Leptogenys gagates

This distinct species is only known from the type series: 3 point-mounted workers on a single pin, and a single worker on another pin.

Identification
Lattke (2011) - A member of the quiriguana species group. Head subquadrate in full-face view, mandibles elongate, not shutting tight against clypeus; median clypeal lobe slender and forming convex margin with lateral lobes; eye weakly convex; scape surpasses posterior cephalic margin by one-fourth its length; width of mesonotum more than twice its length in dorsal view, anterior margin convex, posterior margin concave. Propodeal spiracle round.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Honduras.

Castes
Queens and males are unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  gagates. Leptogenys (Leptogenys) gagates Mann, 1922: 11, fig. 5 (w.) HONDURAS. See also: Lattke, 2011: 203.

Worker
Lattke (2011) - Metrics (n = 4) : HL 0.94 – 1.01; HW 0.71 – 0.78; ML 0.51 – 0.61; EL 0.15 – 0.18; SL 0.89 – 0.96; PW 0.51 – 0.63; WL 1.54 – 1.59; PH 0.56 – 0.63; PL 0.51 – 0.56; DPW 0.46–0.51 mm. CI 0.74–0.78; MI 0.71– 0.77; OI 0.19 – 0.24; SI 1.27 1.19 – 1.27; LPI 1.10 – 1.19; DPI 0.82 – 0.91.

Head subquadrate in full-face view, slightly wider anterad than posterad; posterior margin relatively straight, cephalic margin posterad of eye mostly straight, curving posterad towards posterior margin; eye convex, length less than one-fourth lateral cephalic margin; anterior clypeal margin laterally concave, lateral lobe low and triangular, apex rounded; clypeus with low weak striae and sparse piligerous tubercles; PF 4,3. Cephalic dorsum mostly smooth and shining with sparse punctulae. Scape surpasses posterior cephalic border by one-fourth its length, smooth and shining with sparse punctulae; funicular segments longer than wide, wider apicad than basad; antennal segments II – IV subequal in length. Mandible elongate and slender, leaving gap between basal margin and clypeus, subparallel internal and external margins, basal angle with minute denticle, basal margin broadly convex, external margin sinuate, basal margin with two stout hairs at mid-length; dorsum mostly smooth and shining with sparse piligerous punctae.

Mesosoma with broadly convex pronotal margin in lateral view; mesonotal margin briefly descends into metanotal groove, propodeal margin slightly convex to mostly straight before curving onto declivitous margin, declivitous margin straight with short triangular tooth at spiracular height. Width of mesonotum more than twice its length in dorsal view, anterior margin convex, posterior margin concave. Mesosoma mostly smooth and shining with sparse piligerous punctulae; weak striae present about bulla; propodeal spiracle rounded, propodeal side posterad of spiracle indented. Mesopleural carina gradually expands anterad, forming low angular anterior lobe. Declivity with transverse crest between denticles, insertion of petiole surrounded by low sheath.

Petiole subquadrate in lateral view with vertical anterior margin half height of posterior margin, dorsal margin broadly convex, posterior margin feebly convex, practically straight. Node trapezoidal, elongate in dorsal view; anterior margin convex, more than half width of posterior margin, posterior margin weakly convex. Node smooth and shining, posterior face flat, separated from lateral face by sharp curvature, ventral process triangular with long anterior slope and brief vertical posterior margin. Gaster, coxae smooth and shining; body with sparse standing and decumbent hairs, no appressed pilosity; constriction between abdominal segments III and IV well marked. Scape with abundant decumbent pilosity and sparse decumbent hairs. Body mostly black to very dark brown; antennae, clypeus, mandibles, legs and gastral apex ferruginous brown.

Type Material
Lattke (2011) - Syntype workers: Honduras, San Juan Pueblo, ii.–iii.1920, Cat. No. 24439 (W.M. Mann) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
 * Kempf, W.W. 1972. Catalago abreviado das formigas da regiao Neotropical (Hym. Formicidae) Studia Entomologica 15(1-4).
 * Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.