Cytogenetics of Strumigenys louisianae Roger, 1863 (Formicidae: Myrmicinae) from North-eastern Amazonia shed light on a difficult species complex

Cytogenetic techniques provide powerful insights on species-rich taxa–such as ants–allowing better understanding of their biodiversity. Some hints evolutionary paths can be observed through comparative populational cytogenetics among different ant groups. In this study, the karyotype Strumigenys louisianae Roger from Amazon rainforest is described and showed diploid chromosome number 26 chromosomes. This configuration intriguingly contrasts with already for species Atlantic only 2n = 4 18S rDNA site were detected pericentromeric region long arm a metacentric pair co-localizing GC-rich chromatin. Recurrent synonymizations S. may not reflect status taxon. The karyotypic differences observable morphological variation between populations both localities corroborates idea complex within louisianae. morphology Amazonian similar to that United States, type locality. On other hand, specimens are more junior synonym unidentata Mayr. study reinforces need taxonomical revision in by means integrative taxonomy approaches.