Cephalotes vinosus

The collector W. J. Eyerdam noted on the syntype specimen labels "very pugnacious, habitat: nest in a beech." Nothing else is known about the natural history of this Haitian endemic.

Identification
A member of the hamulus clade characterised by the first gastral tergite reddish-brown. (de Andrade and Baroni Urbani 1999)

Key to Cephalotes Workers

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Greater Antilles, Haiti.

Cephalotes vinosus is endemic to Haiti.

Nomenclature

 *  vinosus. Hypocryptocerus haemorrhoidalis subsp. vinosus Wheeler, W.M. 1936b: 202 (w.) HAITI. Combination in Zacryptocerus: Brandão, 1991: 384; in Cephalotes: De Andrade & Baroni Urbani, 1999: 98. Raised to species: De Andrade & Baroni Urbani, 1999: 98. See also: Kempf, 1951: 152.

Worker
de Andrade and Baroni Urbani (1999) - Vertexal angles round, with crenulate margin; vertexal margin gently concave medially. Vertex with a median pair of small denticles and - in larger individuals only - a trace of transversal carina. Eyes slightly convex. The rest as in hamulus.

Mesosoma robust, convex in side view. Scapular angles bearing a small denticle. Anterior pronotal border marked by a carina. Humeral angles with a pair of obtuse or round spines directed anteriorly. Pronotal sides straight, ending in a small tooth visible in dorsal view. Mesonotal teeth small and rounded. Propodeal suture deeply impressed. Propodeum with differentiate basal and declivous faces. Basal face slightly more than 1 /3 broader than long, with sides convex anteriorly straightening posteriorly and with or without 1-2 small denticles; declivous face as long as the basal face, with posteriorly slightly converging sides. Propodeal spines shorter than the basal face of the propodeum, thick in most specimens and diverging. Petiole ca. 1/2 broader than long, its anterior face truncate and gently concave; its sides converging posteriorly and bearing a pair of median pointed teeth. Postpetiole broader than and as long as the petiole; postpetiolar spines broad and variably pointed, inserted anteriorly and curved backwards.

Gaster with a lamellaceous anterior border, generally broad, sometimes reduced, reaching the first gastral stigma at maximum.

Legs as in hamulus.

Sculpture. Head minutely reticulate; vertexal area covered by broad impressions or foveae gradually shallower towards the cheeks. Anterior half of the head with small and shallow foveae. Frontal carinae reticulate and faintly rugulose. Ventral side of the head laterally covered by thick regular striae and reticulate. Hypostomal area deeply reticulate. Cheeks reticulate and superficially rugulose on their posterior half.

Mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole covered by thick, longitudinal, irregular striae and superficial reticulation less impressed on the pronotum. Declivous face of the propodeum covered by thick, longitudinal striae and reticulate.

First gastral tergite reticulate and with longitudinal rugosities on its anterior fourth. Corresponding sternite with superficial longitudinal rugosities on the sides, ventrally with impressed reticulation and opaque, or faintly reticulate and slightly shining in the middle, with sparse piligerous fossae.

Legs as in hamulus.

Pilosity. As in hamulus but denser.

Colour. Head, mesosoma, peduncular segments, gastral sternites, lateral border of first tergite, remaining tergites, and legs black. Frontal carinae, scapes, dark orange to light brown. Gastral dorsum dark reddish. Vertexal area, mesosoma and pedicel with some golden reflexes. Measurements (in mm) and indices: TL 6.84-7.56; HL 1 .76-1.92; HW 1 .92-2.12; EL 0.54-0.56; PW 1 .76-1.92; PeW 0.84-0.88; PpW 1 .04-1. 1 6; HBaL 0.72-0.76; HBaW 0.20-0.21; CI 1 09.1-1 1 3.3; PI 108.5-1 1 0.4; PPeI 209.5-223.8; PPpl 1 64.3-174.0; HBal 26.3-27.7.

Type Material
From de Andrade and Baroni Urbani (1999) - Mt. Rochelois (Haiti). W.J. Eyerdam. Type material: 22 syntype workers in, 3 syntype workers in (examined).