Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Image of petiole.
Range
Honduras, Costa Rica. Costa Rica: montane habitats; known from Monteverde and Penas Blancas Valley down to 800m.
Identification
In usual resting position, mandibles flush against anterior border of clypeus; masticatory margin of mandible shorter than basal margin, and without teeth; clypeus large and triangular, completely concealing labrum; petiolar node relatively elongate, with dorsal face sloping toward short anterior face, in dorsal view strongly constricted anteriorly, sides concave; dorsal face of propodeum punctate (grading to transverse striae on posterior face).
Measurements: HL 2.049, HW (not including eyes) 1.358, SL 2.466, EL 0.548, WL 3.479. Based on specimen INBIOCRI001279739.
Natural History
This species is relatively common in Monteverde; I have made collections from four nests, and have seen several other nests from which I did not make collections. The colonies are small, and nests are always underground, either with an entrance that is a simple hole at the surface, or emerging into chambers beneath a stone or dead wood. For example, I once turned a dead log and observed workers grab brood and vanish down a tunnel. The tunnel extended down about 10cm to a bottom chamber, where I found only 5 adults, 1 pupa, and 3 larvae. Isopods appear to be the main component of the diet, because the nests are usually surrounded by refuse piles of bleached isopod shells. I have discovered nests in road banks because there was a telltale whitish-gray streak of isopod shells that poured down the slope from the nest entrance. I once excavated a colony and kept it alive for several weeks, offering it a variety of prey. Foragers would take only isopods. Counter to this observation, however, was a worker I captured running across the road carrying a spider as prey.
Type data
Leptogenys (Lobopelta) imperatrix Mann 1922:15, fig. 8. Syntype worker, queen: Honduras, Lombardia, San Juan Pueblo (Mann).
Notes
Monteverde material of this species was identified as imperatrix by W. L. Brown.
Literature Cited
Mann, W. M. 1922. Ants from Honduras and Guatemala. Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus. 61:1-54.
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA. longinoj@evergreen.edu
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