Neivamyrmex pilosus (F. Smith)

Figures 13 a-b, 44, 59, 72, 86, 1110, 111, 121, 135, 146, 150, 151

Eciton pilosa F. Smith, 1858: 151 (w). BRAZIL, Amazonas, Vila Nova (BMNH).

Eciton clavicornis Norton, 1868: 46 (w). MEXICO, Vera Cruz, Hacienda Potrero (types lost?).

Eciton pilosum: Mayr, 1865: 77; 1886: 120. Dalla Torre, 1893: 5.

Eciton (Labidus) subsulcatum Mayr, 1887: 440 (m). U. S. A., Texas (NHMV).

Eciton mexicanus: Dalla Torre, 1893: 4. Forel, 1899: 27.

Eciton (Acamatus) pilosum: Emery, 1894 a: 183. Emery, 1900 a: 524; Emery, 1910: 25. Borgmeier, 1923, 48. Borgmeier, 1934: 94. Wheeler, G. C., 1943: 331 (larva).

Eciton (Labidus) mexicanum: Emery, 1895 b: 260. Emery, 1896 a: 33. Misidentification

Eciton pilosum: Forel, 1899: 27. Wheeler & Long, 1901: 165.

Eciton (Acamatus) mexicanum: Emery, 1900 a: 515, 525. Emery, 1910: 26. Wheeler, 1908: 414. M. R. Smith, 1931: 16.

Eciton aztecum Forel, 1901: 49 (m). GUATEMALA, San Jose (MHNG).

Eciton (Acamatus) pilosum: Wheeler, 1908: 412. Wheeler, 1921: 313. M. R. Smith, 1924: 85; M. R. Smith, 1931: 295. Reichensperger, 1939: 297 (q).

Eciton (Acamatus) pilosum var. angustius Forel, 1909: 256 (w). PARAGUAY, San Bernardino (MHNG).

Emery, 1910: 25. Wheeler, 1921: 312. Eciton (Acamatus) mexicanum var. azteca: Emery, 1910: 26. Eciton (Acamatus) pilosum var. beebei Wheeler, 1921: 312 (w, m). GUYANA, Kartabo (MCZC). NEW

SYNONYMY. Eciton (Acamatus) pilosum var. aztecum: Wheeler, 1921: 314. Eciton (Labidus) spininodis subsp. militarium Santschi, 1929: 85 (w). PANAMA, Bocas del Toro,

Changuinola (BASEL). Borgmeier, 1953: 14. Eciton (Acamatus) porrectognathum Borgmeier, 1933 b: 167 (m). BRAZIL, Rio de Janeiro, Angra dos

Reis u. Itatiaia (?). Eciton (Acamatus) pilosum var. mexicanum: Borgmeier, 1936: 59. Borgmeier, 1939 a: 416.

Misidentification

Eciton (Neivamyrmex) pilosum: M. R. Smith, 1942: 544. Creighton, 1950: 75.

Neivamyrmex pilosus porrectognathum: Borgmeier, 1953: 5. BRAZIL, Angra dos Reis and Itatiaia (IBVB).

Neivamyrmex pilosus mexicanus: Borgmeier, 1953: 17. Misidentification

Neivamyrmex pilosus beebei: Borgmeier, 1953: 19.

Neivamyrmex pilosus: Borgmeier, 1955: 361 - 373 (w, q, m).

Neivamyrmex pilosus subsp. beebei: Borgmeier, 1955: 373 (w, m).

Neivamyrmex pilosus subsp. mexicanus: Borgmeier, 1955: 374 (w, q, m). Watkins, 1976: 16. Watkins,

1982: 197 - 247. Watkins, 1985: 479 - 502. Misidentification

DISTRIBUTION (Map. 2)

UNITED STATES: Arkansas and Mississippi west to southern Arizona; MEXICO: border states south to Chiapas; south to BRAZIL and PARAGUAY.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED

We have 56 records of this wide-ranging species in the United States.

DISCUSSION

The male type of Labidus mexicanus, described from Orizaba, Mexico by F. Smith (1859), has been examined. It is a specimen of N. swainsonii (Shuckard), not a form of N. pilosus. Accordingly, L. mexicanus is removed to the synonymy of that species.

We have examined both males and workers from throughout the extensive range of this species. We have found that the features distinguishing the several recognized subspecies form a continuum from north to south, with no clear demarcation for any of these features. Accordingly, all these are here placed in synonymy.

Watkins (1985) indicated on his map of the distribution of N. pilosus mexicanus that this ant had been collected from California. We have examined the specimens, purportedly collected at Exeter, Tulare County, and concur that they are N. pilosus. However, it is our opinion that these males are probably incorrectly labeled and we have not included California within the distribution of N. pilosus.

Automontage images of the worker caste (as N. pilosus mexicanus) are located at antweb. org.