Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Identification
Minor worker: head length 0.67mm, head width 0.62mm, scape length 0.64mm, Webers length 0.85mm (n=1). Head rounded behind, somewhat flattened medially; mesonotal suture weakly impressed to absent; humeri somewhat produced as low, subtriangular tubercles; dorsolateral mesonotum produced as a low tubercle similar to humeral boss; propodeal spines long, curved downward; face and mesosoma uniformly foveolate; first gastral tergum smooth and shining; dorsal pilosity abundant, of moderate length, flexuous; color red brown.
Major worker: head length 1.55mm, head width 1.27mm, scape length 0.66mm (n=1). Face generally shining; anterior three fourths of face coarsely rugose foveolate; posterior fourth and vertex lobes smooth and shining; clypeus smooth with median keel-like tooth; anterior margins of frontal carinae expanded, lamelliform, angular, and elevated, projecting forward and upward; shallow but well-defined, linear antennal scrobes present; hypostomal margin gently curved, in the form of a broad shelf; median tooth very low and broad; lateral teeth absent; recessed teeth flanking mandible bases large, subtriangular, and conspicuous; dorsal pilosity abundant; head with abundant erect setae projecting from sides of head in face view.
Range
Colombia (type locality), Costa Rica. Costa Rica: Braulio Carrillo National Park from 800-1000m, Penas Blancas at 1000m.
Natural History
In Costa Rica the species is known from a few Winkler samples and three nest collections: (1) wet forest gap; in base of live Cephaelis plant; nest at ground level amongst cold, wet leaf litter; plant base 1.5cm dia; seed caches inside. (2) wet forest gap; in 1cm diameter dead stick in leaf litter; seed caches inside. (3) in dead branch lodged in vegetation. The types were found in a rotten tree branch on the ground, also with a cache of seeds.
Comments
The types of diabolus are from Choco, Colombia. Costa Rican specimens are a bit different: the vertex lobes of the major are shinier.
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
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