Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
|
|
|
|
|
|
Images available:
Guacimal example: Worker: face view (original jpeg) (original line drawing); mesosoma, lateral view (original jpeg) (original line drawing). Queen: face view (original jpeg) (reduced jpeg) (original line drawing) (reduced line drawing); head, lateral view (original jpeg).
La Selva examples: Worker: face view (original jpeg); mesosoma, lateral view (original jpeg). Queen 1: face view (original jpeg); head, lateral view (original jpeg); propodeum (original line drawing) (reduced line drawing). Queen 2: face view (original jpeg); head, lateral view (original jpeg).
Monteverde example: Worker: face view (original jpeg) (original line drawing) (reduced line drawing); mesosoma, lateral view (original jpeg) (original line drawing) (reduced line drawing). Queen: face view (original jpeg) (original line drawing); head, lateral view (original jpeg); mandible (original line drawing) (reduced line drawing); propodeum (original line drawing) (reduced line drawing); petiole (original jpeg) (original line drawing) (reduced line drawing).
Palmar example: Worker: face view (original jpeg); mesosoma, lateral view (original jpeg). Queen: face view (original jpeg); head, lateral view (original jpeg); mesosoma, lateral view (original jpeg).
Identification
See discussion of character variation.
Nests in live stems Cordia alliodora.
Queen: head subrectangular, head length greater than or equal to 1.3 times head width; head width 0.83-1.14mm (n=55); color black; mandible always with row of piligerous puncta along masticatory margin, but large puncta sparse to absent on mandible surface proximal to this row, and with at most four puncta bearing setae; sides of head slightly convex, and lateral margin of vertex broadly rounded; head length less than 0.275 + 1.3(head width); mandible with about 3 large puncta proximal to masticatory margin, these not bearing setae; propodeum densely setose over most of surface (Pacific slope) or sparsely setose (Atlantic slope).
Worker: promesonotum with abundant pilosity; head width of largest workers up to 0.99m (n=23); propodeum with more than 5 conspicuous erect setae; mandibles with or without bristles; head relatively wide.
Range
Costa Rica, Panama. Costa Rica: throughout to 1000m.
Natural History
pittieri is the dominant inhabitant of Cordia alliodora throughout Costa Rica. It is presumed to be an obligate inhabitant, since it is never found nesting or foraging off of its host plant. Colonies are polydomous, with brood and workers scattered throughout the tree in separate nodes. Workers do not conspicuously patrol the plant surface. Workers are not particularly aggressive, although they will emerge when the tree is disturbed, and they will aggressively attack when nodes are broken open.
Literature Cited
Longino, J. T. 1996. Taxonomic characterization of some live-stem inhabiting Azteca (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Costa Rica, with special reference to the ants of Cordia (Boraginaceae) and Triplaris (Polygonaceae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 5:131-156.
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA. longinoj@evergreen.edu
Go back to top
