Dacetini, Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Range
Costa Rica. Known from a single specimen (Prov. Limon: Res. Biol. Hitoy Cerere, 500m, 30 Aug 1985, J. Longino #0970-s. INBIOCRI002279048).
Identification
Mandibles in side view straight, not broadly curved ventrally; mandibles relatively short, subtriangular, much of the apical portion meeting along a serially toothed masticatory margin when closed (former Smithistruma); leading edge of scape with a row of conspicuous projecting curved hairs, of which those distal to the subbasal bend distinctly curve toward the base of the scape; pronotal humeral hair present; ventral surface of petiole in profile with a deep, conspicuous and very obviously spongiform curtain, its maximum depth at least half that of the peduncle and usually more; disc of postpetiole completely unsculptured and glassy smooth; anterior border of clypeus broadly rounded; basal lamella of mandible immediately followed distally by the tooth-row, without a second lamella that extends forward for half the exposed length of the fully closed mandible; mandibles short, MI 19-24; compound eye composed of about 4 facets (approximately 10 facets in nigrescens and fridericimuelleri); promesonotal dorsum without a median longitudinal carina; pronotal dorsum entirely smooth and shining; propodeal dorsum smooth and shining. Also see Bolton (2000:157).
Similar species: fridericimuelleri, nigrescens.
Natural History
Members of the genus are all predaceous, with a static pressure mode of attack (Bolton 1999).
The one specimen of this species was from a wet forest habitat, from a Winkler sample of sifted leaf litter from the forest floor.
Original Description
Pyramica parsauga Bolton 2000:157. Holotype worker: Costa Rica, Prov. Limon, Res. Biol. Hitoy-Cerere, 9 degrees 40'N, 83 degrees 02'W, 500m, 30.viii.1985, wet forest, ex sifted leaf litter, #970-s (J. Longino) [BMNH].
Literature Cited
Bolton, B. 1999. Ant genera of the tribe Dacetonini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). J. Nat. Hist. 33:1639-1689.
Bolton, B. 2000. The ant tribe Dacetini, with a revision of the Strumigenys species of the Malagasy Region by Brian L. Fisher, and a revision of the Austral epopostrumiform genera by Steven O. Shattuck. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 65:1-1028.
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA.longinoj@evergreen.edu
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