Attini, Myrmicinae, Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Range
Costa Rica (mid-elevation Atlantic slope).
Identification
Metanotum lacking longitudinal carinae; anterior clypeal margin shallowly convex to slightly emarginate, with thin fringe of smooth cuticle and no trace of median tooth; propodeal spiracles strongly projecting; dorsal face of propodeum with no or very weak longitudinal carinae; mesosoma length about 1.7mm or greater.
Natural History
Apterostigma JTL-013 is a mid-elevation species, occurring in montane wet forest between 900 and 1200m. I have collected it in two areas: the Pe–as Blancas Valley east of Monteverde and along the Barva Transect in Braulio Carrillo National Park. On the Barva transect the species was very common at the 1070m site during the 2001 ALAS expeditions. It occurred frequently in Berlese and Winkler samples of forest floor litter. Workers also occurred occasionally in Malaise traps and sweep net samples. I collected one nest in a small chamber in the rootball of a treefern and another nest under epiphytes on a tree trunk.
Comments
This species looks similar to A. calverti, differing in the lack of a median clypeal tooth and lack of dorsal propodeal carinae. It is similar to calverti in general size and shape, and in the projecting propodeal spiracles.
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA.longinoj@evergreen.edu
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