Taxonomic study of the ant genus Eurhopalothrix Brown & Kempf 1961 from the Neotropic

​The genus Eurhopalothrix was established by Brown & Kempf to accommodate basicerotine ants with 7-segmented antennae and triangular mandibles. Currently, Eurhopalothrix comprises 55 species; over half of the species (29) are found in the Neotropic, while 26 are recorded in the Australasian and Indo-Malayan regions. Species within this group are predators, cryptic, inhabitants of leaf litter and superficial layers of the soil, and are almost exclusively collected using Winkler extractor. Eurhopalothrix ants possess specialized spatula-shaped setae in various parts of the body, potentially playing a significant role in the camouflage. Recent isolated efforts, such as the description of a new species from Colombia and Borneo, the revalidation of a species, and the revision of Caribbean and Central American species have represented incremental advances in the taxonomy of Eurhopalothrix. However, the only comprehensive revision of the genus was published by Brown & Kempf (1960).  Preliminary data from the MZSP Ant Collection and the phylogeny of Basicerotini (Branstetter & Longino, unpublished data) have revealed up to 9 new species and the paraphyly of the genus. In this context, and considering that some collections (CEPLAC, IAvH, JTLC, MZSP) house specimens clearly belonging to undescribed species, the present project aims to resolve the paraphyly of the genus initiating by the taxonomic revision of Neotropical species.
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Phylogenomic & Natural History of Hylomyrma ants

​Hylomyrma, a Neotropical ant genus that includes 30 species, represents a challenge to systematics. The traditional approach that brings together alpha taxonomy and morphological phylogeny has left some questions unanswered due to the existence of mosaic specimens and complexes of cryptic species within the genus. Thus, in order to understand better the speciation, the arisal of morphological novelties, and the evolution of the genus Hylomyrma in addition to shed light on the caste developement, I combine life history data and phylogenomics.

​The Ants of São Paulo​

​The Museum of Zoology of the University of São Paulo (MZSP) has a long history. Its collection originated in 1886 and, over time, the museum has become a renowned center for producing and disseminating scientific knowledge on animal biodiversity, housing the largest zoology collection in Latin America. Of particular significance is the MZSP Ant Collection, which holds a valuable representation of myrmecofauna from the Neotropical region. The collection was formed through contributions from naturalists and myrmecology experts, the incorporation of other ant collections, scientific projects, and its role as a repository. In 2021, the digitization process for the MZSP Ant Collection was initiated with the aim of facilitating collection management, utilization of collection data, and democratizing access to this information. The digitization was initiated with the type material due to its importance, followed by specimens collected in São Paulo state, with the overarching goal of documenting specimen inventories. The ongoing digitization efforts not only facilitate comparisons with previous studies that document the ants collected in São Paulo state (Luederwaldt, 1918; Kempf, 1978), but also enable a precise characterization of the collection. Furthermore, this digitization can enhance biodiversity assessments that address crucial questions, including the biodiversity crisis and climate emergency.