Megalomyrmex emeryi

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Brandão (1990) - M. emeryi exhibits various characters representing extremes within the variation range of the genus, suggesting a high degree of derivation. For instance, the node shape. pronotal lateral swellings and the degree of the longitudinal depression on propodeum dorsum. The extreme development of the genual plates in a spine-like projection called my attention. At the largest portion of the plate there is a white rounded spot, which may correspond to a gland, but confirmation would require alive specimens.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Bolivia, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname.

Biology
Brandão (2003) - Until now, the only known specimen of the rather aberrant M. emeryi is a worker, the holotype, collected somewhere in Suriname (see Brandão, 1990). I tentatively assigned a male from southern French Guyana to this species, which has also aberrant characters in relation to the known males of other species in this group, and does not belong to any of the species in the Leoninus group known to occur in the region. It was with great surprise that I received from the LACM 6 workers clearly belonging to this rather distinctive species from Boquerón (500 m), Loreto, Peru collected by J. Schunke in July 7 to 14, 1965, and bearing a label that reads “M. latreillei Emery, R. Hamton det.”. At first, I thought the extreme modifications could be the result of some kind of parasitism, but I am not aware of any case where parasitism might have resulted in such extreme modifications, particularly involving the characters that separate M. emeryi from all other taxa in this species group. Notwithstanding, since this new sample comes from a locality so distant from that of the holotype, I cannot rule out this hypothesis.

Nomenclature

 *  emeryi. Megalomyrmex emeryi Forel, 1904d: 174 (w.) SURINAM. Brandão, 1990: 434 (m.).

Worker
Brandão (1990) - Mandibles smooth. anterior clypeal border straight without denticle; frontal suture impressed; 3-segmented antennal club; 21 ocular facets at compound eye largest diameter; occipital margin raised, visible at head frontal view; lateral portions of pronotal disc distinctly swollen, separated by a sagital depression: promesonotal suture impressed dorsally; mesosternum and metasternun with developed acrotergites paired teeth; dorsal face of propodeum, in side view. depressed transversally: dorsal face and declivity of propodeum meeting laterally in conical tubercles divergent and round at apex; propodeum dorsum deeply impressed longitudinally; declivity smooth; epipetiolar carina incomplete; non-pedunculate petiole with anteroventral denticle: dorsal margin of petiolar node, in side view, straight; squamiform petiole with sharp dorsal margin. notched at the center: pospetiole without ventral processes and longitudinally depressed node: genual plates acuminate.

Male
Brandão (1990) - Clypeus smooth without anterior denticle: cephalic integument smooth next to the compound eyes; 3 first funicular segments larger than scape; mesonotum with parapsidal suture impressed. but no notaulus: epipetiolar carina incomplete: dorsal face of propodeum smooth; petiolar spiracles laterally produced: petiolar node globose; postpetiolar node conical and ventral process spatulate advancing beneath the first gastric segment; Rs divided in Rs 1 and Rs2, Rs2 not equally developed on right and left wings.

Type Material
Brandão (1990) - Holotype at Institute Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Bruxelles (coli. Ballion, ex coli. Puis).