Distribution and Diversity of the Cryptic Ant GenusOxyepoecus(Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) in Paraguay with Descriptions of Two New Species

摘要

We discuss the diversity and distribution of the ant genusOxyepoecusin Paraguay.Oxyepoecus inquilinusis recorded for the first time, and new distribution data are given forO. rastratusandO. vezenyii. Published data forO. bruchi,O. rastratus,O. reticulatus,andO. vezenyiiare summarized. Two new species are described (O. bidentatusn. sp. andO. striatusn. sp.), and a key to the workers of the seven ParaguayanOxyepoecusspecies is provided. At Teniente Enciso National Park, four species cooccur. This locality appears as a promising site for studies documenting the biology of this poorly known ant genus, and because of the IUCN “vulnerable“ Red List classification ofO. inquilinus, the importance of the Teniente Enciso National Park for biological conservation is clearly established.