Formicinae, Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Range
Throughout Neotropics; a widespread synanthropic species. Costa Rica: Alajuela (Juan Santamaria airport); Guanacaste (Finca La Pacifica, Estacion Pitilla); Heredia (Santo Domingo de Heredia, La Selva Biological Station); Puntarenas (Corcovado, Monteverde); San Josˇ (San Josˇ).
Identification
Face smooth, with a few erect setae, abundant appressed pubescence; scapes surpass vertex margin by one-half to one length of first funicular segment; pronotum and mesonotum each with pair of dorsal setae; first gastral tergite with abundant erect setae, no appressed pubescence; metanotal groove weakly impressed; color dark brown.
Natural History
This is a common species of synanthropic habitats in Costa Rica. It can be found in small parks in the middle of San Josˇ, in hotel landscaping, along road edges, in scrubby second growth vegetation, and in pastures. It occurs in almost any bioclimatic region: dry Guanacaste lowlands, wet Atlantic slope lowlands, Central Valley urban areas, and roads and pastures near Monteverde cloud forest. Nests are often under stones on the ground but also occur in cavities in low vegetation. Colonies are polygynous, with multiple dealate queens often occurring together in nests. Workers are omnivorous and opportunistic foragers.
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA.longinoj@evergreen.edu
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