Pseudomyrmex veneficus (Ward, Philip S. 1993)
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BibTeX: @article{Ward1993JournalofHymenopteraResearch2, RIS/ Endnote: TY - JOUR Wikipedia/ Citizendium: <ref name="Ward1993Journal of Hymenoptera Research2">{{Citation |
Ordo: Hymenoptera
Familia: Formicidae
Genus: Pseudomyrmex
Name
Pseudomyrmex veneficus Ward, Philip S., 1993 – Wikispecies link – Pensoft Profile
- Pseudomyrmex veneficus Ward, Philip S., 1993, Journal of Hymenoptera Research 2: 152-153.
Description
(Figs. 17, 28, 62, 69)
Materials Examined
Mexico Escuinapa J. H. Batty Mexico Escuinapa J. H. Batty Mexico Escuinapa J. H. Batty Mexico Manzanillo C. H. T. Townsend
Description
Worker measurements (n= 12). - HL0.95-1.04, HW 0.85-0.95, MFC 0.045-0.073, Cl 0.88-0.95, REL 0.44-0.47, REL2 0.47-0.52, OOI 1.26-2.30, VI 0.66-0.75, FCI 0.051-0.081, SI 0.43-0.46, SI2 0.85-0.94, NI 0.58-0.65, PLI 0.60-0.67, PWI 0.58- 0.67, PPWI 1.35-1.73.
Diagnosis
Worker diagnosis. - Similar to P. ferrugineus (q.v.) except as follows. Smaller (LHT 0.69-0.80), with broad head (Cl> 0.87); frontal carinae separated by basal scape width or less (FCI 2 0.40-0.60); petiole short (PL 0.43-0.54) and relatively narrow (see PWI values) with somewhat rounded posterolateral angles (Fig. 28). Head densely punctulate, subopaque to sublucid, with weak silvery reflectance. Overlying rugulo-punctate sculpture on propodeum weak and ill-defined. Standing pilosity variable in abundance, becoming rather short (≤ 0.10 mm) and sparse in southern populations. Pubescence thick and conspicuous, suberect on some surfaces especially the propodeum and petiole; suberect pubescence on petiolar dorsum contrasting with the appressed pubescence on the postpetiole (Fig. 28). Very dark greyish-brown to black, parts of the mesosoma and petiole sometimes with lighter yellowish brown (more consistently so in the queen).
Discussion
Comments. - The small size (worker HW <0.96; queen HW 0.84-0.96, n=12), conspicuous suberect pubescence on the propodeum and petiole, and black coloration of the head and gaster distinguish workers and queens of P. veneficus. The related species, P. flavicornis, is larger (worker HW> 0.98, queen HW 1.12-1.19) with a broader and more robust petiole (Figs. 25, 28). Workers and queens of P. flavicornis also lack the sublucid head and conspicuous suberect pubescence characteristic of P. veneficus. P. mixtecus is somewhat intermediate between these two - it has the head sculpture and pubescence typical of P. flavicornis but approaches P. veneficus in size (worker and queen head widths overlapping, although only slighter in the queens where HW 0.96-1.01 (n=8) in P. mixtecus) and petiolar dimensions (Figs. 44-47).
Distribution
Distribution and biology. - P. veneficus has a limited distribution in western Mexico (Sinaloa to Michoacan) (Fig. 69) where colonies occupy Acacia hindsii and, at one locality, A. collinsii. Janzen (1973) gives a detailed description of the ecology and behavior of this highly polygynous, effectively unicolonial, species whose colonies are among the largest of all social insects (containing millions of workers and several hundred thousand queens).
Materials Examined
Mexico 9.4 mi NW Manzanillo D. H. Janzen Mexico Manzanillo C. H. T. Townsend Mexico Manzanillo W. M. Wheeler Mexico Paso del Rio I. J. Cantrall Mexico 2 km E Chamela P. S. Ward Mexico 5 km E Chamela P. S. Ward Mexico 6 mi NE El Rincon R. J. Hamton Mexico Barra de Navidad N. L. H. Krauss Mexico Chamela R. J. McGinley Mexico Chamela J. F. Watkins Mexico 1.1 mi N Gabriel Zamora D. H. Janzen Mexico 1.5 mi N La Mira D. H. Janzen Mexico 15 km WNW Playa Azul P. S. Ward Mexico 12 mi NE San Bias W. J. Gertsch, W. Ivie Mexico 16 mi NW Tepic W. E. LaBerge Mexico 31 mi N Tepic D. H. Janzen Mexico 37 mi N Tepic D. H. Janzen Mexico 4 mi E San Bias M. E. Irwin Mexico Rio Palillo, 14 mi E San Bias D. H. Janzen Mexico 14.6 mi S Mazatlan D. H. Janzen Mexico 20 mi E Villa Union E. I. Schlinger Mexico 20 mi E Villa Union M. E. Irwin Mexico 20 mi E Villa Union E. Schlinger et al. Mexico 20 mi S Villa Union E. I. Schlinger Mexico 5 mi E Concordia W. J. Gertsch, J. A. Woods Mexico Escuinapa J. H. Batty Mexico Palmito L. de Mauzo Mexico Piedra Blanca R. M. Bohart Mexico "Mexico" c. u.
Taxon Treatment
- Ward, Philip S.; 1993: Systematic studies on Pseudomyrmex acacia-ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Pseudomyrmecinae), Journal of Hymenoptera Research 2: 152-153. doi
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