A NEW APHAENOGASTER (HYMENOPTERA: FORMICIDAE) FROM SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO

Aphaenogaster punctaticeps, n. sp. is described from the northern Chihuahuan Desert of south-central New Mexico, USA. It is closely related toAphaenogastertexana (Emery). The workers of the two species can be easily distinguished in that the posterior border of the head of A. punctaticeps is moderately pointed (rounded in A. texana) and the dorsum of the head is primarily punctate (rugose with punctures in the interrugal spaces in A. texana.). During an intensive investigation of the ant fauna of a site in the northern Chi huahuan Desert of south-central New Mexico (Jornada Long Term Ecological Re search Area), an undescribed species of the genus Aphaenogaster was collected. The following is a description of this species. Aphaenogaster punctaticeps, new species Description. Worker: (Abbreviations as defined by Snelling, 1981.) HL 1.32-1.40 mm, HW 0.94-1.00 mm (at anterior border of eye), SL 1.58-1.70 mm, EL 0.21 0.23 mm, EW 0.17-0.18 mm, CI 71, SI 168-170, 01 24-27, PNW 0.23-0.26 mm, PPW 0.32-0.35 mm, WL 1.11 mm.