Abstract
We describe three new species of the Neotropical ant genus Leptanilloides: Leptanilloides gracilis sp. n. based on workers from Mexico and Guatemala, Leptanilloides erinys sp. n. based on workers and a gyne from Ecuador, and Leptanilloides femoralis sp. n. based on workers from Venezuela. The description of Leptanilloides gracilis is a northern extension of the known range of the genus, now numbering eleven described species. We also describe and discuss three unassociated male morphotypes from Central America. We report the occurrence of a metatibial gland in Leptanilloides and a fused promesonotal connection (suture) in some species. We provide a modified, detailed diagnosis of the genus and a revised key to the worker caste of the known species.
Highlights
Leptanilloides Mann, 1923 is a genus of rarely collected Neotropical ants with army ant-like habits, convergently similar to the Old World genus Leptanilla Emery, 1870.Copyright M.L
With the aid of SEM we have been able to observe small differentiated patches of porous cuticle and granulate secretion on the hind tibia of L. erinys and L. nubecula (Figures 1A–D). We believe these represent vestigial pore plates of the metatibial gland. It is possible other species of Leptanilloides possess it, due to positioning of legs in our specimens we were unable to find it in L. gracilis and L. femoralis
We have found that this character is very variable in Leptanilloides, ranging from completely unfused and apparently flexible in L. biconstricta, L. caracola, L. erinys, L. femoralis, L. gracilis, L. improvisa and L. sculpturata (Figure1F) and gradually increasing in fusion in L. legionaria through L. mckennae to L. nubecula and L. nomada (Figure 1E), where the connection seems to be completely fused dorsally, barely visible as a faint groove
Summary
Leptanilloides Mann, 1923 is a genus of rarely collected Neotropical ants with army ant-like habits, convergently similar to the Old World genus Leptanilla Emery, 1870.Copyright M.L.
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