Pogonomyrmex odoratus Kusnezov 1949
Pogonomyrmex (Ephebomyrmex)
odoratus Kusnezov,
1949; 302, figs. 1, 2 (worker, queen, male). Syntypes
examined: x workers not examined [FML],
Ephebomyrmex odoratus Kusnezov;
Kusnezov, 1960; 354. First combination in Ephebomyrmex.
Pogonomyrmex odoratus Kusnezov;
Snelling & Hunt, 1976: 75, fig. 25. Revived combination in Pogonomyrmex.
Worker
Diagnosis. Within the P. angustus group, the combination of:
(1) dorsum of mesosoma, posterior face of petiole,
and dorsum of postpetiole smooth and shining, and (2)
head and mesosoma mostly concolorous
amber-orange to brownish-orange, gaster dark orangish-black, and (3) angulate juncture
between anterior surface of petiole and peduncle uniquely characterize this
species.
Measurements
- (n = 13). HL 1.00-1.25; HW
0.86-1.08; MOD 0.24-0.29; OMD 0.15-0.24; SL 0.79-0.96; PNW 0.62-0.73; HFL 0.94-1.15;
ML 1.18-1.60; PW 0.20-0.30; PPW 0.39-0.45.
Indices: SI 79.63-96.00; CI 82.46-95.50; OI 24.53-27.91; HFI
91.43-110.64.
Description. Small
species (HW = 0.86-1.08 mm), head longer than wide (CI = 82.46-95.50);
posterior margin flat in full-face view.
Longitudinal cephalic rugae coarse, widely
spaced, slightly wavy, initiating on frontal lobes, one to few rugae rarely extend to posterior margin; usually 14-18 rugae present between eyes.
Rugae also arc from mandibular
margins to frontal lobes and traverse longitudinally above and below eyes,
usually terminating before reaching vertex; lateral rugae
weaker than those on cephalic dorsum. Vertex and posterior margin of head weakly granulate-punctate, weakly shining to smooth and shining. Cephalic interrugal
spaces smooth, shining. Anterior margin of clypeus convex; dorsal surface with 4-8 moderately
coarse, subparallel longitudinal rugae;
clypeus strongly convex in lateral view.
Mandible with six teeth; mandibular dorsum
strongly striated. MOD
ranging from 0.21-0.25x HL. Eyes
in profile situated anterior to middle of head, OMD = 0.57-0.89x MOD; in full-face
view, eyes protruding well beyond lateral margins of head. Antennal scapes
long (SI = 79.63-96.00), surpassing vertex by less than length of first
funicular segment; scape weakly to moderately granulate-punctate, often with faint striae,
weakly shining; basal flange poorly developed with carinate
margin. Psammophore
poorly developed, consisting of short to medium length hairs scattered over
ventral surface of head.
Mesosomal profile strongly
convex; dorsum of mesosoma and sides of pronotum smooth, shining; longitudinal rugae
on mesospleura and metapleura
wavy to irregular, interrugae weakly to moderately granulate-punctate, weakly shining.
Promesonotal suture usually present, faint to weakly
impressed.
Superior propodeal spines moderately long, narrowing
to blunt tip, spine length rarely exceeding 0.6-0.7x distance between bases;
inferior propodeal spines well developed, triangular,
narrowing to blunt to acute tip; a keel-like rugae or
crest often connects superior and inferior spines. Propodeal spiracles narrowly ovate.
Legs smooth weakly granulate, weakly shining to shining.
Petiolar
peduncle about as long as petiole, anteroventral margin
with small, acutely tipped triangular process.
In side view, posterior surface of petiole weakly convex;
petiolar node asymmetrical with anterior surface
notably shorter than posterior surface, apex of node rounded to bluntly angulate; juncture between anterior face of petiole and
peduncle angulate. In dorsal view, petiole longer than wide,
sides subparallel, narrowing to rounded to bluntly angulate anterior margin.
Dorsum of postpetiole convex in profile; in
dorsal view, widest near posterior margin, narrowing to anterior margin,
maximum width about equal to length; posterior surface and sides of petiole and
dorsum and sides of postpetiole smooth and shining; dorsum
of gaster smooth and shining.
Erect copperish-brown,
short to long hairs abundant on head, one to few
approaching to slightly exceeding MOD. Moderately abundant subdecumbent to decumbent
hairs on antennal scape; abundant decumbent to appressed hairs on funicular segments. Legs with moderately
abundant subdecumbent to decumbent setae. Mesosoma with moderately dense, medium to long erect seta, longest
approaching MOD; petiole, postpetiole, gastral terga with moderately
dense erect setae, mostly similar in length, longest notably shorter than MOD. Body other than gaster mostly concolorous amber-orange
to brownish-red, medial portion of cephalic dorsum typically slightly darker
than rest of head; gaster dark orangish-black
to brownish-black.
Queen
Diagnosis. As in worker diagnosis, but with
caste-specific morphology of the mesosoma related to
wing-bearing, presence of small ocelli on head, and
as illustrated in Figure x. This caste
is diagnosed by: (1) small size (HW = 1.05-1.12 mm), (2) mesoscutum
and mesoscutellum smooth and shiny, and (3) body orangish-brown, gaster slightly
darker.
Measurements
- (n = 12). HL 1.21-1.26; HW 1.05-1.12; MOD
0.30-0.33; OMD 0.17-0.24; SL 0.83-0.97; PNW 0.85-0.93; HFL 1.03-1.14; ML
1.52-1.77; PW 0.26-0.33; PPW 0.49-0.54.
Indices: SI 79.05-89.81; CI 83.33-92.56; OI 27.52-30.28; HFI 96.26-106.67.
Male
Diagnosis. This caste is diagnosed by: (1)
Measurements
- (n = 3). HL 1.08-1.22; HW 0.90-1.01; MOD
0.41-0.45; OMD 0.16-0.19; SL 0.28-0.33; HFL 0.98-1.17; ML 1.71-1.75; PW
0.23-0.27; PPW 0.38-0.42. Indices: SI
29.17-36.67; CI 82.79-85.71; OI 43.75-45.56; HFI 102.08-123.33.
Additional material examined.
*The primary administrative
division in
Etymology. In his
description, Kusnezov did not
give information regarding the naming of this species. However, Kunezov (1960) indicated that the name was
derived from the odor emitted by the species.
Discussion. Pogonomyrmex odoratus co-occurs
with P. angustus
and P. laevigatus. Pogonomyrmex odoratus can be distinguished from P. angustus based on the following
characters: (1) dorsum of mesosoma and posterior face
of petiole smooth and shining (both structures are strongly granulate in P. angustus),
and (2) body mostly concolorous amber-orange to
brownish-red, gaster dark orangish-black
to brownish-black (P. angustus
is mostly concolorous dark brownish-black to nearly
black). In his key, Kusnezov
(1951) separated P. odoratus
from P. laevigatus
based on: (1) color (body an orangish-brown with the gaster slightly darker in P. odoratus, mostly concolorous
blackish to black in P. laevigatus), and (2) shape of the juncture between the
anterior surface of the petiole and peduncle, which is angulate
in P. odoratus
and rounded in P. laevigatus. Kusnezov (1949, 1951) also indicated that longitudinal
cephalic rugae were less coarse in P. odoratus
than in P. laevigatus,
but I did not discern this difference.
Pogonomyrmex odoratus is
distinguished from other congeners by the poorly developed psammophore
and the smooth and shiny dorsum of the mesosoma. All other congeners have a well developed psammophore and/or the dorsum of the mesosoma
is rugose.
REFERENCES