Volume 52(14):167‑173, 2012 A NEW ANT SPECIES OF OXYEPOECUS (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE: MYRMICINAE), WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF OXYEPOECUS BROWNI GYNE AND NEW RECORDS FOR THE GENUS 1,2 MÔNICA A. ULYSSÉA 2 CARLOS R.F. BRANDÃO ABSTRACT We describe a new species of Oxyepoecus Santschi, 1926, Oxyepoecus regularis sp. nov., based on workers and a gyne collected in “Caatinga Arbórea” (Arboreal Shrubland) in Milagres and “Mata Seca” (Dry Forest) in Boa Vista do Tupim, both in the state of Bahia, Brazil. The gyne of Oxyepoecus browni Albuquerque & Brandão, 2004, collected in the same leaf litter ant survey, is also described. In addition, we present new records for Oxyepoecus species in Northeastern Brazil. Key-Words: Formicidae; Hymenoptera; Oxyepoecus regularis sp. nov.; Northeastern Brazil; Oxyepoecus browni gyne; Caatinga. INTRODUCTION from Paraguay (Delsinne et al., 2012) takes the num- ber of known species in the genus to 20. The genus The exclusively Neotropical ant genus Oxy- can be separated into two informal species groups (Al- epoecus belongs to the Myrmicinae and to the Solenop- buquerque & Brandão, 2004, 2009) recognized by the sidini tribe. Myrmicinae is a cosmopolite subfamily following combination of character’s states: with the highest local and global species richness, espe- cially in the Neotropical and Indo-Australian regions Vezenyii group – smooth and shining cephalic dorsum; (Albuquerque & Brandão, 2004, 2009). The Solenop- sculpture, if present, restricted to the anterior portion sidini currently includes 20 genera (two incertae sedis) of genae and between the frontal carinae, where the and 840 recognized species (133 subspecies) (Bolton, costulae may prolong caudad into two patches, always 1995, 2003; Albuquerque & Brandão, 2004, 2009; separated by a smooth median stripe. This group in- Delsinne et al., 2012). Workers of Oxyepoecus can be cludes Oxyepoecus browni Albuquerque & Brandão, distinguished from all other solenopsidines by the 2004; O. bruchi Santschi, 1926; O. crassinodus Kempf, 11-segmented antennae and the three funicular seg- 1974; O. ephippiatus Albuquerque & Brandão, 2004; ments at the apical club (Kempf, 1974; Bolton, 2003). O. inquilinus (Kusnezov, 1952); O. kempfi Albuquer- The last reviews of the genus Oxyepoecus added que & Brandão, 2004; O. longicephalus Albuquer- seven species (Albuquerque & Brandão, 2004, 2009). que & Brandão, 2004; O. punctifrons (Borgmeier, The recent description of two new Oxyepoecus species 1928); O. quadratus Albuquerque & Brandão, 2004; 1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia da Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana. E-mail: [email protected] 2. Laboratório de Hymenoptera, Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo. Caixa Postal 42.494, 04218-970, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. E-mail: [email protected].