Probolomyrmex petiolatus Weber 1940
Creators: name: Oliveira, Aline M.
name: Feitosa, Rodrigo M.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Formicidae
Probolomyrmex
Probolomyrmex petiolatus

description: Probolomyrmex petiolatus Weber, 1940
(Figs. 26, 27)
Holotype: PANAMÁ: Canal Zone: Barro Colorado Island, 30.vi.1938, N.A. Weber, 906-32203 (worker) [MCZ] [examined].
Diagnosis: Postero-ventral lobe of petiole long and subquadrate. Subpetiolar process well developed and subrectangular. Prora and dorsal protuberance on posterior region of first gastral tergite absent.
Worker measurements: (n=3) HL 0.50–0.57; HW 0.34–0.37; SL 0.26–0.30; WL 0.63–0.69; PL 0.26–0.30; PW 0.27–0.30; PH 0.28–0.30; TL 2.13–2.33; CI 61.5–68.5; SI 51.5; PI 93.5–107.
Worker description: Frontoclypeal shelflike projection micropunctate. Mandibles foveated, interval between foveae covered by micropunctures; external surface of mandibular basal margin smooth (Fig. 26B – esm); tip of apical segment of antennae bearing minute pits (Fig. 26C – Ap). Mesopleuron and metapleuron alveolate and foveated; lateral faces of propodeum foveated and micropunctate; alveoli denser just above metapleural gland orifice; opening of metapleural gland narrow, with smooth anterior region, surrounded by rows of hairs (Fig. 26D). Petiolar node and postero-ventral lobe of petiole with incomplete foveae and micropunctures; subpetiolar process alveolate (Fig. 26E). Posterior region of second gastral tergite with foveae (Fig. 26A).
Space between mesosomal foveae covered by dense pubescence. Pygidium with dense pubescence and some long and thick hairs.
Head 1.5 times longer than wide (Fig. 27B). Hypostomal margin curved (Fig. 26B – he). Antennal scapes extend head midlength, distance from scape apex to of head more than two times the pedicel length (SI 51.5). Propodeum emarginated posteriorly on each side by a narrow carina, with teeth at their apexes. Petiole as long as high (PI 93.5–107), without teeth; posterior face short, straight and smooth; postero-ventral lobe long and subquadrate; subpetiolar process well developed and subrectangular, with the postero-ventral angle acute and directed ventrally (Fig. 26E). First gastral segment without prora and dorsal protuberance on posterior region of tergite (Figs 26A, 27A).
Distribution (Fig. 28): Guatemala, Mexico, and Panama.
Comments: The subrectangular shape of the subpetiolar process makes this species similar to P. dentinodis. However, the latter has a pair of petiolar teeth, the postero-ventral lobe of the petiole is short and rounded, and there are a prora and dorsal protuberance on the gaster. The holotype of P. petiolatus was collected among leaves and humus on the rainforest floor in Panama. There is a Brazilian record in the literature for this species (Delabie et al. 2001), but these are described here as a new species, P. dentinodis.
Additional material examined (n=11): GUATEMALA: Petén: Parq. Nac. Tikal, 17.24037 - 89.61990, 270m, 22.v.2009, LLAMA, #Wa-B- 05-2-47 CASENT0610407 (1 worker) [JTLC]. MEXICO: Chiapas: 8km SE Salto de Agua, 17.51438° N 92.29498° W 70m, 14.vi.2008, LLAMA, Wa-A- 08-1-04 JTLC000014514 (1 worker) [JTLC]. PANAMA: Canal Zone: Barro Colorado Island: LN 9°9’ LW 079°51’ 20-50m, v-viii.2007, J.Z.Shik, Mekou 064252 (1 worker) [DZUP]; Mekou 063866 (2 workers) [MZSP]; Mekou 063803 (3 workers) [MZSP]; 1.vi.1983, L.A Mound, CASENT0102222 (1 worker) [BMNH]; 30.vi.1938, A. Newton, Leaf litter forest floor (1 worker) [MCZ].
description: Published as part of Oliveira, Aline M. & Feitosa, Rodrigo M., 2019, Taxonomic revision of the genus Probolomyrmex Mayr, 1901 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Proceratiinae) for the Neotropical Region, pp. 61-94 in Zootaxa 4614 (1) on pages 90-91, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4614.1.3, http://zenodo.org/record/3241099