Cryptomyrmex boltoni

This species is known from Bahia (Brazil) and Tapua (Paraguay), which are widely-separated sites. The species will probably be found betwen these areas provided there is more extensive sampling with Winkler traps and Berlese funnels.

Identification
Fernández (2003, 2004) - Very similar to Cryptomyrmex longinodus. Separated by the sculpturing on the propodeal dorsum and the sides of the mesosoma. In A. boltoni, the lamelliform setae are reduced to 2, near the basal border and between the basal teeth (of the masticatory border) and the tooth of the basal margin. The propodeal spines are longer than wide, in contrast to C. longinodus.

There are some differences in the mesosomal sculpturing in the material observed, which I consider at the moment as within species variation. In a few specimens (Praia Grande, SP, Brazil), the mesosoma is slightly shorter than in the others, with reticulated sculpturing on the mesopleura and a double keel on the dorsal part of the propodeum, keels that unite the bases of the propodeal spines, and less obvious longitudinal rugulae on the dorsal mesosoma. The type specimen from Bahia is intermediate between these Praia Grande specimens and the other specimens. This variation seems to be geographic.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil, Paraguay.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  boltoni. Adelomyrmex boltoni Fernández, 2003b: 14, figs. 65, 74 (w.) PARAGUAY. Combination in Cryptomyrmex: Fernández, 2004b: 333.

Worker
Holotype (Paratype). HL 0.60 (0.50) HW 0.52 (0.46) SL 0.41 (0.38) EL 0.05 (0.04) WL 0.70 (0.63) GL 0.75 (0.70) TL 2.60 (2.33) CI 88 (92) SI 74 (82).

Head longer than broad, with convex posterior and evenly rounded corners. Sides of head slightly concave before the eyes, slightly convex past eyes. Mandibles with 4 teeth decreasing in size from the apical teeth, the antepenultimate (subbasal) smallest. Mandible internal side with two lamelliform setae near basal border, between basal teeth and teeth of basal border. Hypostomal teeth absent. Head, most of promesonotum, sides of pronotum and gaster smooth and shining; remainder of thorax with more or less longitudinal rugulae. Posterior face of propodeum long, smooth and shining. Petiole with rugulae concentric around node, dorsally transverse and longitudinal on sides; sides of postpetiole with oblique rugulae, smooth and shining in the top, mandibles smooth and shining. Hairs long and flexuous on the body, shorter and appressed on antennae and legs. Body brown (including hairs), antennae and legs lighter.

Type Material
Holotype worker: PARAGUAY: Tapua, Santa María, 25.x.82, F. Baud leg. (Deposited in ). Paratypes: 1 w, BRAZIL: Bahia, A. de Olivenca, mata –W, 14°58’S 39°01’W, 23.iii.98, J.R.M. Dos Santos leg.; 1 w, Bahia, Aracataca A48, 15°15’90”S 39°16’01W, J.R.M. Dos Santos leg.; 1 w, Bahia, Aritaguá, 14°39’S 39°04’W, 5.x.98, J.S. Carmo & J.R.M. Santos legg.; 1 w, Bahia, Buerarema, 14°45’30”S 39°13’00”W, 18.v.98, J.R.M. Dos Santos leg.; 1 w, Bahia, Camacá-Vargito, 15°24’S 39°31’W, 22.iii.99, J.R.M. Dos Santos leg.; 1 w, Bahia, Canavieiras-Oiticica, 14°24’34”S 39°01’00”W, 30.iii.98, J.R.S. Carmo leg.; 1 w, Bahia, Ibiripitanga, mata-W, 14°11’39”S 39°25’23”W, J.R.M. Dos Santos leg.; 3 w, Bahia, Ilheus, CEPLEC – G Winkler No. 331, 1.iv.1996, J.R.M. Santos; 4 w, Bahia, Ilheus, CEPLEC-G, Winkler 396, iv.96, A.C. Moreira leg.; 1 w, Bahia, Ilhéus-Itabuna, are zool. Km 22, x.86, J. Delabie leg.; 3 w, Bahia, Ilhéus, Japu, 3.iii.91, J. Delabie No. 4374 & 4401; 1 w, Bahia, Ilhéus-Pimenteira, mata W-A17, 14°32’S 39°25’W, 6.x.1997, J.R.M. Dos Santos & J.C.S. do Carmo legg.; 1 w, Bahia, Maraú-Faz, Agua Boa, mata, 1.vii.97, J.R.M. Dos Santos leg.; 1 w, Bahia, Maraú-Tremembé, mata W-A4, 7.vi.97, J.R.M. Dos Santos leg.; 1 w, Bahia, Monte Pascual, 16°52’03”S 39°55’03”W, 18.vii.97, J.R.M. Dos Santos leg.; 3 w, Bahia, Ilhéus, Una Reserve, 15°16’45”S 39°05’28”W, 21.xi.96, J.R.M. Santos keg.; 1 w, Bahia, Itacaré, 14°18’33”S 39°00’70”W, 25.vi.98, J.R.M. Dos Santos leg.; 1 w, Bahia, Ubaitaba, 14°15’01”S 39°19’27”W, 11.iv.97, J.C.S. Carmo leg.; 1 w, Bahia, Urucuca, 21.xii.93, R. Cordeiro No. 4572. 18 paratypes deposited in CEPLAC, 10 paratypes deposited in, , , , , ,.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Fernández F. 2004. Adelomyrmecini new tribe and Cryptomyrmex new genus of myrmicine ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Sociobiology. 44: 325-335.
 * Fernández, F. 2003. Revision of the myrmicinae ants of the Adelomyrmex genus-group. Zootaxa 361: 1-52.
 * Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
 * Silva R.R., and C. R. F. Brandao. 2014. Ecosystem-Wide Morphological Structure of Leaf-Litter Ant Communities along a Tropical Latitudinal Gradient. PLoSONE 9(3): e93049. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0093049
 * Silvestre R., M. F. Demetrio, and J. H. C. Delabie. 2012. Community Structure of Leaf-Litter Ants in a Neotropical Dry Forest: A Biogeographic Approach to Explain Betadiversity. Psyche doi:10.1155/2012/306925
 * Suguituru S. S., M. Santina de Castro Morini, R. M. Feitosa, and R. Rosa da Silva. 2015. Formigas do Alto Tiete. Canal 6 Editora 458 pages
 * Wild, A. L.. "A catalogue of the ants of Paraguay (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)." Zootaxa 1622 (2007): 1-55.