The Crematogaster (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) of Costa Rica.
Author
Longino, J. T.
text
Zootaxa
2003
151
1
150
http://antbase.org/ants/publications/20256/20256.pdf
journal article
20256
9813210B-5B9F-4FDE-86DD-3AE55166EC9C
Crematogaster monteverdensis
NEW SPECIES
Holotype
worker
Costa Rica
,
Prov. Guanacaste
,
3km N
Santa Elena, 1500m
,
10°20'N
,
84°50'W
,
26 Jun 1991
(
Longino
, collection code JTL2938) [
INBC
, specimen code
JTLC000001403
].
Paratypes
One dealate queen, same data as holotype [
INBC
, specimen code
JTLC000001404
];
worker and queen, same data [
BMNH
, specimen code
JTLC000001405
];
worker and queen, same data [
LACM
, specimen code
JTLC000001406
];
worker and queen, same data [
MCZC
, specimen code
JTLC000001407
];
worker and queen, same data [
MHNG
, specimen code
JTLC000001408
];
worker and queen, same data [
NHMB
, specimen code
JTLC000001409
];
worker and queen, same data [
USNM
, specimen code
JTLC000001410
];
worker and queen, same data [
UCDC
, specimen code
JTLC000001411
]
.
Range
Costa Rica.
Description of worker
Differing from
sumichrasti
in the following respects: tibiae with abundant suberect setae, but more uniform in length and none longer than maximum width of tibia (
sumichrasti
has one or more long macrosetae, subequal in length to twice maximum tibia width); pronotal dorsum with stronger longitudinal carinulae; dorsal and posterior faces of mesonotum meeting at an angle but angle less strongly produced, not tuberculate; dorsal pilosity generally shorter.
Measurements
Holotype: HL 0.702, HW 0.739, HC 0.685, SL 0.584, EL 0.192, WL 0.777, SPL 0.145, PTH 0.178, PTL 0.239, PTW 0.210, PPL 0.183, PPW 0.228, CI 105, OI 27, SI 83, PTHI 74, PTWI 88, PPI 125, SPI 19.
Other specimens: HL 0.726, 0.639, 0.718; HW 0.799, 0.686, 0.772; HC 0.732, 0.636, 0.699; SL 0.605, 0.554, 0.601; EL 0.199, 0.182, 0.208; A11L 0.248; A11W 0.135; A10L 0.114; A10W 0.119; A09L 0.076; A09W 0.093; A08L 0.057; A08W 0.074; WL 0.840, 0.719, 0.832; SPL 0.145, 0.134, 0.156; PTH 0.195, 0.184, 0.181; PTL 0.249, 0.222, 0.228; PTW 0.220, 0.206, 0.224; PPL 0.180, 0.151, 0.176; PPW 0.246, 0.220, 0.235; CI 110, 107, 108; OI 27, 28, 29; SI 83, 87, 84; PTHI 78, 83, 79; PTWI 88, 93, 98; PPI 137, 146, 134; SPI 17, 19, 19; ACI 0.24.
Queen
A normal queen (dorsal face of propodeum drops steeply from postscutellum and much of propodeum appears ventral to scutellum and postscutellum, Fig. 1) with general shape, sculpture, and pilosity characters of the worker; size characters as in Figures 4 and 5.
Etymology
This species is named after its type locality.
Biology
Crematogaster monteverdensis
inhabits moist forest areas in the Monteverde community area in the Cordillera de
Tilaran
and at a similar elevation on Cerro Cacao in the Cordillera de Guanacaste. I first encountered the species in Monteverde, where I observed workers and the small, dealate queens foraging together on the outside walls of a house. Subsequent collections were from nests in dead branches, either in recent treefalls or on the ground. These collections were generally located at pasture/forest edges. Nests were polygynous, with multiple dealate queens. Workers could be recruited to baits of mixed honey and solid vegetable oil. I have never seen alate queens, and one nest collection contained small apterous males similar to Wheeler's description of the males of
atitlanica (Wheeler
1936, see under
sumichrasti
).
Comments
The two closely related species
monteverdensis
and
sumichrasti
are uniquely characterized by the combination of yellow coloration, relatively long, upturned propodeal spines, and long flexuous posterolateral mesonotal setae that are subequal in length to humeral setae. The only difference is that
Crematogaster sumichrasti
has one or two extremely long setae on the tibiae.
I identified
monteverdensis
specimens first as
sumichrasti
until I discovered the consistent differences in tibial pilosity and promesonotal profile.
Crematogaster sumichrasti
seems to have a microparapatric distribution with
monteverdensis
, because typical
sumichrasti
occur just downslope from Monteverde, at 700m elevation on the road down to the PanAmerican Highway.