Megalomyrmex caete

The type series was collected by W.L. Brown Jr. from “mt. base. Forest”.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Ecuador.

Nomenclature

 *  caete. Megalomyrmex caete Brandão, 1990: 422, figs. 2, 9, 27 (w.q.) ECUADOR.

Worker
Mandibles smooth; anterior border of clypeus with median denticle; flat median area of clypeus limited by carinae (better seen at 80x); 3-seg­mented antenna! club; 10-12 ocular facets at eye largest diameter; occipital margin not raised; dorsal profile of promesonotum continuous, promesonotum suture impressed laterally; meso­ sternum and metasternum without acrotergites; dorsal face and declivity of propodeum meeting in a gentle angle; declivity with 3-4 concentric rugosities over the foramen; petiole with an­ teroventral denticle; petiolar node, in frontal view, acuminate; postpetiole ventral process glo­bose.

Pilosity: 6 long erect hairs (more than .2mm) at pronotum, 4-6 at the apex of petiole and post­ petiole, 15-16 at the gaster segments and anterior face of fore coxae. Small subdecumbent hairs (circa .lmm) uniformly distributed over the body surface. Color: uniform bright  light-yellow.

Queen
Clypeal carinae only at the posterior region of clypeus; ocelli equally developed; parapsidal  sutures impressed on mesonotum; scutum and scutellum with 2 parallel rows of long hairs; ven­tral process  of postpetiole acuminate.

Type Material
3 Km SW Bucay, prov. Guayas, Ecuador (02°10'S, 79° 06'W). Holotype (worker) and 2 paratypes (workers) at Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard Univ.; 1 paratype (worker) at British Museum of Natural History; 2 paratypes (queen and workers) at Museu de Zoologia da USP.

Etymology
Caete means forest in Tupi.