Linepithema anathema

The type series was collected under a stone in shrubland at 1900 meters elevation. Little is known about this species.

Identification
Wild (2007) - Worker Head narrow in full face view (CI 80–85); antennal scapes relatively long (SI 119–126); mesopleura, metapleura, and all gastric tergites with dense pubescence; gastric tergite 2 bearing suberect to erect setae; mesosoma bicolored with dorsum brown and mesopleura and metapleura light reddish brown.

Workers of the commonly encountered cosmopolitan species Linepithema humile usually lack standing hairs on gastric tergites 1–2 and tend to have a somewhat broader head (CI 84–93). Linepithema oblongum, found in the high Andes of Bolivia and northern Argentina, is a very similarly proportioned ant to L. anathema but normally has at least some members of each series with dilute pubescence on gastric tergites 2–4. Linepithema anathema differs from both L. humile and L. oblongum in having a more upright, less anteriorly inclined propodeum.

Distribution
Southern Brazil.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Biology
DaRocha et al. (2015) studied the diversity of ants found in bromeliads of a single large tree of Erythrina, a common cocoa shade tree, at an agricultural research center in Ilhéus, Brazil. Forty-seven species of ants were found in 36 of 52 the bromeliads examined. Bromeliads with suspended soil and those that were larger had higher ant diversity. Linepithema anathema was found in 2 different bromeliads and was associated with the suspended soil and litter of the plants.

Nomenclature

 *  anathema. Linepithema anathema Wild, 2007a: 27, figs. 33, 34, 106 (w.) BRAZIL.

Worker
Holotype: HL 0.64, HW 0.51, MFC 0.14, SL 0.64, FL 0.54, LHT 0.62, PW 0.36, ES 1.94, SI 125, CI 80, CDI 28, OI 30.

Worker: (n = 5) HL 0.62–0.68, HW 0.51–0.56, MFC 0.14–0.15, SL 0.63–0.66, FL 0.54–0.58, LHT 0.59–0.66, PW 0.36–0.40, ES 1.94–2.25, SI 119–126, CI 80–85, CDI 25–28, OI 30–36.

Head in full face view ovoid and relatively narrow (CI 80–85).

Lateral margins broadly convex, grading smoothly into posterior margin. Posterior margin convex. Compound eyes large (OI 30–36), comprising 75–90 ommatidia. Antennal scapes long (SI 119–126), approximately as long as HL. In full face view, scapes in repose exceeding posterior margin of head by a length greater than length of first funicular segment. Frontal carinae moderately to narrowly separated (CDI 25–28). Maxillary palps of moderate length, approximately ½ HL, ultimate segment (segment six) longer than segment 2.

Pronotum and mesonotum forming a continuous convexity in lateral view, mesonotal dorsum slightly convex, not angular or strongly impressed. Metanotal groove only slightly impressed. Propodeum in lateral view with dorsal and posterior faces subequal in length, posterior face only slight broken at level of spiracle.

Petiolar scale sharp and inclined anteriorly, in lateral view falling short of the propodeal spiracle.

Cephalic dorsum (excluding clypeus) without standing setae. Pronotum without standing setae. Mesonotum without standing setae. Gastric tergite 1 (= abdominal tergite 3) bearing 0–2 very short subdecumbent setae, tergite 2 with 2–3 suberect to erect setae, tergite 3 with 3–4 suberect to erect setae. Venter of metasoma with scattered erect setae.

Integument shagreened and only lightly shining. Body and appendages including gula, entire mesopleura, metapleura, and abdominal tergites covered in dense pubescence. Normally somewhat bicolored. Head, mesosomal dorsum, gaster, legs, and antennae dark brown. Mandibles, mesopleura, and metapleura a light reddish brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker. BRAZIL. Minas Gerais: 2 km S Monte Verde, 22º54’S 46º03’W, 1900m, 26.viii.1996, under stone in shrubland, P.S. Ward acc. no. PSW13155.

Paratypes. Same data as holotype, 9 workers ALWC,, , , , , ,.

Etymology
From Latin, meaning “accursed thing.” The long scapes, large eyes, and relatively sparse pilosity of this ant complicate the diagnosis of the morphologically similar pest species L. humile.