Pheidole nigricula Wilson 2003

Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia

worker face view

worker lateral view

major face view

major lateral view

Identification

Minor worker: head length 0.38mm, head width 0.34mm, scape length 0.29mm, Webers length 0.42mm (n=1). Head flattened and somewhat excavate behind; mesonotal suture absent, promesonotum evenly arched; propodeal spines of moderate length, spiniform; face smooth and shining; mesosoma largely smooth and shining, bands of punctation on anterior katepisternum, dorsal and lateral mesometanotal groove, lateral propodeum posterior to spiracle; gaster smooth and shining; dorsal pilosity sparse (8-10 setae on promesonotum), short, stiff; color black.

Major worker: head length 0.67mm, head width 0.55mm, scape length 0.28mm (n=1). Face shallowly punctatorugose throughout; hypostomal margin gently curved, with pointed median tooth, and pair of pointed teeth about two thirds distance to recessed teeth flanking mandible bases; median and two lateral teeth of similar size and shape (Figure); dorsal pilosity moderately abundant; head with abundant, short, erect setae projecting from sides of head in face view.

Range

Costa Rica (Atlantic lowlands to 800m).

Natural History

Inhabits leaf litter in mature wet forest.

Selected Records

Berlese, Winkler, and baiting samples from La Selva, Braulio Carrillo National Park (multiple samples from 300 to 800m), Turrialba, Tortuguero, Guanacaste Conservation Area (Pitilla).


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


Date of this version: 2 September 2003.
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