Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
|
|
|
|
|
|
Identification
Minor worker: head length 0.53mm, head width 0.48mm, scape length 0.50mm, Webers length 0.62mm (n=1). Head rounded on sides, medial border somewhat flattened to shallowly excavate; mesonotal suture weakly impressed; propodeal spines moderately long, spiniform; head, scapes, and mesosoma uniformly foveolate; in lateral view, eyes (about 12 facets) inconspicuous because ommatidia look similar to foveolate sculpture; first gastral tergum smooth and shining; dorsal pilosity sparse, moderately long, stiff; pilosity appressed on femora and tibiae; color red brown.
Major worker: head length 0.97mm, head width 0.96mm, scape length 0.52mm (n=1). Face foveolate throughout, overlain with subparallel, longitudinal rugae anteriorly, faint reticulate rugae posteriorly; hypostomal margin straight, with rounded median tooth, and a pair of pointed teeth one third to one half distance from midline to recessed teeth flanking mandible bases; dorsal pilosity abundant; head with abundant suberect setae projecting from sides of head in face view.
Variation: Monteverde specimens are more robust, head length 0.59mm (n=1), and the punctation on the scapes is weaker.
This species may be confused with specularis, but specularis has erect setae on femora and tibiae.
Range
Costa Rica: Atlantic slope (La Selva, Braulio Carrillo, Penas Blancas, Monteverde).
Natural History
This species occurs occasionally in Winkler samples from primary wet forest, from the lowlands (La Selva) to montane cloud forest (Monteverde). One collection was at a honey-manteca bait on primary wet forest floor at La Selva.
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