Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Image of petiole.
Range
Costa Rica: Atlantic and southern Pacific lowlands.
Identification
When mandibles are in their usual resting position, with tips crossed, they project beyond anterior border of clypeus, leaving a distinct gap; clypeus reduced, leaving labrum largely exposed; hypostomal teeth strongly developed, in full-face view projecting conspicuously into gap between clypeus and mandibles; dorsal and posterior faces of petiole meeting at an acute angle, forming a short, posteriorly directed tooth; HW about 1.40mm; face coarsely punctate throughout.
Natural History
I know this species from four collections: (1) Casa Verde turtle research station in Tortuguero, a stray worker; (2) Sirena, Corcovado National Park, a column crossing a trail, in which one worker carried isopod prey held above its head; (3) Sirena, a stray worker; and (4) Panama Canal Zone, workers collected by W. L. Brown, Jr.
Comments
I used to call this species L. punctaticeps, but John Lattke examined the types and concluded that what I called ambigua was true punctaticeps (with ambigua a junior synonym), and this species is probably undescribed.
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA. longinoj@evergreen.edu
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