Hylomyrma dolichops

All specimens examined were collected in leaf-litter of tropical rainforest, at elevations ranging from 260 to 700 m, which suggests that nests are located between leaves, in fallen logs, rotten wood, or inside natural cavities of the superficial soil layers. (Ulyssea & Brandao, 2021)

Identification
Anterior half of head dorsum with vermicular and divergent striae; posterior half with irregular and parallel striae; large and reniform eye; striae of variable thickness on mesosoma, interspaces indistinguishable; semicircular striae on mesonotum and metanotal groove region; dorsal margin of petiole discontinuous; profemur posterior surface mostly smooth; striae on protibia extensor surface weakly marked; long striae on tergum of first gastral segment; body with branched setae with multiple branches of equal size and lobed at tip.

Hylomyrma dolichops is similar to Hylomyrma columbica regarding the sculpture of the mesosomal dorsum, but the former is easily distinguished from the latter by the branched setae, whose branches are lobed at the tip (Fig. 80G). Hylomyrma columbica has unbranched setae. Also, Hylomyrma dolichops differs from H. columbica (characteristic in parentheses) in the presence of vermicular and divergent striae on anterior two-third of mesial area on head dorsum, irregular and parallel on the upper third (vs. regular striae on the mesial region in part directed towards posterior margin and in part anteriorly divergent and posteriorly convergent/parallel), and the reniform eye (vs. drop-shaped). The two species are allopatric; Hylomyrma dolichops shows a broader distribution (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela) (Fig. 87), whereas H. columbica occurs in Colombia and in western Venezuela (Fig. 85). Regarding morphological variation, three specimens from Orito, Colombia, are considerably larger than those described in the type series, although all other diagnostic characteristics are invariant.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela.

Nomenclature

 * . Hylomyrma dolichops Kempf, 1973b: 239, figs. 4, 12 (w.q.) COLOMBIA.
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 5 paratype workers, 2 paratype queens.
 * Type-locality: holotype Colombia: Amazonas, 7 km. NW Leticia, 20-25.ii.1972, berlesate no. 230, forest litter (S. & J. Peck); paratypes with same data.
 * Type-depositories: MCZC (holotype); MCZC, MZSP (paratypes).
 * Status as species: Kutter, 1977a: 88; Brandão, 1991: 346; Bolton, 1995b: 213; Pierce, M.P., Branstetter, et al. 2017: 137; Fernández & Serna, 2019: 797; Ulysséa & Brandão, 2021: 43 (redescription).
 * Distribution: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela.

Type Material

 * Holotype: COLOMBIA: Amaz.[Amazonas]: 7km NW Letícia, 20–25 Feb 1972, #230, forest litter, berlesate, S. & J. Peck [leg.] (1W) (MCZ35419) [MCZC] [examined by Ulyssea & Brandao (2021)].
 * Paratypes: same data as holotype (2W 1Q) (MCZ35419) [MCZC] [examined]; (3W 1Q) (MZSP67325, MZSP67326, MZSP67327) [MZSP] [examined by Ulyssea & Brandao (2021)].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Brandao, C.R.F. 1991. Adendos ao catalogo abreviado das formigas da regiao neotropical (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Rev. Bras. Entomol. 35: 319-412.
 * Pierce M. P., M. G. Branstetter, and J. T. Longino. 2017 . Integrative taxonomy reveals multiple cryptic species within Central American Hylomyrma FOREL, 1912 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 25: 131-143.
 * Santos M. P. C. J., A. F. Carrano-Moreira, and J. B. Torres. 2012. Diversity of soil ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in dense Atlantic Forest and sugarcane plantationsin the County of Igarassu-PE. Revista Brasileira de Ciências Agrárias 7(4): 648-656.