Myrmicinae, Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Range
Costa Rica: Cordillera de Tilar‡n.
Identification
Minor worker: head length 1.18mm, head width 0.84mm, scape length 1.58mm, Webers length 1.63mm (n=1). Head somewhat elongate behind, with strong vertex collar; promesonotum evenly arched, mesonotal and metanotal grooves weak; propodeal spines very long; face, pronotum, and gaster smooth and shining; mesopleuron and side of propodeum foveolate; dorsal pilosity abundant, long, flexuous; color orange red.
Major worker: head length 2.61mm, head width 2.33mm, scape length 1.54mm (n=1). Medial face striatofoveolate, with fine, closely-spaced striae longitudinal and radiating obliquely, abrupt transition to smooth and polished laterally and on vertex lobes; hypostomal margin with pair of short, broad, triangular teeth, located about one third distance from midline to recessed teeth flanking mandibles; propodeal spines long; dorsal pilosity abundant; head with abundant short setae projecting from sides of head in face view.
Similar species: rogeri.
Natural History
I know this species from one collection, from mature wet forest in the upper Pe–as Blancas Valley, at 900m elevation. I found the nest in a clay bank along the trail from Refugio Aleman to Refugio Eladio, on the north side of the river. The nest entrance was a flared auricle-like structure of accreted soil. Irregular galleries extended back into the bank behind the entrance. I found abundant workers, soldiers, and brood about 5cm deep.
Comments
This species is very similar to rogeri. It differs in the lack of the violaceous sheen on the minor workers and in the longer propodeal spines of the majors. I have multiple collections of typical rogeri from Costa Rica, including material from the upper Pe–as Blancas valley (and thus sympatric with this form), and there is very little variation. Clay banks are proving to be an interesting microhabitat for ants, hosting a fauna distinct from both the surrounding litter-covered forest floor and exposed clay soil that is more level.
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA. longinoj@evergreen.edu
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