Leptogenys luederwaldti

Specimens from Caraguatatuba Brazil were collected in rain forest.

Identification
Key to Leptogenys of the New World

Lattke (2011) - A member of the luederwaldti species group. Head elongate in full-face view; eye situated dorsolaterally on head in full-face view, and close to mid-length of lateral cephalic margin; large, occupying close to one-third lateral cephalic margin; scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by one-fourth its length; second funicular segment more than 3 × longer than first; mandible triangular. Petiole elongate and fulcrum-shaped in dorsal view, lateral margins concave, slender anterad; petiole in lateral view triangular.

Distribution
This taxon was described, and is only known, from (southeastern) Brazil.

Nomenclature

 *  luederwaldti. Leptogenys (Lobopelta) luederwaldti Forel, 1913l: 206 (w.) BRAZIL. Lattke, 2011: 186 (q.m.). Senior synonym of anacleti: Lattke, 2011: 186.
 * anacleti. Leptogenys (Lobopelta) anacleti Borgmeier, 1930: 30, pl. 3, fig. 9; pl. 4, figs. 18, 19 (w.) BRAZIL. Junior synonym of luederwaldti: Lattke, 2011: 186.

Worker
Lattke (2011) - Metrics (n = 5) : HL 1.28 – 1.35; HW 0.81 – 0.81; ML 0.57 – 0.64; EL 0.27 – 0.30; SL 1.48 – 1.62; PW 0.71 – 0.74; WL 2.19 – 2.33; PH 0.67 – 0.84; PL 0.84 – 0.88; DPW 0.40–0.47 mm. CI 0.60–0.63; MI 0.71–0.79; OI 0.33 – 0.38; SI 1.83 – 2.00; LPI 0.80 – 0.96; DPI 0.48 – 0.54.

Head elongate in full-face view, head widest at mandibular insertion, lateral margin broadly convex, posterior margin straight to concave, with prominent vertexal carina. Eye situated dorsolaterally on head in cephalic full-face view, and close to mid-length of lateral cephalic margin; large, occupying close to one-third lateral cephalic margin; cephalic dorsum mostly smooth and shining. Clypeus with longitudinal striae medially and oblique striae laterally; median clypeal lobe prominent, evenly tapering to sharp point, lateral lobe narrow and weakly convex. Scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by one-fourth its length; second funicular segment more than 3 × longer than first; third segment little more than half length of second. Mandible triangular, edentate except for apical tooth, dorsum smooth and shining; basal margin slightly convex, masticatory margin more than half length of basal margin; lateral basal sulcus present; PF: 4,3.

Mesosoma with broadly convex promesonotal margin and straight to broadly convex dorsal propodeal margin in lateral view, dorsal propodeal margin more than twice length of declivitous margin, metanotal groove deeply impressed, propodeal declivity with broad triangular tooth that forms continuity with dorsal margin, apex of tooth at spiracular level. Space between propodeal spiracle and apex of tooth with 3–5 oblique striae, striae continue transversely across dorsal half of propodeal declivity, ventral half with singe broad, transverse sulcus. Body sculpturing almost all smooth and shining, mesometapleural suture well impressed and scrobiculate; mesopleuron bordered anteroventrally by low carina.

Petiole elongate and wedge-shaped in dorsal view, lateral margins concave, slender anterad; petiole in lateral view triangular, anterodorsal margin broadly convex, node highest posterad, posterior margin mostly vertical, weakly concave. Subpetiolar process shaped as rounded or triangular lobe. Propodeal spiracle elongate and vertical, slightly wider dorsad than ventrad. Abdominal segment III with anterodorsal margin convex in lateral view, constriction between abdominal segments III and IV well marked. Body wanting pubescence, pilosity sparse, mostly on head and ventral parts; dorsal pilosity usually subdecumbent, pronotum with two erect hairs anterad; scape with abundant subdecumbent pilosity. Body and scape black with blue opalescence; legs, funiculus, clypeus, and mandibles brown to dark brown.

Queen
Lattke (2011) - Metrics (n = 1): HL 1.92; HW 1.21; ML 0.94; EL 0.51; SL 2.29; PW 1.11; WL 3.10; PH 1.04; PL 1.08; DPW 0.74 mm. CI 0.63; MI 0.78; OI 0.42; SI 1.89; LPI 0.97; DPI 0.69. Vestigial 3 ocelli present on posterior cephalic dorsum, propodeum evenly convex in lateral view; petiolar node with sinuous anterior margin in lateral view, dorsal margin sloped and mostly straight to slightly convex, apex convex, posterior margin broadly convex; node in dorsal view shaped as rough equilateral triangle with blunt corners; gaster noticeably swollen compared with workers. General body color ferruginous brown.

Male
Lattke (2011) - Metrics (n = 1): HL 1.01; HW 1.25; ML 0.27; EL 0.74; SL 0.34; PW 1.31; WL 2.86; PH 0.91; PL 1.01; DPW 0.54 mm. CI 1.23; MI 0.22; OI 0.59; SI 0.27; LPI 0.90; DPI 0.53. Cephalic dorsum mostly smooth and shining, clypeus with low rugulae; abundant subdecumbent to decumbent hairs on head; antennae bristly, with abundant subdecumbent hairs. Pronotum, prosternum, mesoscutum mostly smooth and shining, prosternum with longitudinal striae along basal margin; scutellum and posterior portion of scutum with longitudinal striae; metanotum with median tumosity, propodeum rugulose. General color yellow with flagellum and gaster slightly brown-yellow.

Type Material
Lattke (2011) - Leptogenys (Lobopelta) luederwaldti. Holotype worker: Brazil, Santa Catherina, Hammonia, Ihering no. 16841 (Lüderwaldt) [examined].

Leptogenys (Lobopelta) anacleti. Holotype worker: Brazil, Rio de Janiero, Petropolis, i.1928, Cat. No. 3390 (A. Wiltuschnig) [examined].

The type specimen (Geneva) is a worker with the handwritten labels: L. Lüderwalti. Worker symbol. Col by Jhering für [illegible] Hammonia, Sta Catharina; 16.841; Typus; coll Forel. This specimen is considered the holotype (by monotypy) as in the same paper Forel (1913) gives an interval of length variability for other ant species when he examined several specimens, but for L. luederwaldti there is only one length, and one locality. An Ipiranga specimen has a red cotypus (= syntype) label, a handwritten L. luderwalti For. label and small label with the number 11.567. It has the propodeal teeth low in comparison with other L. luederwaldti specimens. Forel (1913) only mentions the Hammonia specimens in his description so why this specimen should bear a cotype label is unclear. The type compares well with the Boraceia specimens.

Additional References

 * [[Media:Lattke 2011.pdf|Lattke, J. E. 2011. Revision of the New World species of the genus Leptogenys Roger (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny 69:127-264. [2011-12-13] PDF]]