Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
|
|
|
Identification
Minor worker: head length 0.39mm, head width 0.35mm, scape length 0.34mm, Webers length 0.46mm (n=1). Head flattened and somewhat excavate behind; mesonotal suture absent, promesonotum evenly arched; pronotum with a single transverse carina at anterior border; propodeal spines very short; face smooth and shining; mesosoma largely smooth and shining, with a few puncta around margins of katepisternum, between propodeal spiracle and spine, and on propodeal dorsum; gaster smooth and shining; dorsal pilosity sparse (8-10 setae on promesonotum), of moderate length, flexuous; color dark brown.
Major worker: head length 0.83mm, head width 0.74mm, scape length 0.40mm (n=1). Anterior half of face with subparallel, longitudinal rugae; rest of face smooth and shining; hypostomal margin gently curved, with small median tooth; on some specimens there are two small teeth about one half distance to recessed teeth flanking mandible bases, on others these lateral teeth are lacking; dorsal pilosity abundant; head with abundant, short setae projecting from sides of head in face view.
Range
Costa Rica (Atlantic lowlands and mid-elevation slopes).
Natural History
Inhabits mature wet forest leaf litter; nests in dead wood on forest floor.
Selected Records
Winkler and Berlese samples from La Selva, Braulio Carrillo National Park (300m), Penas Blancas Valley.
La Selva: Small nest under loose bark on rotten log; rotten sections soft, soil-like.
La Selva: Nest in dead wood on top of large rotten log.
La Selva: Mature forest; under loose bark of rotten log at side of trail.
Braulio Carrillo National Park (500m): mature wet forest; nest in rotten wood.
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