First Record of Sericomyrmex mayri for Paraguay and Increasing the Range of Distribution of 17 Ant Species in the Central Department

vAnts have been studied in Paraguay, South America, over the last two centuries, nevertheless new species can still be discovered with simple sample surveys. Most species collected in the country belong to one or few locations, therefore knowledge about species distribution is limited. A total of 2,040 ants have been collected, belonging to 7 subfamilies and representing 44 species. All of these species, except Sericomyrmex mayri, were documented for Paraguay and 17 species were first documented in the Central Department. Those 17 species are: Camponotus sanctaefidei, Crematogaster acuta, C. arata, Cyphomyrmex laevigatus, C. lectus, C. minutus, Forelius pusillus, Linepithema neotropicum, L. pulex, Mycetomoellerius fiebrigi, Nylanderia docilis, Pheidole cyrtostela, Pogonomyrmex tenuipubens, Solenopsis megergates, S.richteri, Strumigenys hindenburgi, and Wasmannia lutzi. These species belong to 12 genera and 3 subfamilies. The new recorded species is described and illustrated with photographs of the collected specimens as well as a short description of taxonomy, ecology, and distribution. A list of the new species to the Central Department is also provided. The aim of this study is to increase the knowledge of ant species in Paraguay and their distribution.