Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
= Adelomyrmex JTL-005
|
|
|
Above images of holotype. Additional holotype images: (dorsal view), (labels).
Range
Costa Rica: La Selva (Fernandez and MacKay 2003, Fernandez 2003).
Identification
Dorsum of mesosoma largely smooth; postpetiole broadly rounded posteriorly, not projecting over gaster; propodeal spines relatively elongate and narrowly acute; lateral portions of face (antennal scrobes) with confluent rugae and foveae, without smooth and shining interspaces; eyes composed of 2 facets; hypostomal tooth small but distinct, in the form of a sharp denticle; dorsal pilosity very long and dense; color red brown; WL=0.58mm (n=1).
Natural History
Known from two Berlese samples and one Winkler sample from La Selva.
Comments
The holotype is a single worker collected from a Project ALAS Berlese sample. At the time of Fernandez's revision the species was known only from the holotype. Since then another worker was collected in a Project TEAM Winkler sample from the plot just south of La Selva's south border, and I found two workers in another ALAS Berlese sample. One of these two workers was larger, darker, with more robust hypostomal tooth, and with 7 ommatidia in the compound eye. Thus this worker would key to laevigatus. Compared to montane laevigatus it is smaller and lighter colored, but still very similar. It would key to laevigatus due to the greater number of ommatidia. Given that it was together in the same Berlese sample with a typical microps worker, and the Berlese sample was from a single small soil/litter core, it is likely they are nest mates and the variation is intraspecific. This calls into question the distinctness of microps and laevigatus.
Literature Cited
Fern‡ndez C., F. 2003. Revision of the myrmicine ants of the Adelomyrmex genus-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 361: 1Ð52.
Fern‡ndez C., F., MacKay, W.P. 2003. The myrmicine ants of the Adelomyrmex laevigatus species complex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 41:593Ð604.
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA.longinoj@evergreen.edu
Go back to top
