Formicinae, Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Range
Costa Rica to Argentina. Costa Rica: seasonally dry areas of northwestern lowlands.
Identification
Minor worker: propodeum very narrow and elongate, in cross section tectiform (tent-like, like an inverted "V"), without a distinct angle separating lateral and dorsal faces; mesoma compact, relatively short and tall; propodeum, meso and metathorax highly fused, sutures very weak, forming a single unit that articulates with the prothorax; dorsal profile with dorsal and posterior faces of propodeum not at all differentiated, forming a single strongly sloping profile; side of mesonotum and propodeum with dense appressed yellow pubescence; dorsum of gaster with dense yellow appressed pubescence; color black posteriorly, grading to red on pronotum and head.
Natural History
In Costa Rica, this species appears to be an inhabitant of open, disturbed areas in the seasonally dry areas of northwestern Costa Rica. I know it from two collections of foragers, one from a city park in the middle of Liberia, and one from sweepnetting scrubby roadside vegetation along the road to Monteverde, near the PanAmerican highway. I have never seen a nest.
Type Data
Notes
Literature Cited
Smith, F. 1858. Catalogue of hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part VI. Formicidae. London: British Museum, 216 pp.
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA.longinoj@evergreen.edu
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