Eurhopalothrix apharogonia

Known only from the types.

Identification
Reported measurements are HW 0.84, HL 0.93, SL 0.53. If the illustration in Snelling (1968) is accurate, it has a very unusual head shape, with very reduced lateral angles (CI 90, one of the lowest values for New World Eurhopalothrix). Specialized setae on the face are highly reduced, to a tight square of 4 spatulate setae on the posteromedian vertex (this tight square also found on Eurhopalothrix sepultura, Eurhopalothrix speciosa, but these with additional setae elsewhere). It is also similar to Eurhopalothrix floridana, which has even more reduced facial setae (2 on medial vertex margin) and a somewhat similar head shape. (Longino 2013)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: El Salvador.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  apharogonia. Eurhopalothrix apharogonia Snelling, R.R. 1968c: 1 (w.) EL SALVADOR.

Description
Holotype worker: TL, 3.87; HI, 0.93; HW, 0.84 (CI, 90); scape L, 0.53; maximum diameter of compound eye, 0.03; WL, 1.12 mm. Form of head and body as shown in figures.

Appressed and subappressed ground pilosity similar to E. speciosa, i.e., consisting largely of simple hairs, which are rather dense on mandibles and clypeus, sparse on petiolar nodes and gastric dorsum, very sparse and inconspicuous on vertex, occiput and thoracic dorsum; simple appressed hairs of tibiae replaced largely by appressed and decumbent spatulate or broadened hairs; larger specialized hairs thick-squamiform, smaller than corresponding hairs in E. speciosa; reduced in number on head, consisting of four rectangularly arranged hairs medially on occiput. Humeral pair absent in both specimens, presumably a real condition; a single pair present near middle of mesonotum, posterior pair lacking; postpetiole without dorsal clavate hairs. Median hairs lacking on first gastric segment of holotype (paratype has one median clavate hair; presumably one has been rubbed off).

Promesonotal suture obsolete; metanotal groove present but very poorly defined. Body somewhat shiny between moderate, rather close punctures; gastric pubescence sparser than that of thoracic dorsum; cephalic punctures denser on cephalic dorsum; finer on clypeus and distinctly separated. Mandibles shiny, finely punctate; masticatory margin with thirteen teeth, an outer set of ten, and an upper, inner set of three longer, spikelike teeth (Fig. 1). Color medium ferruginous, legs and antennae more yellowish.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Longino J. T. 2013. A review of the Central American and Caribbean species of the ant genus Eurhopalothrix Brown and Kempf, 1961 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), with a key to New World species. Zootaxa 3693(2): 101-151.