Hippeutister amabilis Wenzel 1938

Hippeutister amabilis (Wenzel, 1938)

(Fig. 1 E)

Solenopsister amabilis Wenzel, 1938: 318; Blackwelder, 1944: 186.

Diagnosis: L: 1.5mm; W: 1.25mm (measurements from Wenzel, 1938). Wenzel initially described this species in its own monotypic genus, having been unaware of Reichensperger's then recent description of two species of Hippeutister. Thus he offered no putatively diagnostic species level characters. Based on his description and illustrations the species is clearly correctly placed in Hippeutister. Like only H. manicatus and H. plaumanni, it is evidently completely glabrous, and it seems very similar to the latter in general, showing a distinct sutural row of enlarged punctures. However, Wenzel's figures suggest this species is more densely punctate than H. plaumanni or any of the others of the genus.

Distribution: This species has been reported only from the type locality, Cordoba, Veracruz, Mexico where it was collected with Solenopsis xyloni McCook (Wenzel, 1938).

Remarks: Unfortunately the type of this species appears lost. Having initially been collected by Charles Seevers and then described by Rupert Wenzel, both Field Museum (Chicago, IL) associates, that seems the only likely repository, although Wenzel did not specify it in his description. However, it has not been found there.