Azteca nanogyna

The single specimen was collected in tropical moist forest. John Noyes collected the specimen using a screened sweep net.

Identification
A member of the Azteca aurita group. Azteca nanogyna has by far the smallest queen of any known species in the genus. The color and narrow head clearly ally it with Azteca lanuginosa and Azteca schimperi.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Costa Rica.

Castes
Known only from the queen holotype specimen.

Nomenclature

 * . Azteca nanogyna Longino, 2007: 57, figs. 4A, 9 (q.) COSTA RICA.
 * Status as species: Guerrero, et al. 2010: 54 (in key).

Queen
Holotype. HLA 0.86, HLB 0.91, HW 0.64, SL 0.58, EL 0.22, OC 0.04, MTSC 6 (very fine, short).

Palpal formula 4,3; middle and hind tibia lacking apical spur; dorsal surface of mandible smooth and shiny, pubescent; medial clypeal lobe strongly convex and protruding, extending well beyond lateral clypeal lobes; head subrectangular, somewhat swollen between ocellar region and compound eye, posterior margin a smoothly rounded excavation; petiolar node bluntly triangular; posteroventral petiolar lobe very low, very shallowly convex, ending posteriorly in a somewhat abrupt shelf, rising steeply to tergosternal suture, leaving small posterior rim on sternite; entire body covered with uniform vestiture of sparse, white, suberect pubescence; scape, all margins of head, legs, petiole, and first gastral tergum with evenly distributed short, white, erect setae emerging above pubescence, similar but sparser setae on mesosomal dorsum; body dark brown becoming lighter brown on mandibles, legs; body with smooth, highly polished and reflective surface.

Type Material
Holotype queen: Costa Rica, Prov. Guanacaste, Estacion Maritza, Guanacaste Conservation Area, 10°58'N, 85°30'W, 600m, 23 Feb 2003 (J. S. Noyes), specimen code JTLC000004288

Etymology
The name refers to the small size of the queen.