Solenopsis patriciae

The type series was collected in a berlese leaf litter sample in "selva de Canacohite".

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

Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Worker. The worker of this species is a small, yellow ant, in which most of hairs on the scapes and tibiae are appressed. The clypeal carinae are well defined and the lateral teeth are sharp and well formed. The head is elongate and the scapes reach approximately 2/3 the length to the posterior lateral corner of the head. The eyes are small (maximum diameter 0.024 mm). Queen - The queen is a small, dark brown specimen with relatively small eyes (0.222 mm in diameter). The scape is long, nearly reaching the posterior border of the head and light brown in color. The metapleuron, petiole and postpetiole are horizontally striated. The petiolar peduncle is lacking a tooth or flange ventrally.

The workers of S. patriciae are nearly identical to those of Solenopsis texana, but can often be separated by the slightly more abundant erect hairs. The hairs on the gaster of the worker of S. patriciae are usually longer (0.036 mm) and more dense (more than 15 on the dorsum of the first gastral tergum as seen from the side), as compared to the shorter hairs (most less than 0.035 mm) less dense hairs (usually fewer than 15) on the dorsum of the first gastral tergum. The queen is also distinctive from S. texana, as it is small and dark brown in coloration compared to the light brown or yellowish-brown queen of S. texana. Moreover the queen of S. texana is larger (total length > 3 mm). The queens are very different, and may be necessary to be sure of the correct identification of a series. Solenopsis texana is much more common, so when in doubt about a series, it is probably S. texana.

Workers of S. patriciae are very similar to those of Solenopsis pollux, which it overlaps in distribution. In most cases they can be easily separated as the workers of S. patriciae have fewer than 10 erect hairs on the promesonotum, whereas S. pollux has more than 10 erect hairs in the same position (as seen in profile). The queen of S. patriciae are much smaller and darker than those of the pale brown or yellowish brown larger queens of S. pollux.

Keys

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

Distribution
Known only from the type locality: Tabasco, Mexico.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Mexico.

Castes
Males have yet to be collected.

Nomenclature

 *  patriciae. Solenopsis patriciae Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 255, figs. 218-221, map 53 (w.q.) MEXICO.

Worker
Measurements (n=3). TL 1.02; HL 0.360-0.390 (0.370); HW 0.282-0.294 (0.288); EL 0.036; ED 0.024; SL 0.210-0.222 (0.216); FSL 0.078-0.084 (0.082); CI 73.8-81.7 (77.9); SI 55.4-61.7 (58.5); PL 0.048-0.054 (0.052); PW 0.078-0.084 (0.082); PI 61.5-64.3 (63.4); PPL 0.078; PPW 0.102-0.108 (0.104); PPI 72.2-76.5 (75.1); WL 0.240; PSL 0.030; PSW 0.024.

Small; concolorous golden yellow; head longer than wide, with semicoarse punctation; lateral clypeal teeth well developed, extralateral teeth absent; clypeal carinae well defined; scapes short, reach 2/3 length of head; minor funicular segments 3-8 short; eye small, three ommatidia; pronotum and mesopleuron smooth and shiny; metapleuron horizontally striated; posterior propodeal margin angulate; anterior and posterior faces of petiolar node nearly straight; postpetiolar node semicircular, smaller than petiole viewed laterally; both petiolar peduncle and postpetiole lacking tooth or flange ventrally.

Abundantly hairy, pilosity yellow; erect and suberect hairs of various lengths (0.018-0.090 mm) covering all body surfaces.

Queen
Measurements (n=1). TL 2.76; HL 0.498; HW 0.396; EL 0.120; ED 0.222; MOL 0.036; MOD 0.042; SL 0.348; FSL 0.198; CI 79.5; SI 69.9; PSL 0.040; PSW 0.030; PL 0.078; PW 0.162; PI 48.1; PPL 0.144; PPW 0.192; PPI 75.0; WL 0.600.

Small; concolorous dark brown with lighter brown appendages; head longer than wide, sides slightly convex, posterior border straight, coarsely punctate; lateral clypeal teeth well developed, extralateral teeth angulate; clypeal carinae well defined; scapes long, nearly reaching posterior border of head; eyes small, black; medial ocellus small, without pigment; mesosoma smooth and shiny; metapleuron horizontally striated; petiole and postpetiole horizontally striated, lacking tooth or flange ventrally.

Abundantly hairy, pilosity light brown and yellow; erect and suberect hairs of various lengths (0.018-0.150 mm) covering all body surfaces; hairs on petiole and postpetiole longer than those on mesosoma, curve posteriorly.

Type Material
Holotype queen (IEMJ) and 3 paratype workers (, IEMJ, ), Mexico, Tabasco; Campo Experimental COLPOS; Cardenas, 22-viii-2000, Col. P. Rojas; Formicidae BSIE-1187.

Etymology
Named in honor of Dra. Patricia Rojas, ecologist with The Instituto de Ecologia in Jalapa, Mexico, close personal friend and fellow myrmecologist who collected the type series.