Attini, Myrmicinae, Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
Range
Panama (type locality), Costa Rica. Costa Rica: Atlantic lowlands.
Identification
Preorbital carina sinuous or straight, extending past eye and directed toward posterolateral vertex margin; in face view with distinct lateral and posterolateral tubercles, such that margins of head behind eye are not rounded; anterior pair of mesonotal spines conical, stout; frontal lobes with anterolaterally projecting tooth.
Natural History
I know this species only from the La Selva Biological Station in the Atlantic lowlands. I found one nest in the soil at the edge of the CEN trail. The nest was a single chamber, about 10cm deep and about 5cm in diameter. A fungus garden filled the chamber and there was a single colony queen. The species has also been collected at honey/criscoe baits at La Selva.
Taxonomy
Trachymyrmex zeteki Weber 1940:422. Worker: Panama. Senior synonym of balboai: Weber, 1958:55.
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA.longinoj@evergreen.edu