Leptogenys chamela

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Key to Leptogenys of the New World

Lattke (2011) - Head noticeably wider anterad than posterad; compound eye diameter covers approximately one-third of lateral cephalic margin; scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by close to one-half its length. Mandible arched, elongate and slender, basal and external margins parallel, dorsum smooth and shining. Hypostomal tooth triangular, apex just visible in full-face view of head. Node longer than wide in dorsal view. Body color mostly black, with antennae, mandibles, legs, and gastral apex dark brown.

A member of the elongata species group, this is a large species approaching Leptogenys ingens in length and body mass.

Distribution
This taxon was described, and is only known, from (western) Mexico.

Castes
Queens and males are unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  chamela. Leptogenys chamela Lattke, 2011: 156, fig. 14 (w.) MEXICO.

Worker
Metrics, holotype (paratype): HL 2.35 (2.35); HW 2.20 (2.10); ML 1.85 (1.70); EL 0.40 (0.45); SL 2.90 (2.80); PW 1.60 (1.50); WL 4.10 (4.00); PH 1.55 (1.55); PL 1.40 (1.45); DPW 1.05 (1.00) mm. CI 0.94 (0.89); MI 0.84 (0.81); OI 0.18 (0.21); SI 1.32 (1.33); LPI 1.11 (1.07); DPI 0.75 (0.69).

Head approximately as wide as long in full-face view, noticeably wider anterad than posterad, posterior margin convex, lateral margin broadly convex; vertexal carinae distinctly visible along most of posterior margin. Median clypeal lobe bluntly-pointed, opaque; lateral lobe narrow, weakly sinuate. Compound eye prominent, convex, diameter covers approximately one-third of lateral cephalic margin, situated close to cephalic midlength; ocular perimeter abruptly separated from circumocular sulcus. Cephalic dorsum posteriorly densely punctate, punctae forming imbricate pattern, head between eye and antenna striate to rugulose; head posterad of eye obliquely striate, ventral cephalic surface striate punctate with smoothened anterior area; clypeus with oblique striae. Scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by close to one-half its length; punctulate, with decumbent pubescence and scattered decumbent hairs. Funicular segments elongate, subcylindrical, slightly wider apicad than basad; third antennal segment 4 x longer than maximum width; second antennal segment half the length of third; fourth antenna segment slightly more than half the length of third segment. Mandibles arched, elongate and slender, basal and external margins parallel, dorsum smooth and shining. Hypostomal tooth triangular, apex just visible in full-face view of head.

Mesosoma with deep metanotal groove in lateral view, dividing broadly convex promesonotal margin and broadly convex propodeal margin. Pronotum laterally with longitudinal to oblique strigae, small mostly smooth strip present just dorsad of procoxae, dorsum medially mostly punctate with scattered transverse striae, anterior margin transversely striate; prosternum transversely striate. Mesonotum broader than long in dorsal view, transversely striate-punctate. Mesopleuron transversely strigate, anteroventrally without low blunt lobe, anteroventral carinae lacking; mesosternum with transverse striae; metapleuron-lateral propodeum mostly with transverse striae; metapleural-propodeal suture weakly developed. Bulla of metathoracic spiracle convex, prominent, finely sculptured; anteroventral metapleural corner with triangular lobe. Dorsum and declivity of propodeum transversely strigate; propodeal spiracle elongate, almost slit-shaped.

Petiole subrectangular in lateral view with anterior margin shorter than posterior margin, dorsal margin longer than posterior or anterior margins, anterior margin strongly convex, dorsal margin broadly convex, highest point close to mid-length of node, posterior face slightly inclined anterad, broadly convex. Node laterally longitudinally strigate to striate, tending to smooth ventrad, posterior face transversely strigate. Petiolar sternum with posterior weak convexity in lateral view, anterior process shaped as curved lobe. Node longer than broad in dorsal view, sides subparallel, anterior margin convex, posterior margin concave. Anterior margin of abdominal segment III inclined posterad in lateral view, anterodorsal margin convex. Gaster mostly smooth and shining with scattered fine punctulae, punctulae diminishing in density posterad. Pygidial margin broadly convex in lateral view, with blunt median crest. Procoxa transversely striate in lateral view. Body with abundant appressed pilosity that interferes with observing underlying sculpture, and erect to semi-erect hairs. Body color mostly black, with antennae, mandibles, legs, and gastral apex dark brown. Meso and metatibia external apex each with single seta.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Mexico, Jalisco, Estación Biológica Chamela, 19°30'N 105°02'W, 60 m, 5.vi.1994, D. Olson. One worker deposited in MCZC. – Paratype. Mexico, Jalisco, Estación Biológica UNAM “Chamela”, 7.vi.1984, D. Feener 0677. One worker deposited in BMNH.

Etymology
The species name is derived from the name of the “Chamela” biological station of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.