Myrmicinae, Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
Range
Costa Rica: mid-elevation Atlantic slope.
Identification
Antennae 11-segmented; metasternal lobes subangulate; mandibles smooth and shining at inner half of upper surface; sides of thorax shining and with feeble rugosities; propodeal spiracles directed upward, highly visible in dorsal view.
Natural History
This species occurs in mid-elevation wet forest habitats. So far it is known only from the Volcan Barva transect in Braulio Carrillo National Park, from 500 to 1100m elevation. I have twice collected nests. One was in the canopy of a Licania tree (Chrysobalanaceae), in the live stem of an unidentified vine. One was in a treefall gap, in the 1.25cm diameter live stem of a melastome vine. The latter nest contained 32 workers, 1 dealate queen, and abundant brood of various sizes.
Comments
This species is a very shiny version of pleuriticus.
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA. longinoj@evergreen.edu