A giant new arboreal species of the ant genus anochetus from brazil (Formicidae: Ponerinae)

Abstract

A new species of the trap-jaw ant genus Anochetus Mayr 1861, A. hohenbergiae Feitosa & Delabie n. sp., is described from Northeastern Brazil. Gynes and workers were collected in association with epiphytic bromeliads living in the canopy of trees used as shading in cocoa plantations. Anochetus hohenbergiae is the largest species known for the genus and shares a number of morphological characters with the species in the emarginatus group of Anochetus. Besides its remarkable size, this species can be distinguished from others in the genus by a strong concavity of the posterior margin of head, absence of propodeal spines, and conical shape of petiolar node. A detailed description of this new form and a discussion of its position within the genus are provided. © 2012 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.