Blepharidatta

A South American Attine genus comprised of two species, Blepharidatta conops is by far much better studied and known than Blepharidatta brasiliensis.

Identification
The single species is very closely related to the species of Wasmannia, differing chiefly in its more elongate head with produced posterior angles and in having a long, low petiolar node. (Brown 1953)

Species richness
Species richness by country based on regional taxon lists (countries with darker colours are more species-rich). View Data



Biology
See Blepharidatta conops

Castes
Ergatoid queens of Blepharidatta conops have large disk shaped heads that can be used for phragmosis.

Nomenclature

 *  BLEPHARIDATTA [Myrmicinae: Blepharidattini]
 * Blepharidatta Wheeler, W.M. 1915e: 484. Type-species: Blepharidatta brasiliensis, by monotypy.
 * Blepharidatta provisional junior synonym of Ochetomyrmex: Brown, 1973b: 179.
 * Blepharidatta valid genus: Kempf, 1975c: 369; Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1991a: 132.

Worker
Small, monomorphic. Mandibles triangular, their apical margins with a few subequal teeth. Clypeus vertical, bicarinate. Frontal area large, frontal groove absent. Eyes moderately large and very convex. Ocelli lacking. Antennae 11-jointed, funiculus with a well-defined 2-jointed clava. Head rather large, with a deep scrobe on each side, extending its full length and bordered above by the frontal carinae which are large, expanded and horizontal, lobulate in front and extending to the posterior corners of the head. The inferior or lateral border of each scrobe is formed by a ridge as long as the frontal carina and running just above the eye. Thorax moderately long and slender, without promesonotal and mesoepinotal sutures; humeri and inferior angles of pronotum dentiform; epinotum armed with a pair of long spines; metasternal angles large, compressed and sharply angular above. Petiole long and slender, pedunculate, with a low, rounded node. Postpetiole small, subglobular. Gaster small, spherical, first segment very large, without ridges, grooves or tubercles; remaining segments very small. Sting vestigial. Legs rather slender; middle and hind tibiae without spurs; claws simple.

Head, thorax, pedicel, and appendages opaque, sculptured; gaster smooth. Upper surface of body beset with long, paired, very sparse, stiff, and blunt hairs.