Brachymyrmex minutus

Nomenclature

Species: Brachymyrmex minutus Forel, 1893

Usage: valid

General description

Brachymyrmex minutus is a small, inconspicuous, soft bodied yellow species native to the Neotropics. It occurs in the Caribbean, including some of the smallest Bahamian cays (Morrison, 2006), and is also introduced in Florida. In his original description Forel (1893) compares it to B. heeri, noting the B. minutus has longer scapes than B. heeri, and is generally more slender, small and pale. Forel also discussed the biology of the species, writing that it was rather rare, lived in colonies of up to 150 individuals, excavated nests with wide tunnels and small chambers amongst the roots of sod. Brachymyrmex minutus is introduced in Florida, where it nests in the leaf litter (Deyrup et al., 2000). It was first reported there in 1994 (Ferster and Prusak, 1994), but specimens have been identified from 1984 (Deyrup et al., 2000). Very little else is known about the biology of the species.

External links

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Risk statement

Not considered a significant pest species.

Diagnostic description

Diagnosis of worker among Antkey species

Antenna 9-segmented. Antennal club indistinct. Antennal scapes surpassing the posterior margin of head by more than 1/5th their length. Eyes of moderate size (greater than 6 facets). Head with or without distinct ocelli. Antennal sockets and posterior clypeal margin separated by a distance less than the minimum width of antennal scape. Dorsum of mesosoma lacking a deep and broad concavity. Metanotal groove present. Pronotum and mesonotum with pairs of erect hairs. Propodeum and petiolar node both lacking a pair of short teeth. Propodeum lacking posteriorly projecting protrusion. Metapleuron with a distinct gland orifice. Waist 1-segmented (may be hidden by gaster). Petiolar node appearing flattened. Gaster armed with acidopore. Gaster (especially first segment) with dense pilosity, giving it a dull appearance. Color yellow.

Brachymyrmex minutus can be distinguished from most other introduced members of the genus by the following combination of characters: (1) dense pubescence on the first gastral tergite, (2) antennal scapes exceeding posterior margin of head by at least 1/5 their length, (3) erect hairs on the pronotum and mesonotum, and (4) pale yellow in color.

Look alikes

Brachymyrmex heeri

Distribution

Native range. Neotropics.

Introduced range. USA: Florida.

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