Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Identification (the genus has been revised by Andrade 1998)
Queen, worker: mandible smooth; in full-face view frontal carinae not reaching anterior border of clypeus; median prominence formed by anterior borders of frontal carinae evenly rounded, not notched medially; metatarsus (basal tarsal segment) of middle leg subequal in length to following two segments, with row of 5 peg-like setae on outer distal margin; AT2 and AT3 finely longitudinally striate, remaining terga smooth.
Male: unknown.
Range
Costa Rica, Colombia (type locality).
Natural History
The ants of this genus are rarely collected, and very little is known about them. Cylindromyrmex species nest in cavities in sound or rotten wood, under bark, in hollow stems, or in termite galleries (Brown 1975).
Costa Rican Specimen Records
Puntarenas: Monteverde, 10ˇ18'N, 84ˇ48'W, 1500m, 18 Feb 1989 (coll. Brian Fisher), an alate queen captured by hand by Brian Fisher, at the "Ventana", a ridge-crest site where strong tradewinds funnel through a gap.
Type data
Cylindromyrmex escobari Andrade 1998:616. Holotype worker: Colombia, Narino: Ricaurte La Planada, 1ˇ17'N, 78ˇ15'W, 1800m (coll. F. Escobar) [IAVH].
Notes
Cylindromyrmex escobari was described from a single worker from a montane site in Colombia. The alate queen from Monteverde matches closely Andrade's type description.
Andrade (2001) examined this specimen, confirmed its identity as escobari, and provided measurements.
Literature Cited
Andrade, M. L. de 1998. Fossil and extant species of Cylindromyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Revue Suisse de Zoologie 105:581-664.
Andrade, M. L. de 2001. A remarkable Dominican amber species of Cylindromyrmex with Brazilian affinities and additions to the generic revision (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). BeitrŠge zur Entomologie 51:51-63.
Brown, W. L., Jr. 1975. Contributions toward a reclassification of the Formicidae. V. Ponerinae, tribes Platythyreini, Cerapachyini, Cylindromyrmecini, Acanthostichini, and Aenictogitini. Search Agri., Entomol. (Ithaca) 5:1-115.
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA. longinoj@evergreen.edu
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