PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH. 108(4), 2006, pp. 814-821 DACETINE ANTS OF PANAMA: NEW RECORDS AND DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE: MYRMICINAE: DACETINI) JEFFREY SOSA-CALVO, STEVEN O. SHATTUCK, AND TED R. SCHULTZ (JS-C) Maryland Center for Systematic Entomology, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, 4112 Plant Sciences Building, College Park, MD 20742, U.S.A. (e-mail: sossajef@si.edu); (SOS) CSIRO Entomology, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, A.C.T. 2601, Australia (e-mail: steve.shattuck@csiro.au); (TRS, JS-C) Department of Entomology, P.O Box 37012, MRC 188, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013-7012, U.S.A. (e- mail: schultz@lab.si.edu) Abstract.4Pyramica and Strumigenys are the most speciose dacetine (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Dacetini) genera in the world. A new ant species in the Pyramica alberti group is described from leaf-litter surveys conducted in the Canal Zone, Panama. Pyramica panamensis, new species, is similar to P. fridericimuelleri, P. nigrescens, and P. parsauga, but differs from those species in having strongly reduced eyes and a distinct promesonotal carina. A couplet is added to Bolton9s (2000) key to Pyramica in order to accommodate the new species. New Central American records for two species in the dacetine genera Pyramica and one in Strumigenys are reported, and a checklist of the known Panamanian dacetine species is presented. Resumen.4Los géneros Pyramica y Strumigenys contienen el mayor numero de especies dentro de los dacetinos (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Dacetini) en el mundo. Se describe una nueva especie dentro del grupo alberti, coleccionada en hojarasca en la zona del Canal de Panama, Panama. Pyramica panamensis sp noy. es similar a las especies P. fridericimuelleri, P. nigrescens, y P. parsauga, pero se diferencia de estas en la presencia de ojos fuertemente reducidos y una carena promesonotal distintiva. Adiciones a la clave taxonomica para la identificacion de las especies del género Pyramica para el Neotropico (Bolton 2000) fueron necesarias para incluir P. panamensis. Dos especies en el género Pyramica y una en el género Strumigenys son reportados como nuevos registros para América Central, y se presenta una lista de las especies conocidas dentro de la tribu para Panama. Key Words: Central America, leaf litter, Pyramica panamensis, systematics, taxonomy Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) are particular are increasingly employed in one of the most ecologically important biodiversity surveys (Agosti et al. 2000). groups of insects due to their relative Ants of the tribe Dacetini, worldwide in abundance in terrestrial ecosystems, es- distribution and generally predaceous, pecially in the tropics. Leaf-litter ants in are commonly encountered in such VOLUME 108, NUMBER 4 surveys. The tribe includes ants that are ification of Bolton9s (2000) key to morphologically distinct (e.g., antennal accommodate P. panamensis. segment numbers are reduced, mandibles are elongate and traplike; hairs, especial- MATERIALS AND METHODS ly on the head, are scalelike; and spongi- Measurements and terminology follow form lobes occur on the petiolar and Bolton (2000). Specimens examined were postpetiolar segments). A recent revision borrowed from or have been deposited in of the tribe (Bolton 2000) permits the the following collections: accurate identification of known species and, consequently, the recognition of BMNH_ The Natural History Museum, species hitherto unknown to science. London; UWLKe Intensive ecological work in Panama on JrEE J. T. Longino Collection, Ev- ants, including dacetine ants (Kaspari ergreen State College, Olym- and Weisner 2000, Kaspari et al. 2001), pia, Washington, U.S.A. requires that Panamanian dacetine ant MZSP Museu de Zoologia da Uni- taxonomy remain current. versidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Of the nine dacetine genera, Pyramica Paulo, Brazil. Roger and Strumigenys Fr. Smith are the USNM National Museum of Natural most speciose, Pyramica being more History, Smithsonian Institu- speciose than Strumigenys in the Neo- tion, Washington, DC, U.S.A. tropics (Bolton 2000), and the only ones with worldwide distributions. Both gen- The holotype of P. panamensis was era occur throughout the Americas, but examined and measured using a Leica are more abundant in the Neotropics MZ125 stereomicroscope and_ photo- (Brown 1962, Bolton 2000), where their graphed using a ProgRes 3012 digital mostly cryptic species are typically en- camera (Jenoptik) attached to Leica countered inhabiting leaf litter, rotten MZ16 stereomicroscope. Specimens of wood, or soil (Brown 1953, Dejean P. cincinnata (Kempf), P. denticulata 1991). Entomobryid and isotomid col- (Mayr), P. fridericimuelleri, P. nigres- lembolans appear to be the main prey cens, and Strumigenys perparva Brown items of Pyramica and Strumigenys, but were photographed using a JVC KY- some species also feed on mites, termites, F70B video camera mounted on a Leica and ant larvae (Wilson 1954, Bolton M420 microscope. All images were pre- 2000). pared using Auto-Montage Version 3.04 The New World tropics contain 85 software (Synoptics Ltd.) and Photo- described species of Strumigenys and 100 shop® (Adobe Inc.). species of Pyramica. Here we present new species records for Central America TAXONOMIC TREATMENT and describe a new species, P. panamen- Genus Pyramica Roger 1862 sis, within the P. alberti (Forel) species Pyramica cincinnata (Kempf 1975) group. The P. alberti species group is broadly distributed in the Neotropical (Figs. 142) Region and frequently collected. Pyra- This is the first record for this species mica panamensis appears to be closely for Central America. Pyramica_ cincin- related to P. fridericimuelleri (Forel), P. nata has been recorded previously only nigrescens (Wheeler), and P. parsauga from Brazil (Bolton 2000). The Panama- Bolton. A list of dacetine ants from nian specimens are slightly larger than Panama is presented, along with a mod- the ones examined by Bolton (2000). 816 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON Figs. 1-6. Frontal and lateral views. 1-2, Pyramica cincinnata. 3-4, P. denticulata. 546, Strumi- genys perparva. Measurements (measurements in paren- (0.074-0.08), MI 17-20 (15-18), SL theses from Bolton [2000]): TL 1.8541.89 0.24 (0.20-0.22), SI 68 (67-69), PW (1.64-1.8), HL 0.47 (0.4640.48), HW 0.34 0.20 (0.19-0.21), AL 0.5240.53 (0.434 (0.3040.32), CI 72 (65-68), ML 0.0840.09 0.47). VOLUME 108, NUMBER 4 817 Material examined.42 workers, la- Description.4 Holotype worker: TL 1.8, beled <<PANAMA, Panama Prov.: Gam- HIE 0:50, HW 0:35, Cr 70; Mi 0.115 MI boa, Pipeline Road nr. Rio Friolito; 22, SL 0.28, SI 80, PW 0.23, AL 0.48. 09°09'00"N 79°43'56"W, 18 viii 2003; Possessing characters of alberti complex. litter sample; J. Sosa-Calvo,= <<USNM Masticatory margin of mandibles with No. 00445071, 00445072=. PARATYPES: a series of acutely triangular apical teeth 2 workers, labeled <BRAZIL, Amazo- (mandibles closed in holotype and basal nas: Ponta Negra, N. of Manaus; Sept. region not visible). Anterior clypeal 1962; W. L. Brown.= Deposited in the margin broadly and very shallowly con- IMIZSP: vex between points where outer margins of closed mandibles intersect clypeal margin. Apicoscrobal hair flagellated, Pyramica denticulata (Mayr 1887) long, and fine. Eye very small, with only (Figs. 344) 2 ommatidia in longest row and only 4 in This is the first record for this species total. Promesonotum with a well-devel- for Central America. Pyramica denticu- oped median longitudinal carina that lata has been recorded previously from extends through the entire length of Trinidad, Suriname, Guyana, French pronotum and most of mesonotum. Guiana, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Ve- Pronotum dorsally entirely sculptured nezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Ar- with fine punctation. Petiolar node in gentina (Bolton 2000, Lattke and Goitia dorsal view slightly broader than long, 1997). with sides slightly converging anteriorly. Material examined.42 workers and 1 Lateral spongiform lobes of node ex- gyne, labeled <PANAMA, Panama tending forward almost to anterolateral Prov.: Gamboa, Pipeline Road between angles. Rios Enyoles and Wa Seda; 72 m, 6 vi Gyne and male: Unknown DOO tomo nw 20022) litter sample: Type material.4Holotype worker, la- C.J. Marshall,= <<USNM No. 00411461, beled <PANAMA: Panama Prov.: Gam- 00411459, 00411798.= 1 gyne, labeled boa, Pipeline Road between Rios Frijo- <BRAZIL, Sao Paulo: Agudos, 4 11 les and La Seda; 72 m, 6 vi 2002 to 8 vi I95Seeberlese:; W. Kempf.= 3 workers, 2002; litter sample; C. J. Marshall,= labeled <BRAZIL, Sao Paulo: Agudos, 6 <USNM, No. 00410482.= ii 1955; C. Gilbert.=9 3 workers, labeled Distribution and natural history.4 <SURINAME, (no locality), 15 vu 42; Pyramica panamensis 1s known only Geijskes (coll).= from its type locality, Soberania Nation- al Park in Gamboa, Panama Province. This species was collected from leaf-litter Pyramica panamensis Sosa-Calvo, samples taken in a_ successional rain Shattuck, and Schultz, new species forest containing P. cincinnata, P. denti- (Figs. 11-12, 15) culata, and S. perparva. None of the Diagnosis.4Pyramica panamensis 1s species closely related to P. panamensis a member of the P. alberti species group (P. fridericimuelleri, P. nigrescens, and P. and is most similar to P. fridericimuelleri parsauga) are known from this particular (Figs. 7-8, 13), P. nigrescens (Figs. 9-10, lowland rain forest (Bolton 2000), al- 14), and P. parsauga. Pyramica pana- though P. fridericimuelleri, the species mensis can be distinguished from these apparently most closely related to P. species by the presence of small eyes and panamensis and one of two species (the promesonotum with a complete median other P. alberti) within the P. alberti longitudinal carina. species group that occur in Panama, is 818 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON Figs. 7-12. Frontal and lateral views. 7-8, Pyramica fridericimuelleri. 9-10, P. nigrescens. 11412, P. panamensis. found in the Chiriqui Mountains and _ nigrescens) or reported exclusively from Costa Rica. The other two species in the Costa Rica (P. parsauga). The natural P. alberti group, however, are found in history of P. panamensis remains un- the northern part of Central America (P. known. VOLUME 108, NUMBER 4 819 Pyramica panamensis shares with P. parsauga the reduced eyes (about 4 facets in total), but can be distinguished by promesonotal dorsum bearing a median longitudinal carina and dorsum of pro- podeum reticulate (smooth in P. par- sauga). With P. fridericimuelleri and P. nigrescens, P. panamensis shares the fine median longitudinal carina on the pro- mesonotal dorsum, the anterior clypeal margin, which in full face view is shallowly convex between the points where outer margins of the fully closed mandibules intersect the clypeal margin, and the sculpture on the dorsum of the mesosoma (most similar to P. nigres- cens). Pyramica panamensis can be sep- arated from P. fridericimuelleri and P. nigrescens by the compound eye com- posed of 4 facets (approximately 10 facets in fridericimuelleri and nigrescens), and the disc of the petiolar node slightly broader than long and with the sides only slightly converging anteriorly (in- termediate between /fridericimuelleri and nigrescens). Genus Strumigenys F. Smith 1860 Strumigenys perparva Brown 1958 (Figs. 546) This is the first record for this species for Central America. Strumigenys per- parva has been recorded previously from Trinidad, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and Peru (Bolton 2000). Figs. 13-15. Dorsal views. 13, Pyramica frider- Material examined.44 workers and | icimuelleri. 14, P. nigrescens. 15, P. panamensis. gyne, labeled <PANAMA, Bocas del Discussion.4The P. alberti group in- Toro: Km 26 rd. to Chiriqui Grande; cludes seven exclusively New World 09°01'34.92"N _82°18'20.04"°W; 2 vi species. Of these seven species, P. con- 2002 to 4 vi 2002= itter sample: e2- spersa, P. furtiva, and P. sublucida are Marshall,= <USNM _~ No. 00410903, known only from South America. P. 00410910.= 1 gyne, labeled <<Panama alberti and P. fridericimuelleri are appar- Prov.: Gamboa, Pipeline Road between ently more widely distributed, occurring Rios Frijoles and La Seda; 72 m, 6 vi in both Central and South America. 2002 to 8 vi 2002; litter sample; C.J. Pyramica nigrescens and P. parsauga Marshall,= <USNM_ No. 00445073.= are known only from Central America. PARATYPE, 1 worker, labeled <<BRA- 820 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON ZIL, Sao Paulo: Agudos; 6 i1 1955; C. Genus Pyramica Roger 1862 Gilbert.== 2 workers, labeled <SURI- . alberti (Forel 1893) INAME> Rambaliredjos vi 19592515 v2 d: . brevicornis (Mann 1922) citi . cincinnata (Kempf 1975)# . crementa Bolton 2000 MOobpDIFICATION OF BOLTON9S (2000) KEY To . denticulata (Mayr 1887)# NEOTROPICAL PYRAMICA SPECIES depressiceps (Weber 1934) fridericimuelleri (Forel 1886) Here we add two couplets (number gundlachi Roger 1862 48a and 48b) to Bolton9s (2000, p. 137) lalassa Bolton 2000 key in order to accommodate P. pana- mensis. margaritae (Forel 1893) . metopia (Brown 1959) 47. Basal lamella of mandible followed distally myllorhapha (Brown 1959) by a long edentate second lamella that panamensis new species# extends forward about half exposed length of fully closed mandible, lamellae separated . probatrix (Brown 1964) only by a minute cleft; mandibles relatively . Schulzi (Emery 1894) lonosIMiIE27=33 % a beeeees eta ee alberti . subedentata (Mayr 1887) 4 Basal lamella of mandible immediately . trieces (Brown 1960) followed distally by tooth row, without a second lamella that extends forward for . wWheeleri (Smith 1944) half exposed length of fully closed mandi- aaaafsaaasasgaosasescesscssceseeee\)]l}}hli)})tl))l.t sac)zh e teki (Brown 1959) ble; mandibles shorter, MI 19-24 ..... 48a Genus Strumigenys F. Smith 1860 48a. Eye small, with only 4 ommatidia in total 48b . biolleyi Forel 1908 Eye larger, with 10 or more ommatidia in . cordovensis Mayr 1887 total . deltisquama Brown 1957 48b. Promesonotal dorsum without a median . dolichognatha Weber 1934* longitudinal carina. Pronotal dorsum en- tirely smooth and shining. Propodeal dor- . elongata Roger 1863 sum smooth and shining ....... parsauga . emmae (Emery 1890) Promesonotal dorsum with a median lon- extirpa Bolton 2000 gitudinal carina. Pronotal and propodeal fairchildi Brown 1961 dorsum entirely sculptured with fine punc- . godmani Forel 1899 tation panamensis, N. sp. . humata Lattke & Goitia 1997 49. Basal tooth row of mandible consisting only of narrowly triangular high acute lacacoca Brown 1959 teeth. Disc of petiole node in dorsal view lanuginosa Wheeler 1905 as long as broad and with the sides of node longispinosa Brown 1958 converging anteriorly fridericimuelleri louisianae Roger 1863 Basal tooth row of mandible consisting of ludia Mann 1922* alternating high narrow acutely triangular teeth and lower bluntly rounded broader marginiventris Sanstchi 1931 teeth; tooth 4 from base particularly broad perparva Brown 1958# and rounded. Disc of petiole node in dorsal . planeti Brown 1953* view much broader than long, roughly . precava Brown 1954 transversely rectangular, sides not converg- rogeri Emery 1890 nas GUMTITOMM 25 oo 000 dco 0 oboe nigrescens . smithii Forel 1886 Checklist of Dacetini of Panama N. AtNocHocNaeR NW.N HM.R HWhHeeUlRerH R& HBHeqDuaHeHrtA HHDHAUNY (modified from Bolton 2000) 19295 S. trinidadensis Wheeler 1922 Genus Acanthognathus Mayr 1887 A. brevicornis M. R. Smith 1944 * From Kaspari9s ants of the Barro A. ocellatus Mayr 1887 Colorado Island Monument (BCIM), VOLUME 108, NUMBER 4 Panama, website (http://faculty-staff.ou. LITERATURE CITED edu/K/Michael.E.Kaspari-1/K/Michael. Agosti, D., J. D. Majer, L. E. Alonso, and T. R. E.Kaspari-1/bcnm.ants_home.htm). Speci- Schultz. 2000. Ants. Standard Methods for mens not seen by authors. Measuring and Monitoring Biodiversity. #4 New record for Panama Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington Unmarked (with either * or #) in- and London. Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini, with dicates recorded in Bolton (2000) a revision of the Strumigenys species of the Malagasy Region by Brian L. Fisher, and ACKNOWLEDGMENTS a revision of the Austral epopostrumiform We are indebted to C. Marshall for genera by Steven O. Shattuck. Memoirs of collecting the holotype specimen and to B. the American Entomological Institute 65: Bolton for confirming that this specimen 11028. Brown, W. L., Jr. 1953. Revisionary studies in the represents a new species. C. R. F. Brandao ant tribe Dacetini. American Midland Natu- loaned the paratype of P. cincinnata, J.T. ralist 50: 1-137. Longino loaned specimens of Pyramica . 1962. The Neotropical species of the ant fridericimuelleri, and M. E. Kaspari genus Strumigenys Fr. Smith: Synopsis and key loaned specimens of Pyramica and Stru- to species. Psyche 69: 238-267. migenys from Barro Colorado Island. Dejean, A. 1991. Gathering of nectar and exploi- tation of Aphididae by Smithistruma emargi- Natalie Barnett (ANIC) prepared the nata (Formicidae: Myrmicinae). Biotropica 23: images of P. panamensis. For corrections 207-208. and comments on previous versions of this Kaspari, M. and M. D. Weiser. 2000. Ant activity manuscript we thank A. Kawahara, J. S. along moisture gradients in a Neotropical LaPolla, J. T. Longino, D. R. Smith, and forest. Biotropica 32: 703-711. one anonymous reviewer. We are grateful Kaspari, M., J. Pickering, J. T. Longino, and D. Windsor. 2001. The phenology of a Neotropi- to the Smithsonian Tropical Research cal ant assemblage: Evidence for continuous Institute for providing logistical support and overlapping reproduction. Behavioral and facilities in Gamboa and to the Ecology and Sociobiology 50: 382-390. Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente for Lattke, J. and W. Goitia. 1997. El género permission to collect ants in Panama. This Strumigenys (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) en Venezuela. Caldasia 19: 367-396. work was supported by the NSF-IRCEB Wilson, E. O. 1954 [1953]. The ecology of some DEB 0110073 to TRS and the Andrew W. North American dacetine ants. Annals of the Mellon Research Exploration Award in Entomological Society of America 46: Tropical Biology to JSC. 479-495.