Smithistruma nigrescens (Wheeler 1911)

Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia

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

4 March 1997

Identification

[see images of fridericimuelleri for similar habitus]

Color red-brown; 6-segmented antennae; face not shiny; posterolateral mesosoma shiny; clypeus broadly curved (not v-shaped) anteriorly; anteromedian section of promesonotum punctate and opaque, not shining; free posterodorsal face of petiolar node considerably broader than long and about 2/3 the length of the free postpetiolar disc. Compare with Smithistruma fridericimuelleri.

Geography

Known from Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, Costa Rica, and Trinidad (Kempf 1972) (possibly a tramp species?); in Costa Rica I have seen specimens from Santa Rosa and La Pacifica, and from beach-edge, coconut strand vegetation along the Atlantic coast.

Natural History

Its distribution suggests a tramp species dispersed by commerce. Presumed predaceous.

How to collect

Search in coastal or dry forest habitats; sift litter for Winkler or Berlese extraction.

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

Last modified: 03/04/1997