Abstract
This study describes the worker and queen castes of the Neotropical ponerine Corrieoponenouraguesgen. nov., sp. nov., an ant from the tropical rainforest in French Guiana. Worker morphology of the taxon is compared with those of other Ponerinae and the similarities between them are discussed, refining the definition of character states for some diagnostic characters at the generic level, providing an identification key to the Neotropical genera, and making some adjustments to the taxonomic framework within the subfamily. Descriptions, diagnosis, character discussion, identification key, and glossary are illustrated with more than 300 images and line drawings. Open science is supported by providing access to measurement data for specimens of the new genus, a matrix of character states for all ponerine taxa evaluated in this study, and specimen data for all examined material. The new or revived combinations presented here are Pachycondylaprocidua Emery, comb. rev., Neoponeracuriosa (Mackay and Mackay), comb. nov., Leptogenysbutteli (Forel), comb. nov., and Bothroponeraescherichi (Forel), comb. nov. In addition, Leptogenysbutteli is synonymized with Leptogenysmyops (Emery), syn. nov.
Highlights
Ant Course editions have trained nearly 500 students from countries, included more than international instructors, and offered opportunities to explore the biological diversity in different parts of the globe, from Australia to Southeast Asia, to East Africa, and to North, Central, and South America
Specimens collected in past editions enhanced our understanding of several aspects of ant biology, such as functional morphology (e.g., Peeters et al 2017; Larabee et al 2017, 2018; Gibson et al 2018), ecology (Kronauer 2004), reproductive biology (Peeters 2017), and natural history (LaPolla et al 2004; Lattke and Delsinne 2016)
We describe a novel ponerine genus and species discovered during the 2018 Ant Course in the Natural Reserve of Nouragues, French Guiana
Summary
Since 2001, 17 Ant Course editions have trained nearly 500 students from countries, included more than international instructors, and offered opportunities to explore the biological diversity in different parts of the globe, from Australia to Southeast Asia, to East Africa, and to North, Central, and South America (www.antcourse.org). We describe a novel ponerine genus and species discovered during the 2018 Ant Course in the Natural Reserve of Nouragues, French Guiana. Schmidt and Shattuck (2014) recently revised the higher classification of the subfamily and split the former genus Pachycondyla into 19 genera. Iroponera Schmidt & Shattuck is the most recent ponerine genus description based on a new species rather than reclassification. As part of the process of diagnosing the new genus, we make a few adjustments to the taxonomic framework within Ponerinae, provide a new identification key for workers of the Neotropical genera, and reassess morphological characters across the subfamily
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