Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
Range
West coast of Costa Rica (known only from type locality).
Identification
Face to near margin of vertex striate; first gastral tergite smooth and shining; head, trunk and petiole concolorous light red or dull yellow; legs yellowish, gaster light brown to blackish; posterior face of petiole convex in both directions; compound eye distinctly longer than maximum width of mandible (without teeth); sides of head, especially the part posterior to extraocular furrow, finely, densely and distinctly reticulate-punctulate and dull; measurements (from Brown 1976, n=1): HL 2.38, HW (measured across temporal prominence) 1.72, ML 1.29, eye L 0.50, CI 72, MI 54, SI 140.
Natural History
Known only from the types from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, in mangroves. This is an enigmatic species. Brown (1976) examined the type(s), measured a worker, and placed the species in the key, but did not discuss it further.
Type Data
Odontomachus biolleyi Forel 1908:35. Syntype worker: "embouchure du Jesus Maria, cote pacifique de Costa Rica, dans du bois pourri" [mouth of the Jesus Maria, just south of Punta Caldera].
Literature Cited
Brown, W. L., Jr. 1976. Contributions toward a reclassification of the Formicidae. Part VI. Ponerinae, tribe Ponerini, subtribe Odontomachiti. Section A. Introduction, subtribal characters. Genus Odontomachus. Studia Entomol. 19:67-171.
Forel, A. 1908. Fourmis de Costa-Rica recoltees par M. Paul Biolley. Bull. Soc. Vaud. Sci. Nat. 44:35-72.
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA.longinoj@evergreen.edu
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