Carebara anophthalma

Identification
Fernández (2004) - A member of the Carebara lignata species complex. This species is easily distinguished from any other of the complex. The body is compact, devoid of median to longer hairs and the head is narrower anteriorly. The clypeal and petiolar configuration are also distinctive. Although I have not been able to examine the holotype of this species, I think that the specimens described match up well with the concept of C. anophthalma, which is still based on the meager original description. Wheeler (1922c) translated Emery’s description into English, from which I have extracted these critical traits: “[Body] uniformly yellow ... short pubescence apparently adherent, and there are not erect hairs, probably due to the defective preservation of the specimen ... head broader behind, feebly concave at the posterior border. Thorax feebly impressed between mesonotum and [propodeum] ... Length 1.6 mm”. This species is the only American typical Carebara s.str. with this combination of traits. The head in full face view is reminiscent of the typical heads of the Carebara escherichi species-group (=Paedalgus) workers.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru.

Nomenclature

 *  anophthalma. Oligomyrmex anophthalmus Emery, 1906c: 138 (footnote) (w.) BRAZIL. Combination in Carebara: Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 170; Emery, 1924d: 221. Senior synonym of winifredae: Fernández, 2004a: 212.
 * winifredae. Carebara winifredae Wheeler, W.M. 1922e: 2, fig. 1 (w.q.m.) GUYANA. Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1954a: 142 (l.). Junior synonym of anophthalma: Fernández, 2004a: 212.

Worker
Fernández (2004) - (n=5): HW 0.31-0.44; HL 0.39-0.50; SL 0.21-0.30; PW 0.20-0.31; WL 0.38-0.55; GL 0.38-055; TL 1.38-1.99; CI 79-90; SI 64-68.

Head slightly longer than wider. Posterior border concave, lateral sides faintly concave, narrowing anteriorly. Mandibles with 4 teeth, the apical larger. Median anterior clypeal border straight. Lateral clypeal carinae narrowing into antennal lobes, which are round. Scapes fail to reach the vertexal border in 1/4 of the head length. In side view, alitrunk flat, very feebly interrumped by the metanotal groove, impressed dorsal and laterally. Promesonotal suture impressed laterally. Short propodeal dorsum rounded in the declivity face. Propodeal spiracle circular, near the median distance and near to bullae of the metapleural gland. Bulla of metapleural gland small. Propodeal lobes reduced to very fine and narrow lamellae that reach more or less the mid distance of the declivity face of propodeum. Petiole peduncle differentiated from the node, anterior and dorsal sides of node convex in side view, posterior side slightly concave. Petiolar spiracle at anterior margin of node. Subpetiolar process reduced to a tiny blunt tooth. Postpetiole dorsally concave, lower than petiole. Body compact, smooth. Reclinated short pilosity (hairs less than 0.05 mm) over body. Median to larger hairs (more than 0.05 in length) absent. Four short hairs arising from the anterior clypeal margin. Body light yellow.