Smithistruma epinotalis (Weber 1934)

Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia

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

4 March 1997

Identification

6-segmented antennae; face punctate; side of mesosoma completely punctate; head not extremely elongate or flattened; petiole with ventral spongiform appendage. [I have not seen specimens of this species]

Geography

Known only from types, collected in Valle de Estrella, Limon Province, Costa Rica.

Natural History

Presumed predaceous.

How to collect

The types were collected by G. C. Wheeler in the late 1920' or early 1930's. Details of the collecting site could perhaps be obtained from the original description or Wheeler's field notes. Dozens of sifted litter samples from Atlantic slope wet forest have not produced examples of this species. It may thus be a species of more open sites.

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

Last modified: 03/04/1997