Formicinae, Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Additional images: major worker, lateral view of head (reduced, original).
Range
Costa Rica: Atlantic lowlands.
Identification
Minor worker: propodeum very narrow, in cross section tectiform (tent-like, like an inverted "V"), without a distinct angle separating lateral and dorsal faces; mesosoma evenly arched in lateral view; side of head with erect setae; scape with several inconspicuous long erect setae in addition to pubescence; pronotum red, mesonotum and propodeum contrastingly darker red brown.
Major worker: head in face view narrowing toward mandibles, not subrectangular; clypeus trapezoidal, not rectangular.
Similar species: JTL-044.
Minor workers of JTL-043 and JTL-044 are quite difficult to distinguish, but the major workers are very different. JTL-043 majors have relatively broad heads and a trapezoidal clypeus. JTL-044 majors have a more rectangular head and clypeus. JTL-044 is more phragmotic. The minors of JTL-043 are darker and shinier than minors of JTL-044.
Natural History
This species appears to be relatively rare. I know it from two sites: La Selva Biological Station and a wet forest/pasture edge site near Puerto Viejo de Limon. The La Selva collections are from canopy fogging samples, in which the species is only occasional. The Puerto Viejo collections were a series of nests in internodes of a cluster of small Cecropia insignis saplings at the edge of the forest. The close proximity of these small nests suggested a single polydomous colony.
Type Data
Notes
Literature Cited
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA.longinoj@evergreen.edu
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