Dolichoderinae, Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Additional images:
Lectotype queen Azteca pilosula, face and lateral views (above images), dorsal view (small, large), lateral view (small, large), labels (large),
MCZ syntype queen Azteca pilosula, face view (small, large), lateral view (small, large), label (large).
Worker on same pin with MCZ syntype queens of Azteca pilosula, face view (small, large), lateral view (small, large).
Worker, mandible (small, large), mandible (small, large), petiole, lateral view (small, large), tibia (small, large).
Lectotype worker Azteca lacrymosa, face view (small, large), lateral view (small, large), label (large).
MCZ syntype worker Azteca lacrymosa, face view (small, large), lateral view (small, large), label (large).
Range
Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia. Costa Rica: southern Pacific lowlands.
Identification
A member of the A. aurita group.
Queen
Measurements (n=2): HLA 1.32 (1.31-1.34), HW 1.19 (1.18-1.19), SL 1.27 (1.24-1.30), CI 90 (89-90), SI 96 (92-99).
Palpal formula 4,3; middle and hind tibia lacking apical spur; mandible strongly flattened, apical tooth much longer than penultimate tooth, dorsal surface shiny, smooth basally, with elongate puncta and grooves near masticatory margin, densely covered with suberect setae; medial clypeal lobe strongly convex and protruding, extending well beyond lateral clypeal lobes; head quadrate, sides flat and diverging posteriorly, posterior margin strongly angulate laterally, deeply excavate medially; petiolar node short, broadly triangular; posteroventral petiolar lobe very low, hardly developed; almost entire body - scape, flagellum, mandible, margins and dorsum of head, mesosoma, legs, petiole, and gaster - covered with uniform vestiture of short, dense, white pilosity, somewhat sparser on gastral terga; entire body orange, with smooth, highly polished and reflective surface.
Worker
Measurements (n=2): HLA 1.35 (1.26-1.45), HW 1.39 (1.26-1.52), SL 1.07 (0.92-1.22), CI 103 (100-105), SI 79 (73-84).
Palpal formula 4,3; middle and hind tibia lacking apical spur; mandible strongly flattened, apical tooth much longer than penultimate tooth, dorsal surface with longitudinal, finely acicular sculpture, dull; medial clypeal lobe strongly convex and protruding, extending well beyond lateral clypeal lobes; head with moderately convex sides, subangulate posterolateral margins, posterior margin in the form of a shallow "V;" in lateral profile pronotum gently sloping and weakly convex, mesonotum more strongly convex and with profile asymmetrical, with highest point shifted forward, long sloping posterior face dropping to depressed basal face of propodeum; scape, tibiae, and mesosoma with dense white pubescence but no erect setae; side of head with no erect setae, posterior margin with sparse, very short erect setae grading into white pubescence; petiolar node with rim of white pubescence, about 6 longer erect setae on anterior face and apex, posteroventral margin with dense erect pubescence; head clear orange brown, mesosoma, legs, and gaster darker red brown.
Natural History
Azteca pilosula nests in large exposed carton nests. The type series was collected by Tonduz in Costa Rican and was from an "arboreal nest." A collection by Forel from Colombia was from a large carton nest. In Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica I found a large carton nest on a horizontal log over a trail. Workers from this nest were tending scale insects on the spathe of a nearby aroid.
Comments
See additional discussion of A. aurita group.
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA. longinoj@evergreen.edu
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