Abstract
Solenopsis Westwood (Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini) is an ant genus that represents a taxonomical challenge including about 117 species in the New World, most of them Neotropical. Solenopsis can be divided in two artificial groups: “fire ants” and “thief ants”. The second group is represented by species often difficult to identify because of their small size and uniformity of color and sculpture. Most of the thief ants are pale yellow, monomorphic, and develop lestobiosis, inhabiting small colonies, often inside the nests of other species of ants. In this paper we describe a new species of thief ant, Solenopsis longicephalus sp. n. caracterized to be extremely dimorphic and with a set of characters probably convergent with other genera of Myrmicinae, such as Carebara and Pheidole.
Highlights
The ant genus Solenopsis Westwood (Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini) is a huge taxonomic challenge, for the great number of species that it contains, and from phylogenetic and ecological points of view
One central seta in clypeal anterior margin, besides 6 short setae present on anterior margin of clypeus reaching to halfway point of closed mandibles
This species can be differentiated from all other Solenopsis by the combination of the following traits: dimorphic ants; major worker with long and abundant hairs on the dorsal face of mesosoma and gaster; head in major and minor workers extremely elongated; eye reduced to 1-5 ommatidia; and palpal formula 2-1
Summary
The ant genus Solenopsis Westwood (Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini) is a huge taxonomic challenge, for the great number of species that it contains, and from phylogenetic and ecological points of view. The length of the head capsule excluding the mandibles; measured in full-face view, as a straight line from the mid-point of the anterior clypeal margin to the mid-point of the posterior margin. The maximum width of the head behind the eyes, measured in full-face view.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
