Trichoscapa membranifera Emery 1869

Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia

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

25 July 1996

Identification

Approximately 1-1.5mm long; color red-brown; 6-segmented antenna; mandible curving ventrally; face punctate.

Geography

Pantropical, and apparently easily dispersed with commerce. Kempf 1972 lists some of the Antilles, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Costa Rica as its distribution in the Neotropics. It is common in parts of the southeastern United States, and has been reported from California. I have not seen this species from Costa Rica myself, but my collections have concentrated in closed canopy forest areas. I would expect it to occur in highly disturbed areas (agricultural land, urban areas, ports) and/or coastal areas.

Natural History

A tramp species common in disturbed areas. It nests in and under dead wood on the ground. Predaceous.

How to collect

Search in disturbed habitats of the Atlantic coast, but conceivably could be revealed in any urban area. Search in and under dead wood, and sift litter for Winkler extraction.

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

Last modified: 07/25/1996