Patagonomyrmex, Johnson, Robert A. & Moreau, Corrie S., 2016

Johnson, Robert A. & Moreau, Corrie S., 2016, A new ant genus from southern Argentina and southern Chile, Patagonomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), Zootaxa 4139 (1), pp. 1-31 : 10

Description of Patagonomyrmex , gen. n.

Type species of the genus: Patagonomyrmex angustus ( Mayr, 1870) .

Etymology. The genus name, Patagonomyrmex , alludes to the distribution of these species, which are mostly restricted to the Patagonia region of Argentina and Chile.

Diagnosis of worker. Monomorphic, small (HW = 0.81–1.16 mm), soil-nesting, myrmicine ants with the following combination of characters:

(1) Head weakly elongate to elongate (CI = 78.86–95.50).

(2) Mandible with six teeth.

(3) Psammophore poorly-developed, consisting of short to medium-length hairs scattered over ventral surface of head.

(4) Superior propodeal spines long; inferior propodeal spines moderately long to long.

(5) Dorsal surface of promesonotum smooth and shiny, lacking rugae or if rugae present, then interrugae strongly granulate-punctate, dull.

(6) Anteroventral margin of peduncle of petiole with a small, acuminate spine.

(7) In full-face view, anterior margin of clypeus convex and entire.

( 8) In profile, clypeus strongly convex.

(9) Petiolar node triangular in profile, anterior surface slightly shorter than posterior surface, node subangulate to rounded.

( 10) Palp formula = 5,4.

Diagnosis of queen —as in worker except:

(1) Small (HW < 1.25 mm and ML <2.00 mm).

(2) Mandible with 5–6 teeth.

(3) Mesosoma with full complement of sclerites associated with presence of wings; head with well-developed ocelli.

(4) Forewing lacking Rsf2–3, with submarginal cell 1+2.

Diagnosis of male.

(1) Small (HW < 1.15 mm and ML <2.00 mm).

(2) Anteroventral margin of peduncle of petiole with a small, acuminate spine. (3) Funicular segments with very dense, short, suberect to erect pubescence. (4) Forewing lacking Rsf2–3, with submarginal cell 1+2.

(5) In full-face view, strongly produced anterior margin of clypeus, nearly angulate medially. ( 6) In profile, clypeus strongly convex.