Hylomyrma lopesi

This species occurs in the “Cerrado” (Brazilian savanna), “Caatinga” (Brazilian dry forest), and Atlantic and Amazon forests in Brazil. It is mostly collected in leaf-litter samples with winkler extractors, which suggests that it nests in the leaf-litter, fallen logs, rotten wood, or inside natural cavities of the superficial soil layers. Specimens collected with pitfall traps and with honey or sardine baits are rare. Except for the presence of intercastes, and possibly ergatoids (a few intercastes have more queen-like traits), there is no further information available regarding the biology of H. lopesi. (Ulyssea & Brandao, 2021)

Identification
Regular and longitudinal striae on head dorsum diverge towards posterior margin; mesosoma covered with regular, longitudinal and thick striae, interspaces distinguishable; striae on lateral of propodeum directed to propodeal spine; dorsal margin of petiole discontinuous; anterior and ventral surfaces of node transversely striate; longitudinal, regular to irregular striae on node dorsum and lateral surfaces, striae more straight on dorsum and sinusoid on lateral surface, interspaces distinguishable; subpostpetiolar process striate; profemur posterior surface mostly smooth; striae on protibiae extensor surface weakly marked; striation on tergum of first gastral segment restricted to base; branched setae of two types: 1) 2–3 short, thin and equal-sized branches diverging from the main axis; 2) thick setae flattened in its final half, with several branches.

This species is similar to Hylomyrma balzani, Hylomyrma reitteri, and Hylomyrma margaridae. Hylomyrma lopesi can be misidentified as H. reitteri because of the sculpture on the mesosomal dorsum, and the shape of the dorsal margin of petiole. However, H. lopesi differs from H. reitteri (characteristic in parentheses) in the smaller body size (vs. larger), the thick striae on the mesosomal dorsum (vs. thin striae), the transverse striae on the ventral surface of petiole (vs. smooth surface), the laterals of the mesosoma covered mainly with regular and thick striae that are directed to the propodeal spine (vs. irregular and thin striae directed to the propodeal dorsum), and the striate subpostpetiolar process (vs. smooth). Both species occur broadly in Brazil, co-occurring in Botucatu (SP), Niquelândia (GO), and São José de Buerarema (BA). The distribution of H. reitteri is more circumscribed to eastern portions of Brazil from southern and southeast regions (Fig. 85), whereas H. lopesi is distributed mainly in the center of Brazil from northern (state of Pará) to southern (state of São Paulo) regions (Fig. 89).

Specimens of H. lopesi have been identified as H. balzani, due to the similarity of the sculpture and shape of petiole, and based on the sculpture of gena. But both species can be easily distinguished by the rugose striae on the mesosoma of H. balzani and the regular striae on the mesosoma of H. lopesi. The distribution of these species cover a broad area in Brazil, both co-occurring in Botucatu (SP) and Milagres (BA). Hylomyrma lopesi is distributed mainly in the center of Brazil from northern (state of Pará) to southern (state of São Paulo) regions (Fig. 89), whereas H. balzani is more restricted to the eastern portions of Brazil from northeast to southern regions (Fig. 84).

Hylomyrma lopesi and H. margaridae have similar shape and sculpture of mesosoma. Nevertheless, H. lopesi has reniform eye (vs. oval eye of H. margaridae), the striae on the head dorsum with smooth crests (vs. with punctuated crests), and the discontinuous dorsal margin of petiole (vs. continuous). The two species are allopatric (Fig. 89); H. lopesi occurs in Brazil, and H. margaridae in Guyana and French Guiana.

There is considerable variation among Hylomyrma lopesi specimens. The striae on the petiolar node dorsum in specimens from several localities in Brazil (BA, GO, MA, MT, SP, and TO) are not exclusively longitudinal, but can also be transverse. Also, in specimens from Bahia, the striae on the laterals of the mesosoma are not entirely directed to the propodeal spine. In these specimens part of the striae on the laterals of the mesosoma are directed to propodeal dorsum. Besides, the 14 intercaste specimens present a larger phenotypic plasticity, sharing morphological traits with worker and winged queens. The modifications observed in these specimens are: a) the central ocellus and the strongly convex mesosoma [(n=1), HL 0.85; HW 0.80; ML 0.52; PNW 0.60; WL 1.125; GL 0.87]; b) the central ocellus, the strongly convex mesosoma, and the presence of pre-transcutal suture [(n=5), HL (0.82–0.95); HW (0.82–0.92); ML (0.52); PNW (0.55–0.65); WL (1.15–1.30); GL (0.95–1.15)]; c) the central ocellus, the presence of promesonotal suture, the strongly convex mesosoma, the presence of pre-transcutal suture [(n=1), HL 0.85; HW 0.82; ML 0.55; PNW 0.60; WL 1.15; GL 1]; d) the three ocelli, the strongly convex mesosoma, the promesonotal junction discernible by a depression, and the presence of pre-transcutal suture [(n=3), HL (0.87–0.92); HW (0.85–0.87); ML (0.55–0.57); PNW (0.60–0.65); WL (1.22); GL (0.85)]; e) the three ocelli, the strongly convex mesosoma, the distinguishable promesonotal junction and metanotal groove by a depression, and the presence of pre-transcutal suture [(n=2), HL (0.90–0.92); HW (0.90); ML (0.55–0.57); PNW (0.65–0.67); WL (1.22–1.25); GL (1.07–1.10)]; f) the three ocelli, the enlarged mesosoma, the presence of promesonotal and pre-transcutal sutures, and the metanotal groove discernible by a depression [(n=1), HL 0.90; HW 0.87; ML 0.55; PNW 0.57; WL 1.17; GL 1]; and g) the three ocelli, the enlarged mesosoma, the presence of promesonotal and transcutal sutures, and the metanotal groove discernible by a depression [(n=1), HL 0.87; HW 0.87; ML 0.55; PNW 0.62; WL 1.17; GL 1].

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Nomenclature

 * . Hylomyrma lopesi Ulysséa, in Ulysséa & Brandão, 2021: 63, figs. 2B, 44, 45, 80E, 80J, 89 (w.q.) BRAZIL.
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 41 paratype workers, 9 paratype queens.
 * Type-locality: holotype Brazil: Maranhão, Estreito, Fazenda Itaueiras, 06°31’54.4’’S, 47°22’16’’W, 7-13.i.2005, winkler 25 (R.R. Silva & R. Silvestre); paratypes: 1 worker, 1 queen with same data but winklers 34, 36, 8 workers with same data but 1-9.vi.2005, winklers 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 14, 23, 24 (R.R. Silva & R.M. Feitosa), 10 workers, 2 queens with same data but 12-22.vi.2006, winklers 6, 7, 10, 11, 14, 15 (R.R. Silva & R.M. Feitosa), 1 worker, 1 queen with same data but 13-22.ii.2006, winkler residue (R.R. Silva & R.M. Feitosa), 5 workers, 1 queen Estreito, Fazenda Planalto, 06°35’59.3’’S, 47°24’50’’W, 7-13.i.2005, winklers 2, 4, 5, 8, 10 (R.R. Silva & R. Silvestre), 7 workers with same data as last but 1-9.vi.2005, winklers 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9 (R.R. Silva & R.M. Feitosa), 2 workers, 1 queen with same data as last but 12-22.vi.2006, winkler (R.R. Silva & R.M. Feitosa), 6 workers, 2 queens with same data as last but 13-22.ii.2006, winklers 6, 8, 10, 11, 12 (R.R. Silva & R.M. Feitosa), 1 worker São Paulo, Matão, Fazenda Cambuhy, Mata da Virginia, 21°37’35.5’’S, 48°33’24.8’’W, 17-22.iv.2015, winkler, A1P3W3 (M.A. Ulysséa & L.P. Prado), 1 queen with same data as last but 30.iii.-3.iv.2016, A1P2W4 (M.A. Ulysséa).
 * Type-depositories: MZSP (holotype); CASC, DZUP, IAVH, MCZC, MZSP, USNM (paratypes).
 * Distribution: Brazil.

Type Material

 * Holotype: BRAZIL: MA[Maranhão]: Estreito, Fazenda Itaueiras, 06°31′54.4″S, 47°22′16″W, 07-13.i.2005, Silva R.R. & Silvestre R. cols., Winkler 25, MZSP67354 (1W) [MZSP].
 * Paratypes: same data as holotype (1W) (MZSP67355) [MZSP]; same except Winkler 36 (1Q) (MZSP67356) [MZSP]; Winkler 34 (1W) (MZSP67357) [MZSP]; 01-09.vi.2005, Silva R.R. & Feitosa R.M. cols., Winkler 23 (1W) (MZSP67358) [MZSP]; Winkler 14 (1W) (MZSP67359) [MZSP]; Winkler 1 (1W) (MZSP67360) [MZSP]; Winkler 8 (1W) (MZSP67361) [MZSP]; Winkler 5 (1W) (MZSP67362) [MZSP]; Winkler 2 (1W) (MZSP67363) [MZSP]; Winkler 4 (1W) (MZSP67364) [MZSP]; Winkler 24 (1W) (MZSP67365) [MZSP]; 12-22.vi.2006, Silva R.R. & Feitosa R.M. cols., Winkler (2W) [USNM]; Winkler 11 (1W) [DZUP]; Winkler 15 (1W) [DZUP]; Winkler 10 (1W) [MCZC]; Winkler 07 (1W) [MCZC]; Winkler 06 (2W) [IHVL]; Winkler 14 (1W 1Q) [CASC]; 12-22.vi.2006, Winkler, Resíduo 2 (1W 1Q) (MZSP67366) [MZSP]; 13-22.ii.2006, Winkler, Resíduo (1W 1Q) (MZSP67367) [MZSP]; Estreito, Fazenda Planalto, 06°35′59.3″S, 47°24′50.4″W, 07-13.i.2005, Silva R.R. & Silvestre R. cols., Winkler 8 (1W) (MZSP67368) [MZSP]; same except Winkler 10 (1W) (MZSP67369) [MZSP]; Winkler 5 (1W) (MZSP67370) [MZSP]; Winkler 4 (1W) (MZSP67371) [MZSP]; Winkler 2 (1W 1Q) (MZSP67372) [MZSP]; 01-09.vi.2005, Silva R.R. & Feitosa R.M. cols., Winkler 1 (1W) (MZSP67373) [MZSP]; Winkler 2 (1W) (MZSP67374) [MZSP]; Winkler 5 (1W) (MZSP67375) [MZSP]; Winkler 8 (2W) (MZSP67376) [MZSP]; Winkler 9 (1W) (MZSP67377) [MZSP]; Winkler 3 (1W) (MZSP67378) [MZSP]; 12-22.vi.2006, Silva R.R. & Feitosa R.M. cols., Winkler (2W 1Q) (MZSP67379) [MZSP]; 13-22.ii.2006, Silva R.R. & Feitosa R.M. cols., Winkler 8 (1W) (MZSP67380) [MZSP]; Winkler 11 (2W 1Q) (MZSP67381) [MZSP]; Winkler 06 (1W 1Q) (MZSP67382) [MZSP]; Winkler 12 (1W) (MZSP67383) [MZSP]; Winkler 10 (1W) (MZSP67384) [MZSP]; SP[São Paulo]: Matão, Fazenda Cambuhy, Mata da Virgínia, Winkler, 21°37′35.5″S, 48°33′24.8″W, 17-22.iv.2015, M.A. Ulysséa & L.P. Prado cols., A1P3W3 (1W covered with gold) (MZSP67385) [MZSP]; 21°37′33.56″S, 48°32′13.11″W, 30.iii-03.iv.2016, M.A. Ulysséa col., A1P2W4 (1Q) (MZSP67386) [MZSP].