Myrmosphincta

Corsetted Carpenter Ants

Diagnosis. Emery (1925). - "Worker, soldier, and queen. - Medium species; caste dimorphism strongly pronounced: at least in C. sexguttatus, (F.) and its varieties, there are no intermediates between workers and soldiers. Head short, lateral margins convex, head not truncated anteriorly, not even in soldiers. Clypeus strongly carinate in workers, subcarinate or ecarinate in soldiers; anterior margin scalloped in minors but not in majors [soldiers]. Frontal carinae short, sinuate, somewhat wide-set and posteriorly divergent; antennal insertion situated slightly anterior to midlength of frontal carinae. Mesosomal dorsum interrupted in profile view by notch anterior to propodeum; propodeum raised and rounded, or posteriorly truncate (C. lancifer, Emery); metanotal spiracle visible in dorsal view. Petiole squamiform and lenticular, or (C. lancifer) acutely pointed apically. Cuticular sculpture differing on heads of minors and soldiers; setae long and fine, also present on scapes and tibiae. Male. Remarkably short; eyes large, strongly bulging. Antennal flagellum with short antennomeres, pedicel bulging or pyriform. Scapes and tibiae with sparse setae.

Geographical distribution of species. - Central America to the Amazon Basin; West Indies.

Note: These Ants have a striking resemblance to C. moeschi, Forel, a Malay species which I have attributed to the subgenus Myrmamblys. Is this affinity true or a fortuitous convergence? This, I cannot say. Santschi seems to be inclined towards the first alternative, for he classifies moeschi (and other species) among Myrmosphinctus."

(Translated and edited by B. E. Boudinot, 17 February 2017.)

Myrmosphincta is currently a subgenus of Camponotus.

Nomenclature

 *  MYRMOSPHINCTA [subgenus of Camponotus]
 * Myrmosphincta Forel, 1912i: 92 [as subgenus of Camponotus]. Type-species: Formica sexguttata, by subsequent designation of Wheeler, W.M. 1913a: 81.
 * [Type-species not Formica cinerascens, unjustified subsequent designation by Forel, 1914a: 265.]