Formicidae, Hymenoptera, Insecta, Arthropoda, Animalia
|
|
|
Image of petiole.
Range
Costa Rica (type locality), Colombia. Costa Rica: wet forest lowlands throughout the country (Hitoy Cerere Biological Reserve, La Selva Biological Station, Rio Penas Blancas Valley at 800m, Carara Biological Reserve, Osa Peninsula, San Vito).
Identification
In usual resting position, mandibles flush against anterior border of clypeus; clypeus large and triangular, completely concealing labrum; petiolar node subcuboidal, with distinct vertical anterior and posterior faces in lateral view; face smooth and shining; HW 0.50-0.72mm; scapes relatively short.
There is a lot of size variation in what I am calling pusilla, with HW varying from 0.50-0.72mm, and the shape of the petiole changes with size. The smallest workers have the petiole relatively high and short in lateral profile, with the dorsal face nearly horizontal. On larger workers the petiole lengthens, and the dorsal face becomes more slanted, rising posteriorly.
Natural History
This species inhabits the forest floor leaf litter in mature wet forest habitats. I know it from 9 Winkler samples of sifted leaf litter, and a collection from a very rotten but still vertical treetrunk. Dana Meyer, a student working at Sirena in Corcovado National Park, collected a live colony from under a rotten log and observed it for a period of time. His notes indicated that the colony (1) took small isopods but not small flies; (2) was possibly polygynous; and (3) had lighter-colored ergatoid queens.
Type data
Lobopelta pusilla Emery 1890:43. Syntype worker: Costa Rica, Jimenez (Alfaro).
Literature Cited
Emery, C. 1890. Studii sulle formiche della fauna neotropica. Bull. Soc. Entomol. Ital. 22:38-80.
Page author:
John T. Longino, The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA 98505 USA. longinoj@evergreen.edu
Go back to top
