Smithistruma microthrix Kempf 1975

Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia

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

4 March 1997

Identification

Color red-brown to black; 6-segmented antenna; face punctate; sides of posterior half of mesosoma completely and densely punctulate; ventral petiolar appendages entirely obsolete or present as very fine cariniform vestiges; infradental lamellae vestigial or narrow and concave; gaster with 0-4 filiform (not spoon-shaped) erect setae; face lacking erect setae or with extremely inconspicous, short, subdecumbent setae. There is complex character variation.

Very similar to two other species of Smithistruma: cassicuspis and stauroma. Both of these have a stubble of short setae covering the face and mesosoma.

Geography

Costa Rica (type locality; I have not seen the original description of this species, and do now know if Kempf observed additional specimens from outside of Costa Rica). Atlantic slope from sea level to 1600m.

Natural History

Inhabits wet forest leaf litter. One collection of two workers found in rotten stick in leaf litter. Presumed predaceous.

How to collect

Sift litter from mature wet forest floor and extract in Berlese funnel or Winkler bag.

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

Last modified: 03/04/1997