Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
|
|
|
Montane Form
|
|
|
Identification
Minor worker: head length 0.48mm, head width 0.44mm, scape length 0.35mm, Webers length 0.51mm (n=1). Head flat behind; mesonotal suture absent; promesonotum somewhat box-like; propodeal spines medium length, erect; face punctatorugose, rugae superficial; dorsum of promesonotum superficially punctatorugose to nearly smooth and shining; sides of pronotum smooth and shining; katepisternum and dorsum and sides of propodeum foveolate; first gastral tergum smooth and shining; dorsal pilosity sparse, short, stiff; color orange.
Major worker: head length 0.99mm, head width 0.76mm, scape length 0.37mm (n=1). Face superficially punctatorugose; medial area between frontal carinae shiny with subparallel longitudinal rugae; weak antennal scrobes present in the form of small, shallow depressions beneath apices of scapes, surface of small depression smooth and shining; hypostomal margin flat; median tooth absent; stout lateral teeth about one third distance from midline to recessed teeth flanking mandible bases; dorsal pilosity abundant; head with abundant short, stiff setae projecting from sides of head in face view.
We have tentatively and probably temporarily placed here a montane form discovered at a 1070m elevation site on the slopes above La Selva Biological Station, in Braulio Carrillo National Park. It occurred in a combination of Winkler and Berlese samples, and seems most similar to JTL-102. It is peculiar in having the promesonotal suture somewhat impressed, a trait rare in species this small. JTL-102 also has a tendency to have the promesonotal suture impressed. The face is much shinier than the lowland form, with only faint carinulae (similar to other montane forms like innupta and alfaroi). The major worker head is shorter and shinier overall.
Range
Costa Rica.
Natural History
This species inhabits lowland wet to moist forest leaf litter.
Selected Records
Berlese and/or Winkler samples from La Selva, Turrialba, Carara. Baits on forest floor at La Selva.
Page authors:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA. longinoj@evergreen.edu
Stefan Cover, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge MA 02138 USA. scover@oeb.harvard.edu
Go back to top
