Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Image of petiole.
Range
Costa Rica: Atlantic lowlands.
Identification
When mandibles are in their usual resting position, with tips crossed, they project beyond anterior border of clypeus, leaving a distinct gap; clypeus reduced, leaving labrum largely exposed; hypostomal teeth strongly developed, in full-face view projecting conspicuously into gap between clypeus and mandibles; petiolar node subcuboidal, dorsal and posterior faces meeting at a rounded right angle; HW about 1.07mm; face smooth and shiny medially.
Natural History
I know this species from two localities: La Selva Biological Station, and Tortuguero. At La Selva, I have seen a worker that was collected from the ground. From Tortuguero, I have seen a stray worker, and I made a nest collection from the beach strand vegetation near the Casa Verde turtle research station. The nest was in a rotten branch, attached to a tree trunk near ground level. There were remains of isopods in the nest, which suggests this species may be an isopod specialist. Other species of Leptogenys are known to be isopod prey specialists.
Notes
Bill Brown identified La Selva material of this species as cf. donisthorpei.
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA. longinoj@evergreen.edu
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