Technomyrmex gorgona

This is the second extant species of Technomyrmex native to the New World. It is only known from Gorgona National Park, Cauca, Colombia, a small continental Island in the Pacific Ocean. (Fernández and Guerrero 2008)

Identification
Fernández and Guerrero (2008) - Its dark brown color, heavy fine punctuation on the mesonotum and dorsum of propodeum distinguishes it from the only other native congener Technomyrmex fulvus (a number of introduced species occur in the New World but are not presently known from Columbia).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia.

Nomenclature

 *  gorgona. Technomyrmex gorgona Fernández & Guerrero, 2008: 111, fig. 3 (w.) COLOMBIA.

Worker
Holotype (Paratypes, N= 2): TL 3.17 (3.27 – 3.32), HL 0.69 (0.66 – 0.67), HW 0.68 (0.65 – 0.66), SL 0.72 (0.71), PW 0.46 (0.45 – 0.46), WL 0.95 (0.97 – 0.99), CI 99 (98 – 99), SI 104 (106 – 108), OI 32 (36), EPI 56 (55 – 56), DTI 125 (124 – 127).

Head in full-face view with the posterior margin feebly concave in the middle. Outer margin of eye very close to the side of the head. Anterior clypeal margin with median concavity. Mesonotum in profile shallowly convex anteriorly and with a steeply sloping declivitous face that extends down to the tuberculiform metathoracic spiracle. Propodeal dorsum convex in profile; dorsum rounded evenly into declivity. Body smooth and shining, except for a fine reticulation in the posterior half of pronotum, dense and fine punctuation on the dorsum and sides (mesopleuron) of mesonotum and dorsum of propodeum. Head dorsum in profile entirely lacks setae behind the level of the posterior margin of the eye; dorsum of head with numerous very short spaced erect and suberect setae (less than 0.50 × the maximum diameter of the eye), numerous suberect (0.03 mm) setae between the torulus and the level of the midlength of the eye, anterior clypeus with four hairs, about 0.13 mm each long; pronotum with 2 pairs of long setae, arising from very wellmarked pits; Gastral tergites 1 - 4 each with 2 – 4 very long erect setae. Short pubescence on scapes and dorsal (outer) surfaces of middle and hind tibiae usually almost appressed, but slightly elevated in some. Body dark brown. Head and body brown, scape apex, flagellomeres and mandibles lighter.

Type Material
Holotype worker: COLOMBIA. Cauca. Gorgona Island National Park. 02°58’N 78°11’W. 180 m. 01-mar-04-abr-2000. Sharkey, M. . Paratype workers (2 workers): Same data, deposited in,.

Etymology
The name gorgona refers to the Gorgona National Park, and is given as a noun in apposition.