PHEIDOLE ICENI N. SP. (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE), A NEW ANT FOR AN OLD INSTITUTION (Pheidole iceni n. sp., una nueva hormiga para una institución antigua)

Fernando Fernández

Description

Abstract
Pheidole iceni a new species of ant (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) is described based on soldiers and workers from Chocó, Colombia. The ant is named in honor of the Instituto de Ciencias Naturales of the National University of Colombia in its 75th anniversary.
Resumen
Se describe la nueva especie de hormiga Pheidole iceni (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) con base en obreras mayores y menores de Chocó, Colombia. La hormiga se nombra en honor al Instituto de Ciencias Naturales de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia en conmemoración a su aniversario 75 de su fundación.

Sujets

• Colombia
• Formicidae
• Pheidole
• Myrmicinae

Informations

• Publié par: erevistas
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 14
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

http://www.icn.unal.edu.co/ Caldasia 33(2):665-670. 201 Fernández 1
PHEIDOLE ICENI N. SP. (HYMENOPTERA:
FORMICIDAE), A NEW ANT FOR AN OLD INSTITUTION
Pheidole iceni n. sp., una nueva hormiga para una institución
antigua
Fernando Fernández
Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia,
Apartado 7495, Bogotá D.C., Colombia. [e-mail]
ABSTRACT
Pheidole iceni a new species of ant (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) is described based
on soldiers and workers from Chocó, Colombia. The ant is named in honor of the
thInstituto de Ciencias Naturales of the National University of Colombia in its 75
anniversary.
Key words. Colombia, Formicidae, Pheidole, New Species, Myrmicinae.
RESUMEN
Se describe la nueva especie de hormiga Pheidole iceni (Formicidae: Myrmicinae)
con base en obreras mayores y menores de Chocó, Colombia. La hormiga se nombra
en honor al Instituto de Ciencias Naturales de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia
en conmemoración a su aniversario 75 de su fundación.
Palabras clave. Colombia, Formicidae, Pheidole, Nueva especie, Myrmicinae.
INTRODUCTION dissecting microscope. Measurements were
made at 80X. Automontage pictures were
Although the isolated description of a new taken by Claudia Ortiz and Gary Alpert at
species is not recommended, this “rule” can MCZ with dissecting microscope Leica MZ16
be broken at times when the new species is and digital camera Leica DCF 420 with the
part of an important study in biology, when it Leica software Application Suite 3.7 - Helican
justifes some important nomenclature change, Focus 5.1.
or when it is desired to offer homage to some
colleague or institution. In this case, the latter Measurements
argument is used to justify the description
of a new species in the genus Pheidole. Minor and major workers
METHODS HL: head length; in full-face view, maximum
length of head, from line tangent to anteriormost
For general discussion about characters in projection of head capsule or clypeus to
Pheidole see Wilson (2003) and Longino line tangent to posteriormost projection of
(2009) and Pheidole Working Group web vertex margin (including occipital carina, if
page (see Longino 2009). The measurements visible).
of both castes follow Longino (2009). HLA: anterior head length; in full-face view,
Observations were made at 40 to 80x distance between line tangent to anteriormost
magnifcation with an Optical Instruments projection of head capsule or clypeus and line
665New Pheidole ant from Colombia
tangent to lowermost margin of compound Major workers only
eye.
HW: head width; in full-face view, maximum IHT: distance between inner hypostomal
width of head capsule not including eyes. teeth.
SL: scape length; length of scape shaft from OHT: distance between outer hypostomal
apex to basal flange, not including basal teeth.
condyle and neck. HTI: Hypostomal tooth index; 100*IHT/
EL: eye length; maximum length of compound OHT.
eye, with head oriented to maximize length When hypostomal teeth are curved laterally
(i.e., not full-face view). (either inward or outward), the approximate
ML: mesosoma length; in lateral view, midpoint of the base of the tooth is used, not
distance from base of anterior face of the tip.
pronotum (at inflection point between
downward-sloping anterior face and fange- Repositories
like anteriormost projection of pronotum
[the latter extending to foramen and usually ICN. Insect Collection, Instituto de Ciencias
partially hidden by head capsule]) to Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia,
posteriormost extension of metapleural Bogotá D.C., Colombia.
or propodeal lobes (whichever extends MCZ. Museum of Comparative Zoology,
further). Cambridge, MA, USA.
PSL: propodeal spine length; viewed laterally MZSP. Museum of Zoology, Universidade de
such that side of spine is roughly perpendicular São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
to viewing angle, distance from infection
point between dorsal face of propodeum and TAXONOMY
base of spine to tip of spine.
PMG: depth of promesonotal groove; Pheidole iceni new species
measured by establishing a line tangent Figures 1 & 2
to dorsalmost convexities of pronotum
and mesonotum, measuring perpendicular Holotype major worker. Colombia, Chocó,
distance from this line to bottom of La Balsa, Estación Silvicultural Bajo Atrato,
promesonotal groove. 7º02’N 77º20’W, 1.ii.1994, F. Ferro leg.
SPL: propodeal spiracle width, measured from (deposited in ICN).
the outer edge of cuticular ring that surrounds Paratypes: Seven major workers, four minor
orifce. workers, same data as holotype, deposited in
PTW: petiole width; maximum width of ICN, MCZ and MZSP.
petiole in dorsal view. Geographic Range
PPW: postpetiole width; maximum width of Colombia (Chocó).
postpetiole in dorsal view. Diagnosis
CI: cephalic index; 100*HW/HL. With the general habitus of Pheidole orii
SI: scape index; 100*SL/HW. Emery in the P. fallax group (Wilson
PSLI: propodeal spine index; 100*PSL/HL. 2003:291). Minor worker: head smooth
PMGI: Promesonotal groove index; and shining versus foveolated and opaque
100*PMG/HL. / subopaque (fiorii); side of propodeum
SPLI: Propodeal spiracle index; 100*SPL/ smooth and shining versus with some
HL. foveolated (orii ); metanotal groove deeply
PPI: Postpetiole index; 100*PPW/PTW. impressed versus shallowly impressed
(fiorii). Major worker: dorsal surface of
666
ffFernández
mandible flat to weakly convex versus from view by prominent tufts of yellow setae
with broad concavity covering basal half that are erect at base, densely clustered on
of dorsal surface (fossimandibula); clypeus gibbosities like sheaves of wheat, and then
with large setal tufts in the form of pompons curve and become matted distally, forming
versus smooth and fat ( vestita) or with weak globose pompons; frontal carinae slanting
gibbosities (fossimandibula), setae sparse obliquely outward posteriorly, forming dorsal
to abundant but not in form of pompons margins of prominent antennal scrobes,
(fossimandibula, vestita); face between ventral margin of scrobe not sharply defned;
frontal carinae with large hemispherical scrobe, side of head, and vertex lobes coarsely
concavity versus simple, typically convex reticulate rugose; area between frontal
(fossimandibula, vestita). carinae and entire middle of face with a deep
Description of minor worker hemispherical concavity; anterior portion
Measurements (paratype): HL 0.90, HW 0.65, of concavity with dense layer of minute
HLA 0.33, SL 1.18, EL 0.14, ML 1.24, PSL piligerous puncta from which arises a dense,
0.36, PMG 0.05, SPL 0.037, PTW 0.13, PPW short, yellow pubescence; posterior portion
0.21, CI 72, SI 182, PSLI 40, PMGI 5.5, SPLI of concavity grading into regular concentric
4.1, PPI 162. rugae with somewhat longer pubescence;
Mandible and clypeus smooth and shining; rim of concavity with long, whisker-like
three spaced concentric rugae around antennal setae laterally and posteriorly, basket-like;
insertion, otherwise face smooth and shining; rest of face and sides of head with abundant
posterior margin of vertex rounded; occipital erect setae; scape microsculptured and dull,
carina well developed, visible in full face not shining, terete at base, with abundant
view; scape with abundant erect setae as long erect setae longer than maximum width of
as maximum width of scape and abundant scape; hypostomal margin straight; median
reclined setae; promesonotal groove present; tooth small; inner hypostomal teeth pointed,
metanotal groove deeply impressed; propodeal stout, about one half distance from midline
spines long, thin, downturned; promesonotum to outer hypostomal teeth; promesonotal
smooth and shining; katepisternum and lateral groove absent; propodeal spines present;
and dorsal faces of propodeum with irregular pronotum with reticulate rugae on humerus,
rugulae; abundant setae (around 0.15 mm sparse transverse carinulae anterolaterally,
length or less) on all body; dorsal (outer) otherwise generally smooth and shining; rest
margin of hind tibia with abundant suberect of mesosoma generally shining, with some
setae longer than maximum width of tibia; irregular rugulae and foveolae; dorsal (outer)
frst gastral tergum smooth and shining; color margin of hind tibia with abundant suberect
light brown. setae longer than maximum width of tibia;
Description of major worker pilosity abundant on mesosomal dorsum;
Measurements (holotype): HL 1.73, HW 1.36, postpetiole in dorsal view strongly lenticular,
HLA 0.41, SL 0.61, EL 0.22, ML 1.41, PSL much broader than long; frst gastral tergite
0.05, PMG 0.00, SPL 0.07, PTW 0.29, PPW with small patch of longitudinal etched
0.49, IHT 0.25, OHT 0.54, CI 79, SI 45, PSLI microsculpture near postpetiolar insertion,
3, PMGI 0, SPLI 4, PPI 168, HTI 45. smooth and shining elsewhere, with abundant
Mandible smooth and shining, somewhat long erect yellowish setae; color dark red
fattened dorsally, with abundant piligerous brown.
punctae and an even covering of long Biology
decumbent yellow setae; clypeus with two Major and minor workers taken in low
large, horn-like gibbosities, but these covered rainf