Ants from the tropical dry forest in the Cauca River geographic valley, Colombia: new records and expansion of distributions

Five ant species were registered for the first time in Colombia: <i>Leptogenysmontuosa</i> Lattke, 2011, <i>Neoponerarugosula</i> Emery, 1902, <i>Neoponerazuparkoi</i> Mackay & Mackay, 2010, <i>Pheidoletraini</i> Wilson, 2003 and <i>Wasmanniasulcaticeps</i> Emery, 1894. Additionally, the distributions of 45 ant species native to two Departments in the Cauca River Valley geographic region (VGRC) have been expanded. Of these, 31 species extended their distribution into the Valle del Cauca Department: <i>Aztecaalfari</i> Emery, 1893, <i>Foreliusdamiani</i> Guerrero & Fernández, 2008, <i>Ecitonmexicanum</i> Roger, 1863, <i>Neivamyrmexemersoni</i> (Wheeler, 1921), <i>Holcoponeramoelleri</i> Forel, 1912, <i>Brachymyrmexmusculus</i> Forel, 1899, <i>Cephalotesporrasi</i> (Wheeler, 1942), <i>Cephalotestargionii</i> (Emery, 1894), <i>Cephalotesumbraculatus</i> (Fabricius, 1804), <i>Crematogastermontezumia</i> Smith, 1858, <i>Crematogasterobscurata</i> Emery, 1895, <i>Nesomyrmexpittieri</i> (Forel, 1899), <i>Octostrumabatesi</i> (Emery, 1894), <i>Octostrumaexcertirugis</i> Longino, 2013, <i>Octostrumaobtusidens</i> Longino, 2013, <i>Pheidolebilimeki</i> Mayr, 1870, <i>Pheidoleboliviana</i> Wilson, 2003, <i>Pheidolecolobopsis</i> Mann, 1916, <i>Pheidolegauthieri</i> Forel, 1901, <i>Pheidolehasticeps</i> Wilson, 2003, <i>Pheidolesimonsi</i> Wilson, 2003, <i>Pheidolesubarmata</i> Mayr, 1884, <i>Pheidolevallifica</i> Forel, 1901, <i>Solenopsisazteca</i> Forel, 1893, <i>Solenopsisbrevicornis</i> Emery, 1888, <i>Strumigenysgrytava</i> (Bolton, 2000), <i>Strumigenysmarginiventris</i> Santschi, 1931, <i>Strumigenyswheeleriana</i> Baroni Urbani, 2007, <i>Temnothoraxsubditivus</i> (Wheeler, 1903), <i>Hypoponeraopacior</i> (Forel, 1893), <i>Leptogenyspubiceps</i> Emery, 1890 and <i>Pseudomyrmexlongior</i> (Forel, 1904). Ten species extended their distribution into the Cauca Department: <i>Aztecavelox</i> Forel, 1899, <i>Brachymyrmexminutus</i> Forel, 1893, <i>Crematogasterevallans</i> Forel, 1907, <i>Megalomyrmexdrifti</i> Kempf, 1961, <i>Pheidolefimbriata</i> Roger, 1863, <i>Pheidolelongiscapa</i> Forel, 1901, <i>Pheidoleradoszkowskii</i> Mayr, 1884 and <i>Rogeriascandens</i> (Mann, 1922); and four species extended their distribution into both Departments: <i>Brachymyrmexcordemoyi</i> Forel, 1895, <i>Pheidolesculptior</i> Forel, 1893, <i>Hypoponerafiebrigiantoniensis</i> (Forel, 1912) and <i>Hypoponeraparva</i> (Forel, 1909). Finally, three exotic species were registered for the first time in the VGRC, extending their distributions within Colombia: <i>Strumigenysemmae</i> (Emery, 1890) in the Valle del Cauca Department and <i>Cardiocondylaemeryi</i> Forel, 1881 and <i>Cardiocondylawroughtonii</i> (Forel, 1890) in the Cauca Department.