Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Identification
Minor worker: head length 0.77mm, head width 0.72mm, scape length 0.77mm, Webers length 1.04mm (n=1). Head broadly rounded behind; scapes foveolate, with appressed setae; promesonotum evenly arched, mesonotal suture very weakly impressed or absent; humeri developed, forming distinct bosses; propodeal spines short, sharp, upturned; posterior slope of metanotal groove and anterior dorsum of propodeum forming step-like prominence; face generally shiny with very faint, superficial punctation, punctation stronger and with some rugae between eyes and frontal carinae; mesosoma superficially foveolate throughout; gaster smooth and shining; dorsal pilosity sparse, short, stiff, approximately 4 pairs on promesonotum, none on propodeal dorsum; color orange brown.
Major worker: measurements similar to JTL-119. Face punctatorugose on anterior two thirds, rugae largely longitudinal, subparallel, especially between frontal carinae, gradually fading to smooth and shining on vertex lobes; clypeus with weak, dispersed longitudinal rugae; hypostomal margin with very low, rounded medial lobe, pair of subtriangular teeth located about one third distance from midline to recessed teeth flanking mandibles; dorsal pilosity sparse, short, stiff, approximately three pairs on promesonotum, none on propodeal dorsum; other than one pair on vertex lobes, no setae projecting from sides of head in face view.
Range
Costa Rica: Atlantic lowlands.
Natural History
Occurs in lowland rainforest; arboreal; nests beneath epiphytes.
Selected Records
La Selva: in recent (less than one week old) treefall.
La Selva: Carapa guianensis, felled previous day, tree was somewhat isolated in low second growth veg.; abundant vines in treefall, mainly Marcgraviaceae; populous nest under epiphyte mat.
Taxonomy
There is an apparent complex of Pheidole species showing a geographic mosaic of differentiated forms. Members of this complex include JTL-118, JTL-119, a common species on BCI, Panama, and the types of Pheidole championi Forel and championi var. sima Forel. Pheidole championi was described from Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui. Pheidole championi var. sima was described from Costa Rica, "Canas Gudas" [Puntarenas Province, Canas Gordas?]. We have not examined these types, and at this point do not know their relationships to the material we have been able to examine. One of the BCI specimens at MCZC bears a determination label indicating that Bill Brown compared it with the type of sima. Which, if any, of JTL-118, JTL-119, and the BCI species are conspecific with championi or sima is unknown.
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
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