Brachymyrmex minutus

Forel (1893) found several colonies subterraneous at the roots of sod, usually where it overgrows rocks, typically within the forest and/or nearby streams. The nest of B. minutus consists of large tunnels with small chambers at intervals. Colonies contain ~ 50 to 100 individuals, with a single queen.

Identification
Ortiz-Sepulveda et al. (2019) - Brachymyrmex minutus morphologically resembles Brachymyrmex australis, Brachymyrmex aphidicola, and Brachymyrmex termitophilus, because all these species have eyes located on the cephalic midline, a mesonotum that does not bulge dorsally above the pronotum in lateral view, and yellowish body color. Brachymyrmex minutus differs from the three other species, or any other Brachymyrmex species for that matter, by having a very inconspicuous mesometanotal suture, giving the impression that the mesonotum and metanotum are fused. Additionally, B. minutus differs from B. termitophilus by having scattered pubescence on the gaster, from B. aphidicola by the presence of only two erect hairs on the pronotum and from B. australis by having scapes that surpass the posterior margin of the head by a length that is smaller than the maximal diameter of the eye.

Distribution
In Florida this is an uncommon species that is thought to be a human introduction from the West Indies. It is known from tropical hammocks in Dade and Monroe counties. Nests are in leaf litter. The identity of this species and virtually all other Brachymyrmex is problematical. Pest status: none. First published Florida record: Ferster and Prusak 1994; earlier specimens: 1984. (Deyrup, Davis & Cover, 2000.)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Greater Antilles, Guatemala, Lesser Antilles, Martinique, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela.

Nomenclature

 * . Brachymyrmex minutus Forel, 1893g: 346 (w.q.) ST VINCENT & THE GRENADINES (St Vincent I.), VIRGIN IS (St Thomas I.).
 * Status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1905b: 111, 132; Forel, 1912i: 62; Wheeler, W.M. 1922c: 15; Santschi, 1923b: 667; Emery, 1925b: 43; Stärcke, 1926: 118 (in key); Aguayo, 1932: 224; Smith, M.R. 1954c: 11; Kempf, 1972a: 40; Alayo, 1974: 26 (in key); Bolton, 1995b: 82; Deyrup, et al. 2000: 301; Deyrup, 2003: 44; Deyrup, 2017: 181; Fernández & Ortiz-Sepúlveda, 2019: 728; Ortiz-Sepúlveda, et al. 2019: 509 (redescription).

Worker
Ortiz-Sepulveda et al. (2019) - Lectotype and paralectotypes (n = 4). HL1 0.37–0.40; HL2 0.25–0.31; HL30.07–0.10; HW 0.32–0.36; SL 0.32–0.36; EL 0.08–0.11; WL n.a.; PnL n.a.; PnW 0.20–0.24; ML 0.06–0.07; MW 0.14–0.15; Indices CI 85.88–89.29; SI1 92.59–108.00; SI2 107.14–126.67; OI1 26.03–29.63; OI2 20.00–25.27.

Head. Slightly longer than wide in full face view; posterior cephalic margin weakly convex. Dorsum of the head with sparse hairs. Clypeus with a rounded anterior margin and five long, erect hairs of which a single, usually conspicuous hair is near the anterior margin, two hairs are in mediolateral position, and two more near the toruli; other hairs on the clypeus are markedly shorter and appressed or decumbent. Toruli surpassing the posterior clypeal margin in oblique anterodorsal oblique view. The scapes surpass the posterior margin of the head by a length that is smaller than the maximal diameter of the eye; they have appresed pubescence. Ocelli absent. Eyes are positioned on the cephalic midline and have 8–9 ommatidia along their maximal diameter.

Mesosoma. Typically with two erect hairs on the pronotum and without erect hairs on the mesonotum. The mesonotum is not inflated and does not bulge dorsally above the pronotum in lateral view. Mesometanotal suture inconspicuous, giving the impression that the mesonotum and metanotum are fused. Metanotal groove absent or narrower than the diameter of the metathoracic spiracles. Metathoracic spiracles in dorsolateral position, not protruding, and touching the propodeal suture. Dorsum of the propodeum slightly convex and shorter than the propodeal slope. Propodeal spiracles circular, positioned on the posterior propodeal margin, just dorsally at the middle of the propodeal slope. Legs with appressed and scattered hairs. Petiole short and inclined forward.

Gaster. With scarce pubescence and several scattered long suberect hairs.

Color and sculpture. Body smooth, or finely granulated and shiny, sometimes with some imbricate sculpture on the dorsum of the mesosoma. Body usually yellowish, but sometimes reddish.

Type Material
Ortiz-Sepulveda et al. (2019) - Brachymyrmex minutus Forel, 1893: 346 (w.q.). Lectotype worker (: USNMENT00757150) and paralectotype workers, queen (MHNG: USNMENT00757149–00757151; USNMENT00758110–00758112; here designated): 15 workers, one queen [examined]. ANTILLES: Saint Vincent. See also: Santschi (1923a: 667).

The lectotype is designated here as the second ant counting from the top of pin MHNG: USNMENT00757150, whereas the other specimens on that pin are paralectotypes.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

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