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Species: Brachymyrmex brevicornis_cf

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Brachymyrmex brevicornis

Overview:

This is a shiny dark brown species with yellowish appendages, short scapes, no erect hairs on the mesosoma, posterior portion of head or femur, and generally reduced pubescence. It is only known from a single collection in Florida (Columbia Co.) in a mesic forested area (Deyrup et al 2000). The species has previously been referred to in the literature (Deyrup 2003, Deyrup et al 2000) as B. brevicornis, but is currently thought to represent a distinct species introduced from abroad (Joe MacGown, Ants of SE United States; Christopher Wilson, pers. comm.).

Distribution:

(based on species list records)
Nearctic Region: Florida

Distribution Notes:

USA: Florida (Columbia Co.)

Identification:

Joe MacGown offers the following account from his Ants of the Southeastern United States website.

Previously, Brachymyrmex sp.-01 has been identified as B. brevicornis (Deyrup 2003, Deyrup et al 2000), but is currently thought to be a new species (Deyrup, pers. comm.). Workers of this particular species or form, are shiny dark brown, with pale yellowish-brown appendages. They lack erect hairs on the promesonotum, the occipital region of the head, and the femora. The head has moderate pubescence (in full face view); the dorsum of the alitrunk has sparse pubescence, but the sides lack pubescence and are very shiny; and the gaster has somewhat sparse pubescense. The eyes have about 6 facets in greatest diameter.

This species differs from other brown Brachymyrmex species (B. heeri-possible in the U.S.,B. obscurior, and B. patagonicus) known or likely to occur in the U.S. in that it lacks erect hairs on the head, promesonotum and femora. An undescribed brown species known only from two queens collected from Arkansas (Lloyd Davis, pers. comm.) is unusual in that the queens are tiny, about the size of typical workers. All other known species present in this region are yellowish in color.

Diagnosis of worker caste among introduced and commonly intercepted ants.
Antenna 9-segmented. Antennal club indistinct. Antennal scape length less than 1.5x head length. Eyes medium-sized. Antennal sockets and posterior clypeal margin separated by a distance less than the minimum width of antennal  scape. Dorsum of mesosoma lacking a metanotal  impression. Metapleuron with a distinct gland orifice. Propodeum and petiolar node both lacking a pair of short teeth. Propodeum without posteriorly projecting protrusion. Pronotum and mesonotum lacking erect hairs. Waist 1-segmented, but can be obscured by gaster. Petiolar node appearing flattened. Gaster armed with acidopore.  Color brown.



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