Smithistruma alberti (Forel 1893)

Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia

John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA. longinoj@evergreen.edu

4 March 1997

Identification

Approximately 1.5mm long; color red-brown; 6-segmented antennae; face punctate; sides of posterior half of mesosoma largely smooth and shining; clypeus v-shaped anteriorly.

Geography

Widespread in Neotropics; common throughout Costa Rica to approx. 700m.

Natural History

Small colonies are encountered beneath dead wood, under loose bark, and in plant cavities. Presumed predaceous.

How to collect

This is perhaps the most common Smithistruma in Costa Rica. Colonies can be found by looking beneath dead wood on the ground in wet forest. At La Selva, nests are common in old Lecythis pods on the ground. Workers are slow-moving, and thus relatively easy to overlook. Individuals can be obtained by sifting leaf litter and extracting arthropods in a Berlese funnel or Winkler bag.

Page author: John T. Longino longinoj@evergreen.edu

Last modified: 03/04/1997