Pyramica panamensis Sosa-Calvo, Shattuck, and Schultz,, 2006

Pyramica panamensis Sosa-Calvo, Shattuck, and Schultz, new species

( Figs. 11-12, 15)

Diagnosis. Pyramica panamensis is a member of the P. alberti species group and is most similar to P. fridericimuelleri ( Figs. 7-8, 13), P. nigrescens ( Figs. 9 - 10, 14), and P. parsauga . Pyramica panamensis can be distinguished from these species by the presence of small eyes and promesonotum with a complete median longitudinal carina.

Description. Holotype worker: TL 1.8, HL 0.50, HW 0.35, CI 70, ML 0.11, MI 22, SL 0.28, SI 80, PW 0.23, AL 0.48. Possessing characters of alherti complex. Masticatory margin of mandibles with a series of acutely triangular apical teeth (mandibles closed in holotype and basal region not visible). Anterior clypeal margin broadly and very shallowly convex between points where outer margins of closed mandibles intersect clypeal margin. Apicoscrobal hair flagellated, long, and fine. Eye very small, with only 2 ommatidia in longest row and only 4 in total. Promesonotum with a well-developed median longitudinal carina that extends through the entire length of pronotum and most of mesonotum. Pronotum dorsally entirely sculptured with fine punctation. Petiolar node in dorsal view slightly broader than long, with sides slightly converging anteriorly. Lateral spongiform lobes of node extending forward almost to anterolateral angles.

Gyne and male: Unknown

Type material.— Holotype worker, labeled " PANAMA: Panama Prov.: Gamboa, Pipeline Road between Rios Frijoles and La Seda ; 72 m, 6 vi 2002 to 8 vi 2002; litter sample; C. J. Marshall," " USNM, No. 00410482 ."

Distribution and natural history.

Pyramica panamensis is known only from its type locality, Soberania National Park in Gamboa, Panama Province. This species was collected from leaf-litter samples taken in a successional rain forest containing P. cincinnata , P. denticulata , and S. perparva . None of the species closely related to P. panamensis ( P. fridericimuelleri , P. nigrescens , and P. parsauga ) are known from this particular lowland rain forest (Bolton 2000), although P. fridericimuelleri , the species apparently most closely related to P. panamensis and one of two species (the other P. alberti ) within the P. alberti species group that occur in Panama, is. found in the Chiriqui Mountains and Costa Rica. The other two species in the P. alberti group, however, are found in the northern part of Central America { P. nigrescens ) or reported exclusively from Costa Rica ( P. parsauga ). The natural history of P. panamensis remains unknown.

Discussion.—The P. alberti group includes seven exclusively New World species. Of these seven species, P. conspersa , P. furtiva , and P. sublucida are known only from South America. P. alberti and P. fridericimuelleri are apparently more widely distributed, occurring in both Central and South America. Pyramica nigrescens and P. parsauga are known only from Central America. Pyramica panamensis shares with P. parsauga the reduced eyes (about 4 facets in total), but can be distinguished by promesonotal dorsum bearing a median longitudinal carina and dorsum of propodeum reticulate (smooth in P. parsauga ). With P. fridericimuelleri and P. nigrescens , P. pananiensis shares the fine median longitudinal carina on the promesonotal dorsum, the anterior clypeal margin, which in full face view is shallowly convex between the points where outer margins of the fully closed mandibules intersect the clypeal niargin, and the sculpture on the dorsum of the mesosoma (most similar to P. nigrescens ). Pyramica panamensis can be separated from P. fridericimuelleri and P. nigrescens by the compound eye composed of 4 facets (approximately 10 facets \ n fridericimuelleri and nigrescens ), and the disc of the petiolar node slightly broader than long and with the sides only slightly converging anteriorly (intermediate between fridericimuelleri and nigrescens ).