Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
Range
Costa Rica (Atlantic slope).
Identification
Promesonotal suture very faintly impressed, not breaking sculpture; scapes surpass margin of vertex when laid back; mandibles approaching a subfalcate condition; basal margin erose, with a distinct concave notch near junction with apical margin; propodeum completely unarmed.
Natural History
Known records of G. volcano:
Alajuela: Casa Eladio, Rio Penas Blancas, 10¡19'N, 84¡43'W, 800m (J. Longino). Mature wet forest; ex sifted leaf litter from forest floor (Winkler sample).
Heredia: 17km N Vol. Barba, 10¡17'N, 84¡05'W, 800m (J. Longino). Mature wet forest; ex sifted leaf litter from forest floor (Winkler sample) [holotype].
Taxonomic Notes
Lattke's G. volcano and G. transversa (from premontane forest in Bocas del Toro region of Panama) look nearly identical from the figures and type descriptions. The only difference I can detect is the development of a notch between basal and masticatory margins of mandible in volcano. My specimens from Penas Blancas (INBIOCRI001281043) are somewhat intermediate in the development of this notch.
Type data
Gnamptogenys volcano Lattke 1995:191. Holotype worker: Costa Rica, Heredia: 17km N Vol. Barba, 10¡17'N, 84¡05'W, 800m (J. Longino) [LACM].
Literature Cited
Lattke, J. E. 1995. Revision of the ant genus Gnamptogenys in the New World (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research 4:137-193.
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA.longinoj@evergreen.edu