A NEW LEPTOTHORAX FROM ALABAMA 
(HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) 1 
By Edward O. Wilson 
University of Alabama 
Leptothorax (Myrafant) tuscaloosae, new species 
Holotype worker. - Total length approximately 1.9 mm.; length 
of alitrunk, measured from the dorsal base of the pronotal collar 
to the tip of the posterior propodeal flange, 0.554 mm.; length of 
head, measured in profile from the anterior margin of the clypeus 
to the extreme occipital border, 0.512 mm.; cephalic index 93.5. 
(All measurements except total length given in this description 
with a maximum error of ±0.016 mm.) 
Eye oval, moderately prominent, with nine ocelli across its great- 
est length, located nearer the anterior than the posterior border of 
the head. Head subrectangular, with weakly convex posterior 
border, rounded posterior angles, and weakly convex, subparallel 
sides. Clypeus depressed, 1.2 times longer than broad, its anterior 
border rounded and entire. Antenna eleven-segmented; scape fail- 
ing by approximately its greatest width to meet the occipital angle ; 
funicular club three-jointed, as long as the remainder of the funi- 
culus, the apical segment longer than the preceding two combined. 
Mandible with five teeth, the apical tooth the largest. Alitrunk 
slender, seen from above 0.272 mm. across its greatest width at the 
pronotum, evenly arcuate in profile, sloping to the base of the pro- 
podeal spines ; humeri well rounded ; pro-mesonotal and meso- 
epinotal sutures absent; other thoracic sutures weak or absent. Pro- 
podeal spines slender and acute, slightly and gradually curved 
inward and downward, approximately as long as the declivious face 
of the propodeum, the basal portions in profile forming an angle 
of approximately 120° with the basal face of the propodeum, their 
bases 0.096 mm. apart. Femora and tibiae noticeably incrassated. 
Petiolar node in profile with anterior face concave, and meeting the 
dorsal face in a bluntly rounded angle. Dorsum of postpetiole 1.5 
times broader than long, not constricted in posterior half, with sub- 
parallel sides. 
Published with a grant from the Museum of Comparative Zoology at 
Harvard College. 
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