of 0.120 mm. The petiolar node is triangular and the peduncle has a bump ventrally.

Solenopsis wasmannii is one of few of the "smaller" Solenopsis that is strongly polymorphic. It is easily recognized by having five well defined clypeal teeth in the minor and medium sized workers and an enlarged head in the major workers, resembling the majors of Pheidole. The clypeal teeth are less defined in the largest majors giving the appearance of four teeth at times with the medial tooth very reduced.

Keys

 * Key to New World Solenopsis Species Complexes
 * Key to Solenopsis wasmannia species complex / Clave a las obreras del complejo Solenopsis wasmannii

Distribution
Argentina (Chaco, Cordoba, Alta Gracia, Santa Fe, Tucuman, Salta, Santa Fe, Misiones), Bolivia (Beni, Santa Cruz), Brazil (Mato Grosso), Chile (Ta1ca), Paraguay (parana).

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

Nomenclature

 *  wasmannii. Solenopsis wasmannii Emery, 1894c: 151 (w.) PARAGUAY. Emery, 1906c: 122 (q.m.); Forel, 1911c: 297 (q.m.). Senior synonym of transformis: Wild, 2007b: 53.
 * transformis. Solenopsis wasmanni subsp. transformis Forel, 1911c: 298 (w.q.) PARAGUAY. Junior synonym of wasmannii: Wild, 2007b: 53; Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 352.

Worker
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=10). TL 1.80-5.28 (3.62); HL 0.600-1.32 (0.991); HW 0.480-1.26 (0.921); EL 0.060-1.62 (0.518); ED 0.048-0.102 (0.073); SL 0.390-0.600 (0.505); FSL 0.180-0.300 (0.247); CI 80.0-100 (91.0); SI 42.3-65.0 (53.5); PL 0.120-0.240 (0.168); PW 0.180-0.540 (0.357); PI 33.3-66.7 (50.5); PPL 0.132-0.330 (0.237); PPW 0.204-0.582 (0.397); PPI 52.6-78.9 (62.5); WL 0.420-1.08 (0.766); PSL 0.048-0.120 (0.080); PSW 0.042-0.084 (0.064).

Polymorphic, with major workers large; golden yellow to medium brown; head quadrate, longer than wide, finely punctate in minor workers; head enlarged, wider posteriorly than anteriorly, coarsely punctated; minor workers with five well-developed clypeal teeth, larger majors with four reduced clypeal teeth, with medial tooth often absent; frontal lobes vertically striated in all forms, weakly defined in minor workers and well defined in major workers; scape reaches ¾ length to posterior lateral corner of head in minor workers and barely surpasses half-length of head in major workers; minor segments long; eye large, with approximately 8-18 ommatidia; pronotum finely punctate in minor workers, coarsely punctate in major workers, smooth and shiny between punctures; mesopleuron horizontally striated in all sized workers; notopropodeal suture well depressed, notch-like in all forms, groove breaks sculpture of mesosoma; posterior edge of propodeum angulate, more defined in major workers; propodeal spiracle large, oval in all sizes; metapleuron horizontally striated; petiole wider than postpetiole viewed laterally in all forms; petiolar node lacking sculpturing, peduncle lacking tooth or flange ventrally in minor workers (small bump present); petiole striated, peduncle with well-developed tooth ventrally in major workers; postpetiolar node striated, postpetiole lacking tooth or flange ventrally in minor workers; postpetiolar node lacking sculpturing, with poorly defined flange ventrally in major workers.

Abundantly hairy, pilosity yellow to light brown; erect hairs of various lengths (0.030-0.180 mm), facing different directions on all body surfaces; hairs on minor workers curve posteriorly on petiole and postpetiole.

Queen
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=6). TL 6.24-9.00 (7.22); HL 1.05-1.15 (1.09); HW 1.02-1.26 (1.11); EL 0.360-0.408 (0.368); ED 0.270-0.360 (0.291); MOL 0.084-0.168 (0.102); MOD 0.102-0.138 (0.110); SL 0.648-0.840 (0.706); FSL 0.360-0.540 (0.418); CI 94.7-114 (101); SI 61.4-75.7 (64.6); PSL 0.120; PSW 0.108-0.114 (0.111); PL 0.240; PW 0.540-0.600 (0.580); PI 40.0-44.4 (41.5); PPL 0.360-0.480 (0.407); PPW 0.630-0.720 (0.683); PPI 54.5-66.7 (59.5); WL 1.92-2.40 (2.10).

Large; concolorous yellow to golden-brown; head as wide as long, wider posteriorly than anteriorly, semi-coarsely punctate; mandible with five teeth on masticatory margin; four clypeal teeth blunt, reduced; clypeal carinae weakly defined; frontal lobes vertically striated, extending half-length of head in front of medial ocellus; scapes wide 0.120 mm at maximum diameter, long, extending ¾ length of head; minor funicular segments 3-8 long (average 0.400 mm); eyes large, extend 0.036 mm past side of head; medial ocellus large, without pigment; lateral ocelli 0.120 mm distant from medial ocellus; pronotum semi-coarsely punctate, smooth and shiny between punctures; posterior propodeal margin rounded; propodeal spiracle large, oval; petiolar node robust, wider than postpetiole viewed laterally; petiolar node striated, peduncle with well-developed flange ventrally; petiolar spiracle large (0.072 mm); petiolar node striated, lacking tooth or flange ventrally.

Abundantly hairy, pilosity yellow to light brown; erect and suberect hairs of various lengths (0.060-0.240 mm) covering all body surfaces; hairs on petiole, postpetiole and gaster curve posteriorly.

Male
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=2). TL 4.92-5.76 (5.34); HL 0.660-0.732 (0.696); HW 0.720-0.822 (0.771); EL 0.432-0.462 (0.447); ED 0.276-0.342 (0.309); MOL 0.090-0.120 (0.10S); MOD 0.108-0.126 (0.117); SL 0.192-0.258 (0.225); FSL 1.26-1.32 (1.29); CI 109-112 (111); SI 29.1-3S.2 (32.2); PSL 0.120; PSW 0.120; PL 0.120; PW 0.444-0.S22 (0.483); PI 22.9-27.0 (2S.0); PPL 0.240; PPW 0.480-0.540 (0.510); PPI 44.4-50.0 (47.2); WL 1.68-2.04 (1.86).

Large; concolorous dark brown, lighter brown appendages; head wider than long, striated, semi-coarsely punctate; anterior clypeal margin straight, lacking teeth or carinae; eyes large, extend 0.060 mm past sides of head; scape long, minor funicular segments long; medial ocellus large, without pigment; lateral ocelli 0.060 mm distant from medial ocellus; pronotum semi-coarsely punctate, smooth and shiny between punctures; posterior margin of propodeum slightly angulate; propodeal spiracle large, round; propodeum striated; anterior and posterior face of petiolar node meet at sharp apex, node triangular, striated, peduncle lacking tooth or flange but with bump ventrally; postpetiole striated, lacking tooth or flange ventrally.

Abundantly hairy, pilosity yellow to light brown; funicular segments with abundant appressed hairs; erect and suberect hairs of various lengths (0.120-0.240 mm) on dorsum of head and mesosoma; long (0.240 mm), erect hairs on petiole and postpetiole; many hairs on pronotum, petiole, postpetiole and gaster curve posteriorly.

Type Material
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - 1896, Paraguay, without locality, Balzan, Museo Genova Coll. C. Emery (dono 1925) (lectotype worker, 16 paralectotype workers [here designated] ) Solenopsis wasmanni transformis robustior, Argentina, Cordoba, leg. Bruch. det. Sant. 1922, Cordoba, Alta Gracia (Bruch) (M.C.Z. Cotype 29401, 3 workers, M.C.Z. Cotype 29402, Wm. M. Wheeler, 1 queen and 5 workers ). Solenopsis wasmanni transformis robustior (lectotype worker and 24 paralectotype worker [here designated]).