Pogonomyrmex pronotalis Santschi
Pogonomyrmex pronotalis Santschi,
1922: 350 (worker). Syntypes examined: 2 workers
[MACN], Cajón de Guanaco, Cordillera de
Mendoza,
Mendoza Province,
Argentina (Dr. Carette). See also Gallardo, 1932: 149.
Lectotype
designation.
A syntype is designated as the lectotype of P. pronotalis in order to stabilize the identity of this taxon. The identity
of the specimen is indicated by a label and the specimen is deposited at MACN. High resolution photographs of the lectotype are available at ANTWEB (http://www.antweb.org/). High resolution photographs of the lectotype are available at ANTWEB (http://www.antweb.org/).
Worker
Diagnosis.
Measurements
– lectotype (n
= 12). HL 1.76 (1.58-1.82); HW 1.81 (1.61-1.81); MOD 0.38 (0.34-0.40);
OMD 0.42 (0.41-0.49); SL 1.36 (1.16-1.44); PNW 1.21 (1.10-1.22); HFL 1.75 (1.64-1.87); ML 2.10 (1.93-2.38); PW 0.40 (0.43-0.51);
PPW 0.60 (0.56-0.65). Indices: SI
75.14 (69.14-79.63); CI 102.84 (95.27-106.10); OI 20.99 (20.99-24.39); HFI 96.69
(97.73-106.90).
Description. Head subquadrate to quadrate (CI = 95.27-106.10), broadest just
posterior to eye; posterior margin flat in full-face view. Longitudinal cephalic rugae prominent, wavy to slightly irregular, in full-face
view median rugae diverging towards posterior corners
of head; medial posterior margin with transverse to oblique rugae. In side view, rugae posterior to eyes converging at or near vertex;
vertex rugose.
Interrugal spaces on vertex smooth, strongly
shining to moderately granulate, sub-shining; cephalic interrugal
spaces strongly granulate, dull. Anterior margin of clypeus concave; dorsal surface with numerous subparallel longitudinal rugae. Mandibles with six to seven teeth (20% had
six teeth, 46% had seven teeth) or a different number on each mandible (31%
with six/seven teeth, 3% with seven/eight teeth; n = 35); mandibular dorsum coarsely
striated. Numerous long, curved,
bristle-like, cream to light yellowish hairs project from anterior edge of
clypeus and basolateral margin of mandibles. MOD ranging from 0.21-0.26x HL. Eyes in profile situated slightly anterior to
middle of head, OMD = 1.07-1.35x MOD.
Antennal scapes relatively long (SI = 69.14-79.63),
ranging from failing to reach vertex by up to length of basal funicular segment
to reaching vertex; weakly striate, sub-shining to smooth and shining. Basal flange of scape
moderately well developed with carinate margin. Psammophore well
developed.
Mesosomal profile slightly
convex. In side and dorsal
views, humeral shoulders enlarged, angulate. All mesosomal
surfaces with prominent rugae. Dorsum of promesonotum
with coarse, irregular longitudinal rugae that
diverge anteriorly toward humeral angles, medial
anterior margin with transverse to oblique rugae, pronotal sides rugoreticulate
to vermiculate. Mesopleura with irregular rugae angling posteriodorsally. Dorsum of propodeum with irregular transverse rugae
that traverse anterioventrally on sides. Propodeum with
long, subacute to acute spines connected by a well
defined keel; spines slightly shorter than distance between their bases. Inferior propodeal
spines consist of a triangular process with a rounded to subacute
tip. Propodeal spiracles narrowly ovate. Interrugal spaces
on mesosoma moderately to strongly granulate, dull to
sub-shining. Legs weakly coriarious, sub-shining to smooth, shining.
Petiolar peduncle
long, ventral surface usually with a rounded triangular process. In side view, dorsum of petiole slightly
convex; petiolar node asymmetrical with anterior
surface notably shorter than posterior surface, apex of node weakly rounded to angulate. In dorsal view, petiolar node longer than
broad, narrowest at posterior margin, gradually widening to spatulate
anterior margin; dorsum and sides with moderately strong wavy transverse rugae. Dorsum
of postpetiole convex in profile; in dorsal view,
widest at or near posterior margin, tapering to anterior margin; maximal width
about equal to length; dorsum and sides with wavy transverse rugae that are weaker and more closely spaced than those on
petiole. Interrugal spaces on posterior face
of petiole and dorsum of postpetiole smooth and shining
to weakly granulate, sub-shining.
Dorsum of gaster smooth and
strongly shining to moderately coriarious,
sub-shining.
Erect
whitish pilosity moderately abundant on head,
variable in length, usually 1-2 long hairs near vertex and on frontal lobes that
approach to slightly exceed MOD. Moderately abundant suberect to semidecumbent pilosity on scape, abundant decumbent hairs on funicular segments. Legs with moderately abundant
semidecumbent white setae. Mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole, and gastric tergites with moderately dense, erect setae, mostly similar
in length, longest about 0.7x MOD.
Head, mesosoma, funicular segments, legs, and
petiole black, often with an orangish tinge on
mandibles, legs, and near vertex; postpetiole
blackish-orange, gaster ferruginous orange, often
with darker tranverse bands on posterior margin of tergites.
Queen.
Unknown.
Male.
Unknown.
Additional material examined.
Etymology. The specific epithet, pronotalis (Latin, from pronoto- for pronotum, plus –alis = suffix added to noun stems, meaning pertaining to),
is derived from the wide pronotum, which Santschi described as: “middle of the pronotum
wider than the mesonotum …”.