Formicinae, Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Minor worker lateral view and face view are two different workers on same pin. Face view is smaller worker.
Additional images: Queen, face view (reduced, original); lateral view of clypeus (reduced, original).
Range
Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia (type locality), Guyana, Paraguay, Argentina. Costa Rica: northwestern lowlands.
Identification
Minor worker: propodeum very narrow and elongate, in cross section tectiform (tent-like, like an inverted "V"), without a distinct angle separating lateral and dorsal faces; clypeus with median longitudinal keel; mesosoma very elongate and narrow in lateral view; abundant erect setae on sides of head, mesosomal dorsum, and gaster; scapes with no erect setae; head and mesosoma red brown, gaster sublucid, black with yellow spots.
Natural History
This appears to be a widespread species based on literature records. I know it from a few collections from Costa Rica, all from open areas. The few records I have suggest it nests in the soil. I collected a dealate queen beneath a stone in an oak forest area in Santa Rosa National Park. I collected workers from beneath a stone in a patch of dry forest on the Pacific slope below Monteverde (Chepe Rojas farm). When I lifted the stone the workers quickly disappeared down holes in the ground, and I was able to capture only a few. I have a few workers obtained in a sweep sample of scrubby roadside vegetation at La Pita, a site near the PanAmerican Highway on the road to Monteverde. I also collected workers around the old house at Llorona in Corcovado National Park. This house was at the beach margin in the early 1980's and was home to several species of ants that are typical of open areas, such as Tetramorium bicarinatum and Pheidole bilimeki.
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA.longinoj@evergreen.edu
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