Nylanderia contraria Williams, Williams, Lapolla & Lucky, 2025, sp. nov.

Nylanderia contraria, sp. nov. Figs. 17–19 (worker); Figs. 20–21 (queen); Figs. 22–25 (male) Holotype worker, MEXICO: Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 18.04802 -96.69164 ±30m, elev. 1028m, 12.vi.2016, liquidambar/ cloud forest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2016-136 (USNM: USNMENT01130973). 5 paratype workers, 3 paratype queens, and 2 paratype males with same locality data as holotype (USNM: USNMENT01131808, USNMENT01131970, USNMENT01131971, USNMENT01131974, USNMENT01131975, USNMENT01131977; MNCR: USNMENT01131972, USNMENT01131973, USNMENT01131976, USNMENT01131978). Worker diagnosis: Antennae relatively short, with scapes surpassing posterior margin of head by about a third of their length; dark brown, with antennae, mandibles, leg joints, and tarsi yellow in contrast to body; meso-and metacoxae whitish, strongly contrasting with mesosoma; fine cuticular microsculpture resulting in moderate to strong blue iridescence on head and mesosoma; dense cephalic pubescence; posterior margin of head slightly to moderately emarginate. Compare with: N. austroccidua, N. polita. WORKER. Measurements (n=11): TL: 1.67–2.19; EL: 0.10–0.12; EW: 0.08–0.09; IOD: 0.26–0.33; HE: 0.01; HL: 0.52–0.58; HW: 0.43–0.50; HLA: 0.18–0.20; HLP: 0.23–0.27; SL: 0.55–0.62; PW: 0.29–0.36; MW: 0.17–0.20; PrW: 0.23–0.26; PDH: 0.12–0.21; PTW: 0.10–0.24; LHT: 0.45–0.51; WL: 0.58–0.68; GL: 0.57–0.95; SMC: 5–7; PMC: 2–3; MMC: 2. Indices: BLI: 130–144; CI: 81–85; EPI: 69–78; HTI: 101–109; REL: 18–22; SI: 118–132. Color: dark brown with yellow to yellow-brown antennae, mandibles, leg joints, and tarsi; meso- and metacoxae whitish, strongly contrasting with rest of body; overall cuticle with fine microsculpture resulting in moderate to strong blue iridescence on head and mesosoma. Pilosity: dense cephalic pubescence covering all surfaces of head in full-face view; mesosoma pubescence sparse to absent, limited at most to scattered hairs on pronotum and propodeum, and a fringe of hairs concentrated just posterior to the metanotal groove; gaster pubescence sparse to absent; pair of small, erect setae on apex of petiole. Head: longer than broad and quadrate with distinct posterolateral corners and flattened posterior margin, usually with slight to moderate emargination; scapes surpass posterior margin of head by about a third of their length; median ocellus often large and apparent; lateral ocelli small and often absent or not apparent. Mesosoma: promesonotal area flat to evenly convex in profile view, with posterior margin of pronotum continuous or nearly continuous with anterior margin of mesonotum; propodeum low and evenly rounded, with posterior face at most slightly longer than dorsal face. QUEEN. Measurements (n=3): TL: 3.36–3.61; EL: 0.18–0.19; HL: 0.62–0.64; HW: 0.62–0.63; SL: 0.62–0.64; WL: 1.03–1.10; GL: 1.70–1.90. Indices: BLI: 164–177; CI: 97–100; REL: 29–30; SI: 100–102. Moderately sized. Color: Medium to dark brown, with whitish meso- and metacoxae. Pilosity: most of body covered in moderate to dense pubescence; lacking pubescence on posterior face of propodeum; 1-4 small, erect setae on anepisternum. MALE. Measurements (n=2): TL: 1.90–1.95; EL: 0.16; HL: 0.47; HW: 0.41–0.43; SL: 0.51–0.52; WL: 0.66– 0.69; GL: 0.77–0.79. Indices: BLI: 152–167; CI: 88–91; REL: 33–35; SI: 121–123. Color: medium to dark brown with yellow to yellow-brown antennae, mandibles, and tarsi; whitish meso- and metacoxae. Pilosity: dense pubescence on head, mesoscutum, and mesoscutellum; pubescence sparse to absent on pronotum, anepisternum, katepisternum, propodeum, and gaster. Head: as broad as long; compound eyes surpass lateral margins of head in full-face view; scapes surpass posterior margin of head by about a third of their length. Mesosoma: In profile view, propodeum gently and evenly rounded, with dorsal face about as long as posterior face. Genitalia: gonopod narrow and triangular, with apex coming to a point and slightly turned upward (Fig. 71); in ventral view, ventromedial edge of basivolsella strongly angled at base and sloping laterally toward cuspis (Fig. 24); gonossiculus mostly straight and about twice as long as cuspis. Other material examined: MEXICO: Veracruz, 8km WSW Xalapa, 19.52123 -96.99372 ± 100m, elev. 1570m, 24.vi.2016, cloud forest, baiting, ADMAC#Ba-F-05-4-01-11; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 18.0479 -96.69193 ± 30m, elev. 1021m, 12.vi.2016, liquidambar/cloud forest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2016-137; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 18.04756 -96.69252 ± 30m, elev. 1011m, 12.vi.2016,, liquidambar/cloud forest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2016-138; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 18.04773 -96.68953 ± 30m, elev. 1041m, 14.vi.2016, liquidambar/cloud forest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2016-145; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 18.04784 -96.69198 ± 30m, elev. 1019m, 14.vi.2016, liquidambar/cloud forest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2016-146; Oaxaca, above Cafetal Carlota, 18.05241 -96.69106 ± 30m, elev. 1374m, 14.vi.2016, mixed hardwood forest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2016-148; Oaxaca, above Cafetal Carlota, 18.05367 -96.69183 ± 30m, elev. 1459m, 14.vi.2016, mixed hardwood forest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2016-149; Oaxaca, above Cafetal Carlota, 18.05419 -96.69207 ± 30m, elev. 1508m, 14.vi.2016, mixed hardwood forest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2016-150; Oaxaca, near Cerro 71, 18.11476 -96.76884 ± 30m, elev. 1437m, 15.vi.2016, mixed hardwood forest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2016-152; Oaxaca, Agua de Hueso, 18.14653 -96.7934 ± 30m, elev. 1915m, 15.vi.2016, scrubby cloud forest, sifted litter, R.S. Anderson #RSA2016-153; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04847 -96.69065 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-1-18; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04879 -96.69065 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa- F-04-1-25; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04892 -96.69065 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-1-28; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04901 -96.69065 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-1-30; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.0486 -96.6907 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-1-32; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.0486 -96.69101 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-1-38; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.0486 -96.69106 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-1-39; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.0486 -96.69116 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-1-41; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.0486 -96.69121 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-1-42; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.0486 -96.69132 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa- F-04-1-44; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.0486 -96.69147 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-1-47; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04736 -96.6903 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-2-01; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04745 -96.69018 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-2-04; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04748 -96.69014 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-2-05; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04756 -96.69002 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa- F-04-2-08; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04759 -96.68999 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-2-09; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04762 -96.68995 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-2-10; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04765 -96.68991 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-2-11; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04804 -96.68954 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-2-24; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04818 -96.68967 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa- F-04-2-28; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04825 -96.68974 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-2-30; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04828 -96.68977 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-2-31; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04835 -96.68984 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-2-33; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04839 -96.68987 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-2-34; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04846 -96.68994 ± 20m, 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-2- 36; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04846 -96.69027 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-2-46; Oaxaca, Cafetal Carlota, 3km NW Ayautla, 18.04835 -96.69037 ± 20m, elev. 1040m, 13.vi.2016, 2° liquidambar forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-04-2-49; Veracruz, 8km WSW Xalapa, 19.5213 -96.99184 ± 20m, elev. 1520m, 22.vi.2016, cloud forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa-F-05-1-25; Veracruz, 8km WSW Xalapa, 19.52107 -96.99216 ± 20m, elev. 1530m, 22.vi.2016, cloud forest, sifted litter, ADMAC#Wa- F-05-1-33; Veracruz, 8km WSW Xalapa, 19.52092 -96.99236 ± 20m, elev. 1530m, 22.vi.2016, cloud forest, sifted litt