Fulakora estevae Jacintho, 2025

3.1.1. Fulakora estevae Jacintho & Chaul sp. nov.

( Figs. 2 View FIGURE 2 ; 3 View FIGURE 3 ; 4 View FIGURE 4 ; 5 View FIGURE 5 ; 6 View FIGURE 6 ; 9C, G, M View FIGURE 9 ; 20B View FIGURE 20 ; 21B View FIGURE 21 )

Type material. Holotype worker. Original label: “ BRA: MG, Viçosa, M. Paraíso -20.80183, -42.86526 01.ix.21 Manual Jacintho, G. F.; Chaul, J. ” (pinned, unique specimen identifier ANTWEB1047071, collecting event GFJ000100 ) [ CELC] GoogleMaps . Paratype: one worker with the same label data as the holotype (pinned, unique specimen identifier ANTWEB1047070, collecting event GFJ000100 ) [ DZUP] GoogleMaps . Paratype: One worker. Original label: “ BRA: MG, Viçosa, Mata do Paraíso 20º48’S 42º51’W 11.x.2014 rotten log Winkler II. J. Chaul & R. Jesus ” (pinned, unique specimen identifier UFV-LABECOL-000012, collecting event JCMC00652 ) [MZSP] GoogleMaps .

Non-type material. One entirely dissected worker with the same data as the holotype (some sclerites mounted on cards and some between slides; unique specimen identifier ANTWEB1047069, collecting event GFJ000100) [CELC].

Worker diagnosis. Body mostly black, except for the orangish mandibles, antennae, and legs ( Fig.2 View FIGURE 2 ). Head longer than wide (CI 87.32–90.43), not strongly tapering posteriorly (HTI 91.92– 95.48); costate on the anterior half, smooth posteriorly ( Figs.2B View FIGURE 2 ; 3A View FIGURE 3 ). Genal tooth about as long as clypeal tubercle plus its chaeta ( Fig.2B View FIGURE 2 ; GentL 0.05, Ch+CltbL 0.04). Mandibles about 2/3 of head length ( Fig.2B View FIGURE 2 ; ML 0.71–0.74, HL 0.86–0.89). Mesometapleural sulcus absent ( Figs.2A View FIGURE 2 ; 5A View FIGURE 5 ). Propodeal corners without pale patches ( Fig.2A View FIGURE 2 ). Petiole dorsum evidently longer than the first gaster posttergite (PtI 107.14–114.41, AIIIL 0.31–0.34); subpetiolar process reduced.

Geographical distribution. Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil (Atlantic Forest).

Measurements (mm) and indexes. Holotype. HL 0.89, HW 0.78, VxW 0.74, SL 0.46, ML 0.74, GentL 0.05, Ch+CltbL 0.04, WL 1.2, MsW 0.33, PpW 0.45, PtL 0.53, PtW 0.48, AIIIL 0.33, AIVL 0.40, AVL 0.15, AVIL 0.13, AVIIL 0.29, TL 4.64, CI 87.32, SI 52.11, MI 83.10, PtI 110.53, HTI 95.48, MFI 73.11. Other examined material (N=3). HL 0.86–0.87, HW 0.78, VxW 0.72–0.74, SL 0.44, ML 0.71–0.74, GentL 0.05, Ch+CltbL 0.04, WL 1.16–1.30, MsW 0.32–0.34, PpW 0.45–0.46, PtL 0.50–0.54, PtW 0.46–0.47, AIIIL 0.31–0.34, AIVL 0.38–0.41, AVL 0.15–0.17, AVIL 0.10, AVIIL 0.28–0.30 TL 4.48–4.69, CI 89.86–90.43, SI 50.52–50.72, MI 82.61–85.51, PtI 107.14–114.41, HTI 91.92–93.88, MFI 68.91–72.97.

Worker description. Head. In full-face view, head subrectangular, longer than wide (CI 87.32–90.43), wider anteriorly than posteriorly (HTI 91.92–95.48); vertexal margin straight to slightly concave; lateral margins slightly convex ( Figs. 2B View FIGURE 2 , 3A View FIGURE 3 ). Overlapping mandibles; mandible about 4/5 as long as head (ML 0.71–0.74, HL 0.86–0.89; MI 82.61–85.51); outer margin almost straight along its basal 3/4, apically strongly curved; inner margin dentition arrangement, from apex to base: a prominent single apical tooth; a pair of rounded-tipped subapical teeth; five pairs of sharp, equally-sized, and basally fused teeth posteriorly directed, each pair with one tooth inclined dorsally and the other ventrally ( Figs.2B View FIGURE 2 ; 3A, F View FIGURE 3 ); one large, broad, trapezoidal basal tooth. Anterior clypeal margin convex; medial section with five tubercles, with dentiform chaetae on their apexes, arranged as follows: medial tubercle with two chaetae diverging laterally (apparently resulted from the fusion of two tubercles); next to the medial tubercle, on each side, a thin tubercle with one chaeta inclined laterally; further laterad, a thick tubercle with two chaetae inclined laterally (apparently also resulted from the fusion of two tubercles); tubercles about two to three times their chaetae size ( Fig.3B View FIGURE 3 ). Genal tooth acute, relatively small, longer than its base, shorter than maximum basal width of mandible, and about as long as the thinnest clypeal tubercle plus its chaeta ( Fig.3E View FIGURE 3 ). In full-face view, the distance between frontal lobes to anterior clypeal margin about half as long as lobes; frontal carinae reach about mid-length of head, with a feeble medial sulcus between them. Compound eyes with few (about four) fused, degenerate ommatidia ( Fig.3D View FIGURE 3 ), located just posterior to head mid-length, barely interrupting lateral margins of head in full-face view. Twelve antennomeres; scape about half as long as remaining antennomeres combined; pedicel almost as long as antennomere 3–5 combined; antennomeres 3–12 gradually increasing; antennomeres 3–11 mildly constricted apically ( Fig.3C View FIGURE 3 ). Lateral margins of labrum concave; distal margin with a narrow medial notch between short, broad lobes ( Fig.4A View FIGURE 4 ). Palpal formula 3, 2 (three maxillary palpomeres, two labial) ( Fig.4B View FIGURE 4 ).

Mesosoma. In dorsal view, anterior margin of pronotum round (excluding pronotal neck), lateral margins slightly converging posteriorly; pronotum separated from the posterior mesosoma by a constriction, the promesonotal articulation ( Fig.2C View FIGURE 2 ). Posterior to the pronotum, all mesosoma sclerites (mesothorax, metathorax, and propodeum) fused, block-like, without sutures, lines, or carinae delimiting them. In dorsal view, area corresponding to the mesonotum, metanotum, and dorsum of propodeum trapezoidal, as long as pronotum (excluding the mesothorax articulatory anterior edge); pronotum as wide as propodeum posterior (maximum) width. Articulatory anterior edge (mesothrorax presclerite) thick, sometimes visible ( Fig.5A View FIGURE 5 ). In profile, dorsal outline of mesosoma almost straight, except for the oblique anterior pronotum and posterior propodeum faces. Latero-posterior margins of propodeum well-defined and conspicuously angled in relation to posterior surface; dorsal surface softly curving into posterior surface ( Figs.2A View FIGURE 2 ; 5A View FIGURE 5 ). Metathoracic spiracle tiny, twice as distant from the propodeal spiracle as from the mesothoracic spiracle; propodeal spiracle round, just below mid-height of propodeum. Metapleural gland opening a curved slit, overlapped ventrally by a cuticular flap ( Fig.5A View FIGURE 5 ).

Legs. Fore- and hindlegs more robust than midleg; with the legs in postero-lateral view, pro- and metafemora about 1.3x thicker than mesofemur; mesotibia shorter and thinner than pro- and metatibiae ( Fig.2A View FIGURE 2 ). Protibial calcar fully pectinate, without velum ( Fig.5D View FIGURE 5 ). Mesotibia with short posterior spur, which is basally glabrous with some apical microtrichia; anterior spur not observed. Anterior metatibial spur slightly longer than mesotibial posterior spur, almost glabrous, with a few inconspicuous microtrichia; posterior spur resembling the calcar, sinuous, fully pectinate with lanceolate microtrichia. Posterior surface of probasitarsal notch armed with a single stout seta; inner portion of probasitarsus without a basal projection. Basitarsal sulcus gland present on mesobasitarsus ( Billen et al., 2021); absent on metabasitarsus. Pretarsal claws subequal on all legs, about the size of the fourth tarsomere, without teeth on their inner margins ( Fig.5E View FIGURE 5 ).

Metasoma. Petiole sessile. In dorsal view, petiole longer than wide, subrectangular ( Fig.2C View FIGURE 2 ); in lateral view, petiole longer than high, trapezoidal ( Figs.2A View FIGURE 2 ; 5B View FIGURE 5 ). In lateral view, anterior margin of petiole straight to slightly concave, perpendicular to the slightly convex dorsal margin; paired protuberances just anterior to the petiolar spiracle small. In lateral view, petiolar sternite visible at the anterior two thirds of the ventral margin of the petiole, with constant width along its anterior visible half, obtusely angled at midpoint and becoming progressively narrower along its posterior visible half; laterotergite triangular, visible in lateral view at the posterior third of the ventral margin of the petiole. Petiolar sternite anterior process not surpassing anteroventral “pinch-like" fusion area of tergite; its anterior edge about half as tall as the anteroventral “pinch-like" fusion area of tergite ( Ward, 1994; Keller, 2011), that lies dorsad it. Prora well-developed as a pair of swellings ventrally carinated. Helcium supraaxial ( Fig.5B View FIGURE 5 ). Helcium and presclerites of abdominal segment IV separated from postsclerites by scrobiculate sulci (cinctus); cinctus of AIII about 0.80x as thick as cinctus of AIV, in profile. Posttergite of AIV slightly longer than that of AIII; length of posttergites V and VI subequal and the shortest in metasoma; posttergite VII (pygidium) about as long as posttergite III ( Fig.2A View FIGURE 2 ). Poststernite VII (hypopygium) with a row of 10 stout setae on each side. Sting apparatus well-developed ( Fig.5C View FIGURE 5 ).

Sculpturing. Major area of dorsum of head irregularly costate anteriorly until mid-height, smooth posteriorly and laterally except for foveolate piligerous punctures; frontal lobes and area between the frontal carinae mostly smooth ( Figs.2B View FIGURE 2 ; 3A View FIGURE 3 ); clypeus smooth, except for clypeal tubercles; tubercles with tiny, sharp and thick, dentiform, chaetae that are spirally costulate ( Fig.3B View FIGURE 3 ). Mandible dorsal surface irregularly costate; apical, preapical, and basal teeth smooth ( Figs.2B View FIGURE 2 ; 3A View FIGURE 3 ); remaining teeth irregularly sculptured ( Fig.3F View FIGURE 3 ). Antennal scape irregularly strigate; remaining antennomeres smooth but for piligerous punctures ( Fig.3C View FIGURE 3 ). Mesosoma smooth, except for foveolate piligerous punctures on the pronotum and dorsum of the posterior mesosoma. Lower metapleuron costate. Presclerite of the mesonotum imbricate ( Fig.5A View FIGURE 5 ). Legs smooth except for the foveolate piligerous punctures. Petiolar tergite anterior and anterolateral surfaces smooth, except for the imbricate area ventrad the spiracle and posterolateral foveolate piligerous punctures. Petiolar sternite imbricate. Helcium and presclerites of abdominal segment IV mostly imbricate ( Fig.5B View FIGURE 5 ). Piligerous foveolate punctures present on the petiolar dorsum and abdominal postsclerites III– VII.

Pilosity and color. Simple, suberect to subdecumbent pilosity all over the body. Mandible with various setae oriented medially and arranged contralaterally along its inner margin, with filiform setae on the dorsal surface and spatulate setae on the ventral surface ( Figs.3A, F View FIGURE 3 ). Clypeal anterior margin with a pair of longer filiform setae enclosing the medial tubercle laterally ( Fig.3B View FIGURE 3 ). Labrum with simple, minute setae ( Fig.4A View FIGURE 4 ). Antennae densely pilose. Mesopleuron, metapleuron, and lateral surface of the propodeum glabrous ( Fig.5A View FIGURE 5 ). Legs with short pilosity; tibia and tarsi with denser pilosity than the femur. Petiole sternite with long erect setae ( Fig.5B View FIGURE 5 ). Pilosity on metasoma slightly longer than on the mesosoma; AV–VII with longer setae; AVII with the longest and more densely distributed pilosity. Abdominal presclerites glabrous. Head and body mostly shiny black. Mandible reddish with orangish apex. Antennae orangish. Genal teeth, clypeal anterior portion, and frontal lobes brownish to reddish ( Fig.2B View FIGURE 2 ). Pronotum and metasomal sclerites with a narrow, lighter-colored area at their posterior limits. Coxae basally black, gradually lightening distally, blending with the orangish color of the legs ( Fig.2A View FIGURE 2 ).

Larva description. TL 4.79, CW 0.21, CL 0.18, Masuko’s TL 3.68 (N=1). Larva with meconium, at advanced development stage. Small hypognathous head. In full-face view, head slightly longer than wide; occipital margin and lateral margins of head convex. Mandibles strongly sclerotized, slender, half as long as head; in full-face view, outer margins with a notch at mid-length; in profile, posterior margins conspicuously concave; apical teeth curved medially and posteriorly. Labrum bilobed; lobes with round apex. Maxillary and labial palps not visualized; galea finger-shaped, slender and bearing two minute apical sensilla.Antennae small, round, located just posteriad the mid-length of head ( Fig.6A View FIGURE 6 ). Body “pogonomyrmecoid” sensu Wheeler & Wheeler (1976), in profile somites up to AI or AII thin, abruptly thickened posteriad AIII, also strongly curving at this point. Anus ventral ( Fig.6B View FIGURE 6 ). Spiracles not visualized. Three types of seta on body: (i) minute, stiff, slightly thickened, simple, present in all somites, more abundant on dorsum; (ii) simple, slender, flexible, slightly angled setae, about three times the size of type i, densely present in all somites, including some sparse setae on the head; (iii) same morphology of type ii, but longer and sparsely distributed dorsally on the thoracic somites and ventrally on all somites ( Fig.6 View FIGURE 6 ).

Examined material. One larva from the type series' colony fragment.

Queen, male. Unknown.

Karyology. 2n = 24 (16 metacentrics + 8 submetacentrics) (see session 3.2 for discussion).

Etymology. The species is named in honor of the Brazilian myrmecologist Flávia de Araújo Esteves, an amblyoponine specialist. The name is formed directly from a modern personal name “Esteves”. It was formed by adding -ae to the stem of her last name, “Estev”, as it reffers to a woman, according to the ICZN code's article 31.1.2. Eponym orthography is unchangeable and does not depend on the generic name for which it is applied.

Comments. In comparison to other species of the genus, F. estevae is most similar to F. agostii , F. armigera , F. cleae , F. elongata , F. lurilabes , and to certain extent, even to the strange F. heraldoi , as all share a mostly darkcolored body, clypeal chaetae arising from distinct clypeal tubercles (or platform), a relatively conserved mandibular dentition pattern, and poorly developed subpetiolar anterior process. Despite the odd appearance of F. heraldoi , with crescent-shaped mandibles, tubercles on clypeus fused into a platform, and absence of genal tooth, it is similar to these species in the other respects. Fulakora estevae differs from F. elongata and F. lurilabes by the absence of propodeal pale patches, absence of mesometanotal suture, and, from the latter, by the smooth rather than opaque vertex. The genal tooth in F. estevae is much smaller than that of F. agostii , F. armigera , and F. cleae . Moreover, it differs from F. cleae by the subrectangular head, rather than the subquadrate head. A comprehensive list of the differences and similarities between these species is presented in section 3.1.3 (see Table 1 View TABLE 1 ; Appendix 2).

Out of the 10 workers originally found in the colony fragment, only three became part of the type series due to an accident during the period the colony was maintained for karyological studies, where seven workers escaped from the lab colony and got lost.