Adelomyrmex anxiocalor

This species is known exclusively from La Picucha, the highest peak in the Sierra de Agalta in eastern Honduras. It occurs only above 2000 m elevation, in the wet cloud forest around the peak and in the short dwarf forest on the peak itself. It did not occur in multiple Winkler samples taken between 1500–1700 m on the same slope. Most collections are from sifted litter; two collections are workers that came to baits. The species was abundant, occurring in 80% of miniWinkler samples. This is a mountain top endemic threatened by climate change.

Identification
Longino (2012) - Face largely smooth and shining, without prominent rugae or large foveae; promesonotal dorsum uniformly sculptured with linear, longitudinal rugae (promesonotal dorsum is smooth and shiny on the similar Adelomyrmex micans).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Honduras.

Nomenclature

 *  anxiocalor. Adelomyrmex anxiocalor Longino, 2012: 11, figs. 12, 21 (w.q.) HONDURAS.

Worker
HW 0.65–0.76 (n=5); mandible with differentiated masticatory and basal margins; masticatory margin with 5–6 teeth; basal margin sinuous with a distinct basal tooth and notch between tooth and condyle; dorsal surface of mandible with 2–3 faint longitudinal striae and several large piligerous puncta; in full face view, lateral clypeal teeth project from beneath clypeal shelf; lateral clypeal teeth located on anterior (ventral) margin of clypeus and separate from transverse carina that forms clypeal shelf; hypostomal tooth present as a minute denticle; compound eye composed of 8–11 ommatidia; face largely smooth and shining, with clusters of thin, weak, longitudinal rugae near frontal carinae and medial to compound eye.

Short anterior face of pronotum weakly separated from dorsal face, a low transverse ruga irregularly present; promesonotum evenly and shallowly convex; metanotal groove impressed; propodeal spines well-developed, spiniform, slightly upturned; space between propodeal spines a broad concavity without distinct dorsal and posterior faces, smooth and shiny with 2–5 transverse rugae; dorsal promesonotum and side of mesosoma more or less uniformly covered with linear, longitudinal rugae; petiolar and postpetiolar nodes rounded, posterior face of petiole variably rounded to subquadrate; petiole and postpetiole coarsely rugose; postpetiole in dorsal view about as long as wide, evenly rounded posteriorly; gastral dorsum smooth and shining.

Scape with abundant subdecumbent pubescence; clypeus and frontal carinae with long erect setae; posterior and posterolateral margins of head with long erect setae; mid and hind tibia with abundant long subdecumbent setae and 2–3 differentiated erect setae that are longer than width of tibia; in profile, dorsal surfaces of head, mesosoma, and gaster with relatively sparse, long, erect setae; FSH 0.08 mm, FSI 0.10.

Color dark brown to black.

Queen
Similar to worker except for queen-specific characters of large compound eyes, ocelli, and enlarged mesosoma with queen-typical sclerites; pronotum smooth medially, laterally with coarse parallel rugae; mesonotum entirely smooth and shining; scutellum with longitudinal parallel rugae, weaker medially; Similar to worker except for queen-specific characters of large compound eyes, ocelli, and enlarged mesosoma with queen-typical sclerites; pronotum smooth medially, laterally with coarse parallel rugae; mesonotum entirely smooth and shining; scutellum with longitudinal parallel rugae, weaker medially; katepisternum smooth and shining except for short longitudinal rugae along posterior margin; lower half of anepisternum smooth and shining, upper half with longitudinal parallel rugae; side of propodeum with longitudinal parallel rugae.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Honduras, Olancho: 11km N Catacamas, 14.94949 −85.91559 ±20 m, 2080 m, 8 May 2010 (LLAMA Wa-C-02-2-07), unique specimen identifier CASENT0615104]. Paratypes (workers): Honduras, Olancho: 12km N Catacamas, 14.95307 −85.91669 ±20 m, 2190 m, 13 May 2010 (R.S.Anderson 2010-028), CASENT0628586, , CASENT0628587, , CASENT0628588, , CASENT0628590, INBIO, CASENT0628591, , CASENT0628594], , CASENT0628583, , CASENT0628584, UCD, CASENT0628589, , CASENT0628592], , CASENT0628585], , CASENT0628593.

Etymology
Fearing heat, in reference to its vulnerability to climate change.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Longino J. T. 2012. A review of the ant genus Adelomyrmex Emery 1897 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in Central America. Zootaxa 3456: 1-35