Formicinae, Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
|
|
|
|
|
|
Range
Costa Rica (La Selva and adjacent Atlantic slope to 500m).
Identification
Minor worker: head subquadrate; scapes with no erect setae; lateral margins of head with no projecting setae; dorsal and lateral faces of pronotum sharply differentiated, meeting at a slightly projecting keel anterolaterally, keel fading posteriorly; dorsal and lateral faces of propodeum meeting at distinct angle; dorsal and posterior faces of propodeum distinct, meeting at an angle, subequal in length; dorsal profile of pronotum, mesonotum, and dorsal face of propodeum forming even convexity; anterior and posterior faces of petiole converge to sharp transverse crest at apex; first gastral tergite with moderately abundant appressed yellow pubescence, moderately abundant erect setae; face and mesosoma densely micropunctate, sublucid with bronze reflections; gaster shagreened, mat; integument generally black, legs and scapes orange, posterior borders of gastral tegites yellow, forming sharply defined bands.
May differ from JTL-027 in slightly more arched mesosoma, relatively less differentiated dorsal and posterior faces of propodeum. Form of JTL-027 that is sympatric with JTL-015 has dense yellow pubescence on first gastral tergite, 2-3 erect setae on cheeks near mandibular insertions.
Major worker: face subquadrate; face yellow up to below eyes; lateral margins of head and anterior face in general with no erect setae, a few short, flattened setae on clypeus.
Similar species: cuneidorsus, JTL-027.
Natural History
This species is common in canopy fogging samples from La Selva, and is occasionally collected in recent treefalls. I have seen one nest, which was under an epiphyte mat. This suggests a similar biology to JTL-027, a very similar species.
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA.longinoj@evergreen.edu
Go back to top