Nylanderia cf. docilis (Forel, 1908)

Nylanderia cf. docilis View in CoL

Figs. 26–28 View FIGURES 26–28 (worker); Figs. 29–30 View FIGURES 29–30 (queen); Figs. 31–34 View FIGURES 31–34 (male)

Worker diagnosis: Antennae relatively long, with scapes surpassing posterior margin of head by nearly half their length; usually uniformly yellow with black macrosetae strongly contrasting with overall color; microsculpture and blue iridescence subtle, most visible on head; cephalic pubescence sparse to absent; metatibiae relatively long (HTI> 125).

Compare with: N. mosaica , N. usul

WORKER. Measurements (n=26): TL: 1.68–2.33; EL: 0.09–0.13; EW: 0.07–0.10; IOD: 0.27–0.32; HE: 0.00– 0.01; HL: 0.48–0.60; HW: 0.40–0.49; HLA: 0.18–0.22; HLP: 0.22–0.25; SL: 0.53–0.69; PW: 0.29–0.37; MW: 0.15–0.21; PrW: 0.22–0.26; PDH: 0.16–0.22; PTW: 0.09–0.13; LHT: 0.50–0.62; WL: 0.58–0.74; GL: 0.61–1.02; SMC: 6–9; PMC: 2–3; MMC: 2–3. Indices: BLI: 124–152; CI: 81–90; EPI: 76–90; HTI: 121–132; REL: 18–22; SI: 124–147.

Color: usually uniformly yellow with thick, black macrosetae strongly contrasting with overall color, but sometimes light to medium brown with somewhat lighter meso- and metacoxae; overall cuticle with light microsculpture resulting in subtle blue iridescence on head and mesosoma. Pilosity: sparse cephalic pubescence; mesosoma and gaster pubescence sparse to absent; pair of small, erect setae on apex of petiole. Head: longer than broad and quadrate with distinct posterolateral corners and flattened posterior margin, usually with slight to moderate emargination; scapes long, surpassing posterior margin by nearly half their length; all three ocelli absent or not apparent. Mesosoma: posterior margin of pronotum forming obtuse angle with anterior margin of mesonotum in profile view; propodeum low and evenly rounded, with posterior face about same length as dorsal face.

QUEEN. Measurements (n=2): TL: 3.13–3.28; EL: 0.18–0.20; HL: 0.66–0.67; HW: 0.63; SL: 0.79–0.81; WL: 1.21–1.24; GL: 1.22–1.41. Indices: BLI: 183–185; CI: 94–96; REL: 27–29; SI: 125–128.

Moderately sized. Color: Uniformly yellow-brown. Pilosity: most of body covered in moderate to dense pubescence; lacking pubescence on posterior face of propodeum; 4-5 small, erect setae on anepisternum.

MALE. Measurements (n=2): TL: 1.95–2.14; EL: 0.16; HL: 0.46–0.47; HW: 0.41; SL: 0.59–0.61; WL: 0.74– 0.77; GL: 0.75–0.90. Indices: BLI: 181–189; CI: 86–88; REL: 35; SI: 144–149.

Color: yellow to yellow-brown, with posterior half of head somewhat darker in contrast; metacoxae concolorous with mesosoma. Pilosity: dense pubescence on head, mesoscutum, and mesoscutellum; small patch of pubescence found medially on pronotum, but absent laterally; pubescence sparse to absent on anepisternum, katepisternum, propodeum, and gaster; 1-2 small, erect setae on anepisternum. Head: as broad as long; compound eyes surpass lateral margins of head in full-face view; scapes surpass posterior margin of head by about a third of their length. Mesosoma: In profile view, propodeum angled with dorsal face somewhat longer than posterior face. Genitalia: gonopod narrow and triangular, with apex rounded and slightly turned upward ( Fig. 71 View FIGURE 71 ); in ventral view, ventromedial edge of basivolsella lobate and strongly rounded, with cuspis strongly curved dorsally and almost entirely obscured by basivolsella ( Fig. 33 View FIGURES 31–34 ); gonossiculus mostly straight and more than three times as long as cuspis.

Other material examined: BELIZE: Cayo, Los Cuevas Field Station   GoogleMaps , ca. 15km E Caracol, 16.733 -88.986 ± 500m, elev. 581m, 29.vi.2019, montane forest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2019-009; Stann Creek, Bocawina   GoogleMaps , ca. 15km W Dangriga, 16.927 -88.397 ± 500m, elev. 86m, 3.vii.2019, rainforest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2019-011; Stann Creek, TREES Field Station , ca. 37km W Dangriga, 17.05 -88.57 ± 500m, elev. 222m, 25.vi.2019, 2° rainforest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2019-005; COSTA RICA: San José, 8km S Santa Maria   GoogleMaps , 9.58121 -83.9525 ± 1000m, elev. 1470m, 30.vi.2015, cloud forest, Krissy Dominguez #KD15-11-09; GUATEMALA: Izabal, 5km NW Morales   GoogleMaps , 15.51214 -88.8662 ± 58m, elev. 215m, 18.v.2009, 2° lowland rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-B-04-1-10; Izabal, 5km NW Morales   GoogleMaps , 15.51077 -88.8648 ± 38m, elev. 190m, 18.v.2009, 2° lowland rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-B-04-2-01; Izabal, 5km NW Morales   GoogleMaps , 15.5103 -88.86326 ± 45m, elev. 170m, 18.v.2009, 2° lowland rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-B-04-2-02; Izabal, 16km ESE Morales   GoogleMaps , 15.41307 -88.70953 ± 30m, elev. 410m, 19.v.2009, 2° lowland rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-B-04-2-06; Izabal, 16km ESE Morales   GoogleMaps , 15.41764 -88.69683 ± 70m, elev. 410m, 19.v.2009, 2° lowland rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-B-04-2-09; Petén, Cerro Cahuí   GoogleMaps , 17.00266 -89.7187 ± 8m, elev. 290m, 21.v.2009, tropical moist forest at night, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wx-B-05-1-01; HONDURAS: Atlántida, 7km SSW Tela   GoogleMaps , 15.72521 -87.452 ± 20m, elev. 190m, 15.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-08-2-02; Atlántida, 7km SSW Tela   GoogleMaps , 15.72417 -87.45187 ± 20m, elev. 190m, 15.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-08-2- 25; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba   GoogleMaps , 15.69449 -86.86436 ± 20m, elev. 200m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-1-04; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba   GoogleMaps , 15.69449 -86.86348 ± 20m, elev. 200m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-1-23; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba   GoogleMaps , 15.69449 -86.86334 ± 20m, elev. 200m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-1-26; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba   GoogleMaps , 15.69449 -86.86279 ± 20m, elev. 200m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-1-38; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba   GoogleMaps , 15.69108 -86.86084 ± 20m, elev. 280m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-2-24; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba   GoogleMaps , 15.69112 -86.86107 ± 20m, elev. 280m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-2-29; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba   GoogleMaps , 15.6913 -86.86138 ± 20m, elev. 280m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-2-39; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba   GoogleMaps , 15.6916 -86.86122 ± 20m, elev. 280m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-2-47; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba   GoogleMaps , 15.69164 -86.86119 ± 20m, elev. 280m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa- C-09-2-48; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba   GoogleMaps , 15.69167 -86.86116 ± 20m, elev. 280m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-C-09-2-49; Atlántida, 7km SSW Tela   GoogleMaps , 15.72792 -87.4497 ± 20m, elev. 120m, 16.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-08-1-04; Atlántida, 7km SSW Tela   GoogleMaps , 15.72792 -87.4497 ± 20m, elev. 120m, 16.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-08-1-05; Atlántida, 10km SSW Tela   GoogleMaps , 15.6937377 -87.47797 ± 20m, elev. 770m, 17.vi.2010, tropical wet forest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-08-1-09; Atlántida, 10km SSW Tela   GoogleMaps , 15.69714 -87.47451 ± 20m, elev. 610m, 17.vi.2010, tropical wet forest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-08-2-02; Atlántida, 10km SSW Tela   GoogleMaps , 15.69914 -87.47202 ± 20m, elev. 520m, 17.vi.2010, tropical wet forest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-08-2-04; Atlántida, 9km SSW Tela   GoogleMaps , 15.70207 -87.47304 ± 20m, elev. 450m, 17.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-08-2-05; Atlántida, 9km SSW Tela   GoogleMaps , 15.70493 -87.47291 ± 20m, elev. 410m, 17.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-08-2-06; Atlántida, 8km SSW Tela   GoogleMaps , 15.70914 -87.46623 ± 20m, elev. 330m, 17.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C- 08-2-08; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba   GoogleMaps , 15.69445 -86.86338 ± 300m, elev. 140m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-09-1-01; Atlántida, 12km SW La Ceiba   GoogleMaps , 15.69445 -86.86338 ± 300m, elev. 140m, 19.vi.2010, tropical rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-09-2-01; Comayagua, PN Cerro Azul Meambar, 14.87314 -87.90297 ± 30m, elev. 890m, 22.v.2010, montane rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-04-1-07; Comayagua, PN Cerro Azul Meambar, 14.87238 -87.90332 ± 20m, elev. 870m, 22.v.2010, montane rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-04-1-08; Comayagua, PN Cerro Azul Meambar, 14.86993 -87.90479 ± 110m, elev. 770m, 21.v.2010, montane rainforest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wm-C-04-2-01; MEXICO: Chiapas, 13.7km NW Metzabok   GoogleMaps , 17.18333 -91.73333, elev. 540m, 14.vii.2007, J.T. Longino #JTL6046-s; Chiapas, Lagos de Montebello, Cinco Lagos , 16.1 -91.66667, elev. 1600m, 21.vii.2007, R.S. Anderson #RSA2007-023; Chiapas, 2km S Playón de la Gloria   GoogleMaps , 16.13853 -90.90146 ± 50m, elev. 170m, 22.vii.2007, rainforest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2007-025; Chiapas, 2km S Playón de la Gloria , 16.13333 -90.9, elev. 170m, 22.vii.2007, R.S. Anderson #RSA2007-026; Chiapas, 2.5km S Nuevo San Juan Chamula , 16.11667 -91.45, elev. 750m, 22.vii.2007, R.S. Anderson #RSA2007- 028; Chiapas, Playón de la Gloria   GoogleMaps , 16.16095 -90.90142 ± 50m, elev. 160m, 24.vi.2008, mature wet forest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-A-09-1-39; Chiapas, Playón de la Gloria   GoogleMaps , 16.14721 -90.89549 ± 50m, elev. 170m, 24.vi.2008, 2° wet forest, sifted litter, LLAMA#Wa-A-09-2-39; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota   GoogleMaps , 18.04802 -96.69164 ± 30m, elev. 1028m, 12.vi.2016, liquidambar/cloud forest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2016-136.

Notes: Workers of this species exhibit some variability in overall color, ranging from uniformly yellow across most of its range to light brown with somewhat lighter meso- and metacoxae in some specimens collected from Belize. Because of its uniform yellow color, N. cf. docilis most readily resembles N. mosaica and the lighter form N. usul . However, cephalic pubescence is sparse in N. cf. docilis , moderate in N. mosaica , and moderate to dense in N. usul . The gaster is also about the same color as the rest of the body in N. cf. docilis , while in N. mosaica , the gaster is distinctly darker. Compared to all other species examined in this study, N. cf. docilis also has the longest metatibiae relative to its head width ( HTI > 125; Fig. 72D View FIGURE 72 ). Nylanderia cf. docilis has a distribution across low to moderate elevation forests from southern Mexico to Honduras.