Cyphomyrmex longiscapus

Only known from a few collections. One record is from a rainforest with the ants being taken from under a rock in a canyon at 2000 m.

Identification
See the description section below.

Distribution
The few collections of this species are all from Columbia.

This taxon was described from Colombia.

Castes
Only known from the worker.

Nomenclature

 *  longiscapus. Cyphomyrmex longiscapus Weber, 1940a: 410 (diagnosis in key) (w.) COLOMBIA. Schultz, Solomon, Mueller, et al. 2002: 333 (q.m.). See also: Kempf, 1966: 165.

Description
Kempf (1966) - The present species, still known only from the type series, is highly distinctive both in general aspect (elongate head mandibles and scape) and in several features not shared by any other known species of the group: the long mandibles, the scarcely expanded frontal lobes, the neck-like collar on occiput, and above all the configuration of the antennal scrobe which, although lacking the posterolateral limit of a postocular carina, is nevertheless similar to that of the strigatus-group. Fore the preocular carina does not curve mesad above eyes, and the postero-lateral limit of the scrobe is indicated by a difference in sculpture. The dentition of the mandibles, however, is of the rimosus-group, i. e. consisting of only five teeth.

There is no close relative for this species, even though Cyphomyrmex wheeleri and Cyphomyrmex costatus have the same reticulate-punctate sculpture of the antennal scrobe, and their preocular carina likewise does not curve mesad above eyes; wheeleri, in addition, even possesses the reticulate-punctate sculpture of the integument of body and appendages.

Worker
Kempf (1966) - (lectotype). - Total length 3.7 mm; head length 0.91 mm; head width 0.67 mm; thorax length 1.23 mm; hind femur length 1.17 mm. Fuscous brown; appendages lighter. Integument of body and appendages densely and sharply reticulate-punctate; body with densely distributed foveolae, which are rather difficult to see on account of the microsculpture, extending equally over both pits and intervals.

Head (fig 2). Mandibles longitudinally striolate, strikingly elongate. Clypeus with prominent and strongly convex, mesially vestigially notched, anterior apron; postero-mesially, in front of each anterior corner of frontal lobes, a vestigial tooth. Frontal lobes very little expanded laterad, continued posteriorly by the nearly straight, subparallel, strongly carinate, frontal carinae, which attain the triangular occipital lobes. Vertex with a pair of strong carinae. Preocular carinae fading out at level of eyes, not curving mesad nor prolonged caudad. Antennal scrobe neatly differentiated in its posterior half from the cheeks by the absence of coarse pits. No supraocular tumulus. Eyes strongly convex with about 7-8 facets across their greatest diameter. Cheeks immarginate below. Occiput prolonged into a low, collar-like prominence around foramen. Scapes elongate-clavate, projecting beyond the occipital lobes by a distance exceeding twice their maximum width. Funicular segment I very long, subequal to II-IV combined; segments II-IX distinctly elongate.

Thorax (fig 18). Pronotum completely unarmed, lacking also lateral carinae on disc; antero-inferior corner obtusely dentate. Mesonotum with two pairs of rather strong tubercles. Mesoepinotal constriction present. Epinotum completely unarmed; spiracle on a slight prominence. Legs rather long and thin; hind femora (fig 45). not dilated ventrally on basal third; posteroventral border vestigially carinulate.

Pedicel (fig 18, 29). Petiolar node, as seen from above, one and a half times as broad as long, its anterior corners broadly rounded; lacking dorsal carinae and tumuli. Postpetiole with an oblique anterior face nearly at right angle to the dorsal face; the latter with a pair of approximated small tubercles on anterior corners, another pair, blunter, stronger and more widely separated, on posterior corners; posterior border between tubercles slightly excised. Anterior border of first gastric tergum and sternum marginate; sides of tergum I practically immarginate.

Pilosity inconspicuous, consisting solely of fine, thin, silvery, decumbent hairs.

Type Material
Kempf (1966) - Several workers, collected at an altitude of 1020 m (3400') by Prof. N. A. Weber; 3 specimens seen.