Myrmapana costaricaensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 4FBB9658-87A4-4519-B9D7-CB83DDAA37AA

Figs 1A–B, D, 2–3

Diagnosis

Males of M. costaricaensis sp. nov. are most similar in the shape of sexual organs to M. parallela. Males of M. costaricaensis differ from this species by a protuberance at the anterior margin of the cheliceral fang, the shape of the first strong tooth, and a sinusiodal RTA (Galiano 1969: figs 33, 43). Females can be recognised by spermathecae without prominent insemination ducts (“pipes”, see Prószyński 2016).

Etymology

The name is derived from the country of origin.

Type material

Holotype COSTA RICA – Heredia Province • ♂; Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, La Selva Biological Station and Reserve; 10°25.87145′ N, 84°0.45123′ W; 25 Apr. 2015; G. Corcobado leg.; leaves of tropical plants; NMP (P6A 7397).

Paratypes COSTA RICA – Heredia Province • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; 15 Apr. 2015; NMP (P6A 7398) • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; MUB • 3 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 16 Apr. 2015; MUB • 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 25 Apr. 2015; MUB • 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 7 May 2015; MUB • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; 8 May 2015; MUB. – Puntarenas Province • 1 ♂; La Gamba; Feb. 2012; E. Líznarová leg.; MUB.

Other material examined

COSTA RICA – Heredia Province • 2 juvs; same collection data as for holotype; 16 Apr. 2015; MUB • 3 juvs; same collection data as for preceding; 25 Apr. 2015; MUB • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; 7 May 2015; MUB • 1 juv.; same collection data as for preceding; 8 May 2015; MUB. – Puntarenas Province • 3 juvs; La Gamba; Feb. 2012; E. Líznarová leg.; MUB.

Description

Male

MEASUREMENTS (N = 9). Total body length 9.18 (6.70–10.70) mm; carapace 2.55 (1.49–2.97) mm long, 1.52 (1.16–1.67) mm wide; basal segment of chelicera 3.43 (2.27–4.05) mm long, 0.48 mm wide, cheliceral fang 3.35 mm long; abdomen 2.71 (1.53–3.67) mm long, 1.20 mm wide; labium 0.88 mm long; sternum 1.44 mm long, 0.40 mm wide. Diameter of eyes: AME = 0.42 mm, ALE = 0.21 mm, PME = 0.07 mm, PLE = 0.25 mm. Leg segments (mm): palp (0.77, 0.39, 0.49, 0.63), I (1.99, 1.04, 2.15, 0.79, 0.40), II (1.44, 0.72, 1.11, 0.72, 0.48), III (1.36, 0.56, 0.96, 0.72, 0.48), IV (1.84, 0.64, 1.60, 1.60, 0.56).

COLOUR. Chelicerae basal segment dark-brown with orange-brown distal tip, reticulated dorsally (Fig. 1A), covered with white sparse setae, fangs orange-brown, carapace dark-brown mostly covered by white setae, with brown spot in front of fovea, eyes surrounded by black patches; wedge of white setae on lateral sides behind head; sternum, endites light-brown; palpal Fe and Pt light-brown, palpal Ti and Ta dark-brown, all Cx pale, all Fe light-brown to dark-brown, all Pt pale, Ti I and II pale, Ti III and IV brown, Mt I dark-brown, all other Mt pale, all Ta pale, labium and gnathocoxae brown; abdomen dark-brown with white setae.

MORPHOLOGY. Chelicerae protruding, longer than cephalothorax, with 14 teeth on prolateral margin, the first teeth strong, triangular; fangs straight, at base with dorsal protuberance, tip curved (Fig. 3A); cephalothorax elongated (Fig. 1A), cephalic part dorsally flat and slightly higher than thoracic part which is hump-shaped; sternum elongated. Leg spines: Ti I ventrally 2.2.2.2.2.2.2, Mt I ventrally 2.2, Ti II ventrally 2.1, Mt II ventrally 2.2, Mt III and IV ventrally 2. Abdomen elongated with a constriction about one third of its length and two dorsal scuta (Fig. 1A). Palpal cymbium oval, with one apical spine, tegulum large, oval as wide as cymbium, embolus coiled 2 times, tip of embolus straight, pointing laterally (Figs 2B, 3B); RTA elongated, sinusoid apically pointed (Figs 2D, 3C).

Female

MEASUREMENTS (N = 11). Total body 7.18 (5.40–7.34) mm, carapace 2.55 (2.48–2.96) mm long, 1.27 (1.08–1.39) mm wide, chelicera 0.63 (0.58–0.71) mm long, abdomen 2.87 (2.11–3.78) mm long, 1.20 mm wide; labium 0.49 mm long; sternum 1.27 mm long, 0.40 mm wide. Diameters of eyes: AME = 0.46 mm, ALE = 0.25 mm, PME = 0.07 mm, PLE = 0.25 mm. Leg segments (mm): palp (0.60, 0.31, 0.42, 0.60), I (1.52, 0.79, 1.60, 0.64, 0.40), II (1.12, 0.56, 1.04, 0.56, 0.48), III (1.28, 0.56, 0.96, 1.12, 0.48), IV (1.68, 0.56, 1.60, 1.52, 0.48).

COLOUR. As in males but abdomen ventrally pale (Fig. 1B).

MORPHOLOGY. As in males but chelicerae small, lateral margin of chelicerae with 6 teeth, retrolateral margin with 5 teeth; palpal Ta and Ti flattened (Fig. 1B, D); thoracic part of cephalothorax only slightly lower than cephalic part (Fig. 2A); abdomen with a single scutum. Epigyne with two large atria separated by a septum, atria approx. 1.5 times as wide as septum, median pocket rather triangular, situated below septum (Figs 2C, 3D); spermathecae large, oval, situated in the upper part of septum (Fig. 3E), without prominent insemination ducts.

Variation

The dark form is represented by both sexes (Fig. 1A–B), whereas the light form is known only in females (Fig. 1D). The two forms differ only by colouration. In the light form, palpal segments and carapace are orange-brown with dark spots around eyes, Fe I pale, frontal half of abdomen yellow, hind part dark-brown.

Natural history

This species was collected from tree foliage. The dark form appears to resemble Neoponera unidentata Mayr, 1862 ants (Fig. 1C), while the light form resembles Pseudomyrmex sp. ants (Fig. 1E).

Barcode

COI of this species is deposited in Genbank, accession no. OM321384.

Distribution

Known only from type locality in Costa Rica.