Solenopsis goeldii

Only known from the type specimens; nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
A New World thief ant that is a member of the pygmaea species complex.

Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Worker - This is a tiny, pale yellow ant. It has coarse punctures on its head with hairs extended from each one giving it a speckled appearance. The lateral teeth are well developed and the extralateral teeth are absent. The head is quadrate and is longer than wide. The notopropodeal suture is weakly depressed and does break the sculpture of the mesosoma. Male - The male is small and brown. The head is as wide as long. There are coarse punctures present on the medial and dorsal parts of the head. The anterior border of the clypeus is nearly straight and absent of teeth. The funicular segments are elongated.

The workers of S. goeldii may be confused with those of Solenopsis westwoodi (southeastern South America) based on the coarse cephalic punctures present in both species. However, S. westwoodi is a medium dark brown ant while S. goeldii pale yellow in coloration. Additionally, the extralateral teeth on S. goeldii are absent while S. westwoodi has conspicuous bumps present in their location.

Keys

 * Key to New World Solenopsis Species Complexes
 * Key to Solenopsis pygmaea species complex / Clave a las obreras del complejo Solenopsis pygmaea

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Castes
Queens have not been collected.

Nomenclature

 *  goeldii. Solenopsis goeldii Forel, 1912g: 9 (w.m.) BRAZIL.

Worker
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=3). TL 1.44; HL 0.390-0.402 (0.396); HW 0.306; EL 0.030; ED 0.024-0.030 (0.028); SL 0.245-0.270 (0.256); FSL 0.096; CI 76.1-78.5 (77.3); SI 62.8-67.2 (64.5); PL 0.090-0.096 (0.092); PW 0.108; PI 83.3-88.9 (85.2); PPL 0.090-0.096 (0.092); PPW 0.120-0.126 (0.124); PPI 71.4-76.2 (74.2); WL 0.300; PSL 0.024-0.030 (0.028); PSW 0.024-0.030 (0.026).

Small, concolorous yellow; cephalic punctures coarse; lateral clypeal teeth well developed, extralateral teeth absent; head rectangular, longer than wide; scape extends 3/4 distance to posterior lateral corner of head; minor funicular segments 2-4 swollen, large; eyes small, contain 1-3 ommatidia; notopropodeal suture weakly depressed, does not break sculpture of mesosoma; petiole wider than postpetiole when seen in profile, rectangular in shape, petiole and postpetiole roughly equal in size when viewed dorsally, but petiole longer, postpetiole wider.

Hairs present on all body surfaces; head abundantly pilose, pilosity on head directed toward middle, hair missing in middle of head; scape abundantly hairy; all other body surfaces covered with pubescence and suberect hairs.

Male
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=1). TL 3.12; HL 0.420; HW 0.420; EL 0.240; ED 0.180; MOL 0.066; MOD 0.090; SL 0.120; FSL 0.960; CI 100; SI 28.57; PSL 0.066; PSW 0.072; PL 0.180; PW 0.210; PI 85.7; PPL 0.162; PPW 0.222; PPI 73.0; WL 0.480.

Small, concolorous brown; head as wide as long; coarse punctures present on medial and dorsal parts of head; anterior margin of clypeus nearly straight, absent of teeth; eyes large, extend past sides of head, from medial portion of head to ventral side towards mandibles; ocelli clear from coloration; antennae long, pale yellow in color; coarse punctures present on pronotum; notopropodeal suture well depressed, breaks sculpture of mesosoma; horizontal costulae present on propodeum; petiole wider than postpetiole when viewed laterally.

Hair present on all body surfaces; long, suberect hairs extend out of coarse punctures present on head and pronotum.

Type Material
Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, (lectotype worker, bottom specimen) [here designated], 2 paralectotype workers and 1 paralectotype male ).