Dacetini, Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
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Range
Costa Rica: Atlantic slope from sea level to 800m.
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); head relatively broad, CI 77-83; leading edge of the scape with entirely anteriorly directed short spatulate hairs; color red-brown to black; face punctate; sides of posterior half of mesosoma completely and densely punctulate; disc of postpetiole reticulate-punctate; ventral petiolar appendages entirely obsolete or present as very fine cariniform vestiges; infradental lamellae of propodeum vestigial or narrow and concave; gaster with 0-4 filiform (not spoon-shaped) erect setae; face and mesosoma covered with short, stiff, erect setae (stubble); surface of face granular and roughly tuberculate; cephalic dorsum at level of frontal lobes with a transverse row of four hairs that are much longer than the surrounding short pilosity.
It is very similar to microthrix and cassicuspis. The former has no stubble. The latter has the face surface finely granular (not shining), but not tuberculate. Also see Bolton (2000:226).
Natural History
Members of the genus are all predaceous, with a static pressure mode of attack (Bolton 1999).
This species inhabits wet forest habitat. I only know it from Berlese and Winkler samples from the forest floor. It is known from two sifted litter samples from Penas Blancas (800m) and one litter/soil core from La Selva Biological Station.
Original Description
Pyramica stauroma Bolton 2000:226. Holotype worker: Costa Rica, Prov. Heredia, Est. Biol. La Selva, 10 degrees 26'N, 84 degrees 00'W, 50-150m, 1.ii.1994, B/05/381 (Project ALAS) [INBIO]. Paratype workers: same data as holotype; Costa Rica, Prov. Alajuela, Rio Penas Blancas, 10 degrees 19'N, 84 degrees 43'W, 800m, 26-28.iv.1987, #1579-s (J. Longino); same data but #1578-s [BMNH, MCZ, LACM, UCD].
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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