The Crematogaster (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) of Costa Rica.
Longino, J. T.
Zootaxa
2003
151
1
150
urn:lsid:biosci.ohio-state.edu:osuc_concepts:182987
Insecta
Formicidae
Crematogaster
CoL
Animalia
Crematogaster monteverdensis Longino
Hymenoptera
89
Arthropoda
species
monteverdensis
Range Costa Rica.
Description of worker Differing from sumichrastiin the following respects: tibiae with abundant suberect setae, but more uniform in length and none longer than maximum width of tibia ( sumichrastihas 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 monteverdensisinhabits moist forest areas in the Monteverde community area in the Cordillera de Tilaranand 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 (Wheeler1936, see under sumichrasti).
Comments The two closely related species monteverdensisand sumichrastiare 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 sumichrastihas one or two extremely long setae on the tibiae. I identified monteverdensisspecimens first as sumichrastiuntil I discovered the consistent differences in tibial pilosity and promesonotal profile. Crematogaster sumichrastiseems to have a microparapatric distribution with monteverdensis, because typical sumichrastioccur just downslope from Monteverde, at 700m elevation on the road down to the PanAmerican Highway.
1058481268
1991-06-26
INBC
Longino
Costa Rica
10.3333333
Santa Elena, 1500m
3km N
-84.8333333
JTLC 000001403
Prov. Guanacaste
Holotype
1058481265
1991-06-26
INBC
Longino
Costa Rica
10.3333333
Santa Elena, 1500m
3km N
-84.8333333
JTLC 000001404
Prov. Guanacaste
Paratype
1058481272
1991-06-26
BMNH
Longino
Costa Rica
10.3333333
Santa Elena, 1500m
3km N
-84.8333333
JTLC 000001405
Prov. Guanacaste
Paratype
1058481257
1991-06-26
LACM
Longino
Costa Rica
10.3333333
Santa Elena, 1500m
3km N
-84.8333333
JTLC 000001406
Prov. Guanacaste
Paratype
1058481262
1991-06-26
MCZC
Longino
Costa Rica
10.3333333
Santa Elena, 1500m
3km N
-84.8333333
JTLC 000001407
Prov. Guanacaste
Paratype
1058481252
1991-06-26
MHNG
Longino
Costa Rica
10.3333333
Santa Elena, 1500m
3km N
-84.8333333
JTLC 000001408
Prov. Guanacaste
Paratype
1058481263
1991-06-26
NHMB
Longino
Costa Rica
10.3333333
Santa Elena, 1500m
3km N
-84.8333333
JTLC 000001409
Prov. Guanacaste
Paratype
1058481260
1991-06-26
USNM
Longino
Costa Rica
10.3333333
Santa Elena, 1500m
3km N
-84.8333333
JTLC 000001410
Prov. Guanacaste
Paratype
1058481277
1991-06-26
UCDC
Longino
Costa Rica
10.3333333
Santa Elena, 1500m
3km N
-84.8333333
JTLC 000001411
Prov. Guanacaste
Paratype