Mycetophylax bigibbosus

A rainforest species that nests in rotting wood.

Identification
Kempf (1964) - The head of the bigibbosus worker is strikingly similar to that of Cyphomyrmex strigatus, but the configuration of the thorax, the pedicel and the gaster shows clearly the conspicuous differences between both species.

Distribution
Known from Brazil and British Guiana.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.

Biology
Kempf (1964) summarized Weber's (1946) account of the synonymized subspecies tumulus:

C. bigibbosus is a rain forest species and seems to prefer high humidities. The nest chambers were found in rotted wood, mostly in excavate cells, but also under bark. The cavity size is variable but averages about 20-25 cc. The fungus garden is mostly sessile, resting on the floor, but variously attached at the sides. Occasionally the chains of fungus garden are also suspended from the ceiling. The substrate is heterogeneous, consisting mainly of yellow to brown particles, often of woody consistency; once even a head of a Dolichoderus ant was used as substrate. Once a worker of Prionopelta punctulata was found inside a nest, preying perhaps on the larvae of C. bigibbosus. The finding of an dealate queen in a tiny fungus garden, with a full grown worker, suggests splitting as a possible means of colony foundation.

Nomenclature

 *  bigibbosus. Cyphomyrmex bigibbosus Emery, 1894c: 226 (w.) BRAZIL. Wheeler, G.C. 1949: 670 (l.). Senior synonym of tumulus: Kempf, 1972a: 92. See also: Kempf, 1964d: 20.
 * tumulus. Cyphomyrmex bigibbosus subsp. tumulus Weber, 1938b: 185 (w.q.m.) GUYANA. Junior synonym of bigibbosus: Kempf, 1964d: 20. Revived from synonymy and raised to species: Weber, 1966: 167. Junior synonym of bigibbosus: Kempf, 1972a: 92.

Worker
Kempf (1964) - Total length 3.2-3.4 mm; head length 0.75-0.83 mm; head width 0.67-0.75 mm; thorax length 0.93-1.04 mm; hind femur length 0.83-0.91 mm. Fuscous reddish brown; head usually darkest; mandibles, coxae, femora and sometimes also thorax light brown. Integument, including antennal scrobe, densely granular and opaque.

Head (fig 2). - Mandibles with 7-8 teeth. Clypeus: anterior border mesially excised; central portion of c1ypeus obliquely raised towards front, with two acute teeth next to origin of frontal lobes. Vertex with a pair of short carinules. Supraocular tumulus blunt, rounded, not prominent. Preocular carinae reaching the gently produced occipital lobes, closing completely the antennal scrobe. Lower border of sides of head carinate. Antennal scapes, in repose, not projecting beyond tip of occipital lobes. Only funicular segments 1 and 10 distinctly longer than broad.

Thorax (fig 16). - Pronotum: the single median tubercle quite distinct, the lateral ones very low and blunt, continued foreward as a faint, often more or less obsolete, margination that separates the pronotal dorsum from the sides: antero-inferior corner acutely dentate. Mesonotum: anterior pair of tubercles prominent and conical, posterior pair very low but distinct and blunt. Mesoepinotal constriction conspicuous but relatively shallow in profile. Epinotum completely rounded and unarmed. Hind femora a little dilated ventrally but not visibly carinate posteriorly at basal third.

Pedicel (fig 16, 30). - Petiole in dorsal view rather longer than broad, anterior corners of node not sharply angulate, dorsal ridges at best vestigial, posterior dorsal border without a raised carinule. Postpetiole, in dorsal view, subquadrate not transverse, with a perpendicular anterior face, a rather flat dorsal face, having the posterior border deeply excised between a pair of prominent horizontal tubercles. Tergum I of gaster strongly vaulted, lacking lateral margination and longitudinal carinae. Hairs minute, appressed, glittering, scattered; quite inconspicuous, on body and appendages.

Queen
Kempf (1964) - Total length 3.8 mm; head length 0.84 mm; head width 0.79 mm; thorax length 1.20 mm; hind femur length 0.96 mm. Resembling the worker with the differences of the caste. Differs from Cyphomyrmex faunulus in the following features: Bicolored, head and gaster fuscous, thorax brown. Occipital lobes much less projecting both in full-face view as in profile, much as in worker. Midpronotal tubercle faint but still distinguishable. Pair of anterior tubercles between arms of Mayrian furrows very low; scutum laterally not deeply furrowed. Paraptera postero-laterally with a short tooth. Posterior scutellar teeth much shorter, about as long as their width at base. Epinotal teeth completely absent. Pedicel as in worker; petiole elongate, with subparallel sides, anterior corners rather rounded; postpetiole with the same deep mesial excision on posterior border, flanked by prominent lobes, as in worker. Gaster bigibbous on anterior third of tergum I.

Male
Weber (1938), as tumulus

Type Material
Kempf (1964) - The lone holotype worker of bigibbosus is in the Emery collection at the "Museo Civico di Storia Naturale", Genova, Italy; not seen. Syntypes of tumulus: 3 workers examined (MCZ, NAW).

Additional References

 * Weber, N. A. 1946. The biology of the fungus-growing ants. Part IX. The British Guiana species. Rev. Entomol. (Rio de Janeiro). 17:114-172.