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Neivamyrmex ndeh, new species
Figures
DIAGNOSIS
Worker: Eye spot present; head distinctly longer than broad, sides
weakly convex in frontal view and upper margin narrowly rounded
onto vertex margin; front of head smooth and shiny between scattered
minute punctures; antennal scape 3.5 x longer than broad; mesosomal
dorsum smooth and shiny, with widely scattered small punctures;
petiole longer than broad in dorsal view, sides approximately parallel;
node evenly rounded in profile and dorsum smooth and shiny; subpetiolar
tooth small but distinct; postpetiole broader than long, disc smooth
and shiny.
Male: head and mesosoma blackish brown, gaster reddish brown; head
1.5x broader than long measured across eyes; smooth and shiny between
scattered small punctures; mesosoma blackish brown, entire surface
smooth and shining with numerous scattered small punctures, pilosity
suberect and dense. Queen unknown.
DESCRIPTION
Worker, measurements (mm) (n = 12). HL 0.45-0.72 (0.64);
HW 0.34-0.61 (0.54); SL ).25-0.36 (0.33); SW 0.08-0.13 (0.095);
PW 0.12-0.20 (0.196); PL 0.14-0.25 (0.24); Ppl 0.10-0.20) (0.19);
Ppw 0.15-0.28 (0.25); HFL (0.48); HFW (0.14) . Indices. CI 72-85
(85); FI 26-33 (31); SI 45-57 (51.5).
Head: distinctly longer than broad; sides weakly convex in frontal
view; upper margin narrowly rounded onto vertex margin; preoccipital
carina sharply angulate laterad. Small yellow eye spot present.
Front of head smooth and shiny and with scattered minute punctures.
Subantennal lamina well-developed. Mandible triangular, junction
of upper and masticatory margins rounded, small peg-like tooth present
on basal margin; outer surface with fine longitudinal rugulae. Antennal
scape 3.5 x longer than broad, evenly tapering toward base.
Mesosoma: dorsum smooth and shiny, with widely scattered small punctures.
Promesonotal suture indistinct to absent; metanotal suture distinct
across dorsum. Dorsal face of propodeum about as long as declivitous
face, shiny between scattered fine punctures; declivitous face straight
to slightly concave in profile.
Petiole longer than broad in dorsal view, sides approximately parallel;
node evenly rounded in profile; subpetiolar tooth small but distinct;
dorsum smooth and shiny. Postpetiole broader than long, disc smooth
and shiny.
Gaster smooth and shiny between scattered fine punctures.
Pilosity about as usual for the genus, consisting of sparse hairs
of highly variable length, from short to long.
Male, measurements (mm) (n = 2): HW 0.86-0.91 (0.91); HL 0.55-0.58
(0.58); SL 0.39-0.41 (0.41); SW 0.15-0.16 (0.15); EL 0.305-0.306
(0.305); EW 0.23-0.26 (0.23); OD 0.09-0.10 (0.09); OOD 0.15-0.175
(0.175); OMD 0.07-0.12 (0.12); OVD 0.20; PW 0.70 (0.70); ML 0.40
(0.40); PL 0.62-0.70 (0.70). Indices: CI 156-158 (158); SI 49-57
(57).
Head almost 1.6 x as broad as long. Dorsal margin, in frontal view,
concave and rounded at sides; preoccipital carina weak and not forming
distinct collar. Free clypeal margin (ventral margin) slightly concave;
frontal carina sharp between antennal fossae, but becoming rounded
dorsad and curving laterad to form moderate swelling above antennal
fossae. Mandible sickle-shaped and acute at apex, about 0.40 mm
long. EL 1.3 x EW. OOD about 1.75 x OD. Scape extending to level
of upper eye margin, about 3 x longer than broad; subantennal lamella
prominent.
Mesosoma smooth and shiny, with numerous scattered small punctures.
Petiole slightly longer than broad; posterolateral corners rounded;
dorsal surface shiny, ventral surface less so.
First three segments of gaster smooth and shiny, following segments
duller, more distinctly, finely punctate. Subgenital plate longer
than broad, somewhat spatulate; apicolateral teeth prominent, median
tooth small. Dorsal margin of paramere broadly triangular, margins
densely clothed with long flexuous hairs. Volsella with apical fork,
dorsal process large and sharp, ventral process blunt and much shorter;
inner margin each segment with a minute denticle near fork; numerous
long erect hairs along ventral margin. Aedeagus in profile with
apically rounded posterodorsal lobe and slightly longer, out-turned
sharply pointed posteroventral lobe.
Color: head and mesosoma blackish brown, first two gastral segments
similar, following segments becoming reddish brown on posterior
segments; wings clear brownish.
TYPE DATA
Holotype: U. S. A., Arizona, Santa Cruz Co., Yanks Canyon (31.42EN
111.17EW), 12-15 Aug. 1993 (B.V. Brown and D. Feener). Paratype:
U. S. A., Arizona, Cochise Co., Portal, 4800 ft., 4 Aug. 1959 (H.
E. Evans). Both specimens in LACM.
Holotype and numerous paratypes: U.S.A., Arizona, Santa Cruz Co.,
Ruby Road, 6.7 mi west of I-19, 6 April 1998 (R. A. Johnson &
G. C. Snelling). Holotype and most paratypes in LACM; paratypes
also in ARSU, BMNH, CASC, MCZC, UCDC, USNM.
ETYMOLOGY
This species is named for the Ndeh or Apache people of the southwestern
United States and adjacent Mexico; the name pronounced approximately
"in déh", accenting the second syllable.
DISTRIBUTION (Map 6)
Presently known only from south-central Arizona.
DISCUSSION
In addition to the type series, we have examined a few specimens
from Arizona, Cochise Co.: Chiricahua Mountains, 2 August 1954,
collected by A. C. Cole, Jr. (LACM).
This small shiny yellow species is similar to N. leonardi
and N. nyensis, but is easily separated from those species
by the presence of a small but distinct subpetiolar tooth. It is
further distinguished from N. leonardi by the mandibular
structure
The type series was discovered while overturning rocks in the late
afternoon. A small number
of workers were present under the rock, and a more detailed search
of the area located a fairly strong column of ants trailing across
the soil. Although they made use of cover as much as possible a
good percentage of the column was exposed on the surface. The column
was followed for approximately thirty feet before it was finally
lost. It is unknown if this was a raiding or emigration column but
since no brood was observed our assumption is that this was the
beginning of a raid.
DISCUSSION
This minute species, currently known only from the two specimens
cited above, is close in size only to N. baylori and should
be readily identifiable on that basis alone. The holotype was taken
in a Malaise trap and the Portal specimen was presumably taken at
black light. The worker caste of this distinct species is unknown
but is certainly likely to be another minute species; possibly it
is N. goyahkla, described above.
N. ndeh is superficially most similar to N. microps,
but is significantly smaller and with distinctive genitalic features:
the crotch of the apical fork of the volsella has only two barely
perceptible teeth that are well removed from each other (see discussion
of N. microps).
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