Solenopsis decipiens

Solenopsis decipiens has been collected in a cafetal (coffee plantation) at 1405 m as well as from leaf litter gathered in Colombia.

Identification
A New World thief ant that is a member of the molesta species complex. (Key to New World Solenopsis Species Complexes)

Pacheco and Mackay (2013) – Worker - This species is concolorous golden yellow with a smooth sculpture. The head is nearly quadrate, with relatively long scapes that extend 3/4 the length of the head to the posterior lateral comer. The anterior clypeal margin is slightly concave and the space between the tips of the lateral teeth is relatively wide at 0.096 mm. The lateral clypeal teeth are present and angular and the extralateral teeth are absent with a swollen area in their place. The eyes have about six ommatidia and are slightly kidney-shaped. The petiole and postpetiole are roughly equal in width when seen in profile. The petiole has a rounded node, the postpetiole is oval when viewed from above.

Solenopsis decipiens is similar to Solenopsis stricta and Solenopsis hayemi which overlap in distributions (southern South America). It can be separated from both species as its petiole is not as enlarged and wide (viewed laterally). Additionally, S. decipiens has weakly developed clypeal carinae, a rare character within the thief ants. Solenopsis decipiens could be confused with Solenopsis parva based on the kidney-shaped eye, but the eye of S. parva is much larger with up to eight ommatidia and the mesopleuron of S. parva is striated while that of S. decipiens is not.

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

Nomenclature

 *  decipiens. Solenopsis decipiens Emery, 1906c: 126, fig. 8 (w.q.m.) ARGENTINA. Current subspecies: nominal plus abjecta. Senior synonym of abjecta, scelesta: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 146.
 * abjecta. Solenopsis decipiens subsp. abjecta Emery, 1906c: 128, fig. 10 (w.) ARGENTINA. Forel, 1912g: 8 (q.). Junior synonym of decipiens: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 146.
 * scelesta. Solenopsis decipiens var. scelesta Forel, 1908c: 364 (w.) BRAZIL. Raised to species: Wild, 2007b: 53. Junior synonym of decipiens: Pacheco & Mackay, 2013: 146.

Worker
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Measurements (n=11). TL 1.44-1.68 (1.59); HL 0.438-0.504 (0.470); HW 0.330-0.408 (0.364); EL 0.042-0.060 (0.051); ED 0.030-0.048 (0.039); SL 0.276-0.333 (0.302); FSL 0.120-0.144 (0.127); CI 75.0-81.9 (77.6); SI 62.5-66.9 (64.2); PL 0.084-0.090 (0.089); PW 0.096-0.120 (0.106); PI 70.0-93.8 (84.6); PPL 0.102-0.120 (0.111); PPW 0.114-0.138 (0.127); PPI 75.8-94.7 (84.6); WL 0.330-0.378 (0.359); PSL 0.042-0.048 (0.044); PSW 0.030-0.036 (0.034).

Small, concolorous golden yellow; head nearly quadrate; scape relatively long, extends ~ 3/4 length of head to posterior lateral comer; clypeal carinae weakly developed; lateral clypeal teeth angular, space between lateral teeth wide, extralateral teeth absent; eyes moderately small with six ommatidia, slightly kidney-shaped; notopropodeal suture well depressed, groove breaks sculpture of mesosoma; pronotum and mesopleuron smooth and shiny; posterior propodeal margin rounded; propodeal spiracle large; metapleuron with horizontal striae; petiole and postpetiole roughly equal in width viewed laterally; petiolar node rounded; postpetiolar node oval viewed dorsally.

Moderately hairy; erect and sub erect hairs of various lengths present on all body surfaces; scape with numerous suberect hairs; sub erect hairs on mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole and gaster, hairs on petiole curve posteriorly.

Type Material
Pacheco and Mackay (2013) - Argentina, Las Talas, La Plata, M.C.Z.C. 1-3 22614, Silverstri (lectotype worker (farthest to the left) and 2 paralectotype workers [here designated], ). Solenopsis decipiens scelesta, Brazil, Sao Paulo, (v. Ihering). Forel coll. (5 workers types ). Solenopsis decipiens abjecta ignobilis, Brazil, Santa Catharina, (von Ihering) Forel coll. (3 workers types MHNG).