Dorymyrmex reginicula

A poorly collected, and relatively poorly known biologically, Florida Dorymyrmex species. It is a social parasite of Dorymyrmex bureni and possibly Dorymyrmex bossutus.

Identification
Trager (1988) - Worker strongly resembling Dorymyrmex medeis (=Dorymyrmex smithi) (compare figures to those of D. medeis); distinguished by slightly longer scapes, somewhat narrower, shiny, reddish head, and reddish thorax; if queens present, their small size and narrow head are definitive (queens large with very broad head in D. medeis).

D. reginicula workers differ from those of D. medeis in that the sides of the head lack pubescence or it is notably thinned, even above the level of the eye, while the pubescence normally extends down the sides of the head nearly or indeed to the eye in D. medeis. In addition, the narrower head, longer scapes, weak, but distinct red and black bicoloration, overall greater shininess of the workers and diminutive, slender-headed queens of D. reginicula will normally distinguish this species from D. medeis, though occasional individual workers may cause difficulty.

Snelling (1985) - In both workers and females of D. reginicula, the front of the head is shinier because of the much finer and shorter appressed pubescence. The female of D. reginicula is distinctly smaller than that of Dorymyrmex smithi (HW 0.98-1.03 versus 1.23-1.32 mm, respectively). In females of D. reginicula, the scapal pubescence is closely appressed to the shaft, but in D. smithi the hairs are distinctly decumbent to subdecumbent. Although the scapal pubescence is similar in workers of the two species, the scapes of D. smithi workers usually have at least some subdecumbent to decumbent pubescence along the shaft. Trager also noted the proportionately longer scape in workers of D. reginicula (SI over 101 in 80% of individuals) when compared to those of D. smithi (SI less than 101 in 80% of individuals).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Nearctic Region: United States.

Biology
Snelling (1995) - Trager established that D. reginicula is a social parasite in nests of Dorymyrmex bureni and possibly Dorymyrmex bossutusa and is apparently not known to occur outside of Florida.

Nomenclature

 *  reginicula. Conomyrma reginicula Trager, 1988: 27, figs. 7, 14, 17, 18 (w.q.) U.S.A. Combination in Dorymyrmex: Snelling, R.R. 1995: 7. Junior synonym of insanus: Johnson, C. 1989b: 185. Revived from synonymy: Snelling, R.R. 1995: 7.

Worker
HL 0.95-1.05, HW 0.86-0.98, SL 0.89-1.00, EL 0.24-0.28, FL 0.80-0.95, WL 1.13-1.28, HTL 2.08-2.29, C1 89.9-.95.1, S1 100.0-111.4, OI 24.5-28.0, F1 80.8-92.2, T1 115.0-128.1. N = 25. Holotype a queen; see measurements below.

General form and characters as in figures and in key; head convex-sided to more or less parallel-sided; scapes short, exceeding occipital corners by 2-3 maximum scape widths, scapes and femora relatively short and thick; thorax short, WL only 1.25 to 1.3X HL; base of propodeal cone thick, at least 1/2X as broad as that part of propodeal profile anterior to it; head shape and thoracic profile less variable than in D. medeis (=Dorymyrmex smithi). Mandibular striation as in D. medeis, with 3 or 4 striae slightly coarser than the 1 or 2 finer striae between each of coarser ones; mandibles not shining; tessellate sculpture of integument barely dulling the surface; pubescence very fine and only weakly dulling sheen of cuticle, especially on head and sides of thorax.

Queen
HL 1.03-1.10 (1.03), HW 0.98-1.08 (0.98), SL 0.98-1.00 (0.98), EL 0.33 (all four), TW 0.73-0.83 (0.73), WL 1. 73-1.83 (1. 73), HTL 2.76-2.94 (2.76), CI 95.1-99.1 (95.1), SI 92.6-100.0 (100.0), OI 30.0-32.0 (32.0), TWI 69.5-80.6 (74.5), TI 166.4-168.0 (168.0). N=4.

Much smaller than any other Dorymyrmex queen among species considered here, but always somewhat larger than even largest workers; head slender, longer than broad; sides faintly convex, convergent toward clypeus; eyes more mesal than in other slender-bodied species, their outer margin 3/4-1 ocellus width from sides of head, never reaching or protruding beyond; occipital border narrower than clypeus, strongly concave; thorax very slender, much narrower than head.

Color, sculpture and investiture as in workers, except reddish head and thorax brighter than normally seen on workers.

Type Material
Holotype and 29 paratypes: Florida, Alachua Co.: Gainesville. November, 1975. W. F. Buren leg. Holotype,. Paratypes, , , , , ,.

Etymology
The specific name of this species is a diminutive form of Latin regina (queen), referring to its unusually small queen.