Leptogenys donisthorpei

Lattke (2011) - The specimens from Reserva Sian Ka’an have labels associating them with the bromeliad Aechmea bracteata (Swartz, 1864) Grisebach. They were found nesting in the dry remains of this bromeliad by Dejean (1995, 1997).

Identification
Key to Leptogenys of the New World

Lattke (2011) - A member of the arcuata species group. Cephalic dorsum mostly punctate, scape with abundant decumbent hairs, hypostomal teeth not visible in full-face view; mesometapleuron and propodeal sides with continuous oblique striae; lateroventral area of node with weak rugulae, not smooth and polished.

Distribution
This taxon was described from Honduras. It is known from southern Mexico – Honduras.

Castes
Queen unknown. Male not examined.

Nomenclature

 *  donisthorpei. Leptogenys (Leptogenys) donisthorpei Mann, 1922: 11, fig. 6 (w.) HONDURAS. See also: Lattke, 2011: 149.

Lattke (2011) - The only other arcuata group species which might be sympatric with L. donisthorpei is Leptogenys montuosa. L. donisthorpei has the most robust mandibles of the arcuata group, and the lateroventral node area is not smooth and flattened but has weak rugosities. The hypostomal teeth are not visible in full-face view, and the scape has decumbent hairs. L. montuosa has suberect hairs on the scapes, large hypostomal teeth, and a more prominent median clypeal lobe than L. donisthorpei. The propleuron in L. montuosa is smooth and shining in contrast with the striate propleuron of L. donisthorpei.

Worker
Lattke (2011) - Metrics (n = 6): HL 1.31-1.38; HW 1.18-1.25; ML 0.91-0.98; EL 0.30-0.34; SL 1.35-1.52; PW 0.81-0.91; WL 2.22-2.29; PH 0.78-0.88; PL 0.64-0.67; DPW 0.57-0.64 mm. CI 0.88-0.93; MI 0.75-0.83; OI 0.24-0.27; SI 1.11-1.29; LPI 1.15-1.37; DPI 0.85-1.00.

Head subrectangular in full-face view, slightly wider anterad than posterad, lateral and posterior margins weakly convex, almost straight; diameter of compound eye more than one-fourth of lateral cephalic margin; lateral clypeal margin broadly convex, lateral lobe indistinct; median lobe not longer than greatest scape width, convex, with 3 – 5 setae. Scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by less than one-fourth its length; length of fourth antennal segment more than half length of third segment. Mandible with fine striae on dorsum. PF: 4,4. Cephalic frons to vertex mostly punctate, area between eye and antenna, gena striate; rugulose punctate along internal ocular margin and beyond; head posterad of eye and ventral surface mostly smooth and shining with sparse punctae.

Mesosoma divided by deep metanotal groove in lateral view into promesonotal convexity and metanotal convexity; lateral pronotum with parallel oblique striae and sparse punctae, sculpture weakens close to procoxal insertion; propleuron transversely striae; mesometanotum and lateral propodeal face with continuous parallel oblique striae which become rugulose ventrad. Direction of pronotal striae forms approximate right angle with that of mesometanotum. Pronotum in dorsal view with arching striae along anterior and lateral areas, sculpture weakens posteromedially, becoming smoother. Mesonotum oval in dorsal view, surface undulated and punctate. Propodeal dorsum transversely striate punctae, sculpture shallow compared with propodeal side, declivitous face transversely porcate. Propodeal spiracle oval, facing posterolaterally.

Petiole subquadrate in lateral view, slightly higher posterad than anterad; anterodorsal margin forms continuous convexity, posterior margin mostly straight, weakly sloped; lateral face mostly obliquely striate, ventrad with smooth flattened area. Node subrectangular in dorsal view, wider posterad than anterad, mostly punctate-striate excepting median, longitudinal smooth strip. Anterior and posterior margins broadly convex; lateral margin mostly broadly convex, except for stronger posterior curvature. Gaster smooth and shining, with scattered piligerous punctulae. Procoxa laterally smooth and shining. Mandibles, clypeus, scapes, coxae, trocanters, and femora brown; funiculus, tibiae, tarsi, and gastral apex ferruginous brown; rest of body black, gaster may be dark brown. Antennae with decumbent hairs, no erect pilosity; mesosoma with suberect and subdecumbent hairs.

Type Material
Lattke (2011) - Syntype workers: Honduras, Lombardia, Cecilia, ii. – iii. 1920, Cat. No. 24440 (W.M. Mann) [examined].

Additional References

 * Lattke, J.E. 2011. Revision of the New World species of the genus Leptogenys Roger (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny 69:127-264.