Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Identification
Minor worker: head length 0.69mm, head width 0.51mm, scape length 0.96mm, Webers length 0.88mm (n=1). Head with vertex collar narrow, little produced [much more pronounced in susannae]; promesonotal and metanotal grooves well impressed [metanotal groove not as deeply impressed as susannae]; propodeal spines very short; face largely smooth and shiny; pronotum smooth and shiny; mesonotum and propodeum uniformly foveolate dorsally and on sides; gaster smooth and shiny; pilosity moderately long, flexuous, some setae on mesosoma branched near apex; color dark brown.
Major worker: head length 1.31mm, head width 1.19mm, scape length 0.96mm (n=1). Most of face strongly punctatorugose, with moderately abrupt transition to smooth and shiny vertex lobes [smooth and shiny region more extensive on sides of head above eyes, relative to susannae]; hypostomal margin with pair of widely-spaced teeth, each tooth sharp and needle-like, located near small recessed tooth flanking mandible; head covered with long, silky, appressed pilosity; erect setae present on face, but no erect setae projecting from sides of head in face view. [overall a slightly less robust version of susannae.]
Similar species: susannae, cocciphaga (see there for differentiating characters).
Range
Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Venezuela. Costa Rica: Atlantic and Pacific lowlands.
Natural History
Occurs in various habitats, including seasonal dry forest, mature lowland rainforest, and second growth rainforest; occurs on the ground and in the canopy; nests opportunistically in small cavities; may build carton walls.
Selected Records
Corcovado National Park (Sirena): collecting in Sloanea, along a branch 24m high, covered with aroids. Workers in and on dense epiphyte root mat.
Tortuguero: second growth wet forest; nest under carton, in dead knot 2m high.
Santa Rosa National Park: evergreen forest patch surrounded by seasonal dry forest ("Boque Humedo"); at tuna bait.
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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