.jpg){kind=logo}
Stenamma tico
| Stenamma tico | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Stenammini |
| Genus: | Stenamma |
| Species: | S. tico |
| Binomial name | |
| Stenamma tico Branstetter, 2013
| |
Stenamma tico is restricted to wet forest habitats from sea level to about 1500 m, being most abundant at mid elevations. Nests have never been collected of this species, with nearly all specimens coming from extracts of sifted leaf litter taken from the forest floor. Once at a site in Nicaragua I found a trail of workers migrating across a clay bank in montane wet forest. Although a nest site could not be found, the number of workers involved suggests that they were relocating the nest. The presence of S. tico on clay banks indicates that it may have biological characteristics very similar to the closely related Stenamma diversum, which is known to nest in clay bank environments. Stenamma tico has large, bulging eyes and it may be that it is more active at night than S. diversum.
Identification
Branstetter (2013) - Integument shining, largely black to red-black; medium-sized species (see HL, ML, PrW below); head mostly smooth and shiny; mesosoma reticulately costate to coarsely rugoreticulate; propodeal spines reduced to small upward projecting points, or sharp right angles at interface between dorsal and declivitous faces of propodeum (PSL 0.14–0.18, PSI 1.4-1.9); eyes large and somewhat bulging (EL 0.15–0.18, REL 23-24), with 7–10 ommatidia at greatest diameter; anterior margin of clypeus with shallow median emargination; basal margin of mandible straight, without notch or substantial depression; pilosity on gastral dorsum long, flexuous, and relatively sparse.
Within its range S. tico is unlikely to be confused with any other species. Only in northern Nicaragua does it occur in sympatry with its sister species Stenamma diversum. S. tico can be separated from S. diversum by its smaller propodeal spines and narrower frontal lobes. Stenamma tico also can be separated from S. diversum, as well as from the similar looking Stenamma lobinodus, by its relatively long scape (SI > 95 vS. < 93) and metafemur (MFI < 89 vS. > 94). Stenamma tico shows some elevational variation with specimens from higher localities becoming larger, darker and more sculptured (especially on the face). This variation appears to be continuous, and thus is unlikely due to the existence of cryptic species.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Nicaragua to Panama.
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 13.77172° to 8.783°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Costa Rica (type locality), Nicaragua, Panama.
Distribution based on AntMaps
Distribution based on AntWeb specimens
Check data from AntWeb
Countries Occupied
| Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species. |
|
Estimated Abundance
| Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species. |
|
Biology
Castes
Males have not been collected.
Worker
Images from AntWeb
   
| |
| Paratype Stenamma tico. Worker. Specimen code casent0600104. Photographer Michael Branstetter, uploaded by Default Group. | Owned by FMNH. |
     
| |
| Holotype Stenamma tico. Worker. Specimen code casent0622416. Photographer Michael Branstetter, uploaded by Default Group. | Owned by INBio. |
   
| |
| Worker. Specimen code casent0622571. Photographer Michael Branstetter, uploaded by Default Group. | Owned by MGBPC. |
Queen
Images from AntWeb
   
| |
| Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0600122. Photographer Michael Branstetter, uploaded by Curator Michael Branstetter. | Owned by MGBPC. |
    
| |
| Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code inb0003732299. Photographer Michael Branstetter, uploaded by Default Group. | Owned by INBio. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- tico. Stenamma tico Branstetter, 2013: 258, figs. 162, 163 (w.q.) COSTA RICA, NICARAGUA, PANAMA.
- Type-material: holotype worker, 11 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype Costa Rica: Prov. Heredia, 10 km. NE Vara Blanca, 10.233°N, 84.067°W, 1500 m., 9.iii.2005, ALAS 15/WF/02; paratypes with same data.
- Type-depositories: INBC (holotype); CASC, FMNH. ICNB, INBC, JTLC, LACM, MCZC, MGBC, MZSP, UCDC, USNM (paratypes).
- Distribution: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
(11 measured) HL 0.71-0.85 (0.84), HW 0.63-0.76 (0.76), FLD 0.22-0.27 (0.26), PCW 0.06-0.07 (0.07), SL 0.60-0.77 (0.77), EL 0.15-0.18 (0.18), ACL 0.54-0.68 (0.68), ML 0.91-1.11 (1.11), PrW 0.48-0.58 (0.57), PSL 0.14–0.18 (0.14), SDL 0.08–0.10 (0.09), PL 0.37-0.46 (0.44), PH 0.21-0.26 (0.26), PW 0.16–0.22 (0.20), PPL 0.19–0.25 (0.23), PPH 0.19–0.25 (0.24), PPW 0.20–0.25 (0.25), MFL 0.72-0.91 (0.91), MTL 0.56-0.71 (0.71), CI 87-93 (91), SI 95-103 (101), REL 23-24 (24), FLI 33-36 (34), PSI 1.4-1.9 (1.4), MFI 82-88 (84), ACI1 63-66 (64) ACI2 84–91 (88).
Medium-sized species; general body color black to red-black, with brown patches on waist and gaster; mandibles, clypeus and appendages dark brown to yellow-brown; setae golden; mandible with 6–7 teeth, consisting of 3 distinct apical teeth, a basal tooth, and 2–3 inner teeth, which are often worn and indistinct; basal margin of mandible straight, without any notch or significant depression; dorsal surface of mandible mostly smooth and shiny, with scattered piligerous punctae and variable number of basal striae; median lobe of clypeus with a pair of vestigial longitudinal carinulae and/ or several ill-defined rugulae, apex of lobe with a short transverse carinula, remainder of clypeus smooth and shiny; posterior extension of clypeus between frontal lobes rather broad (PCW 0.06-0.07), with subparallel sides; frontal lobes relatively well developed, but not markedly expanded dorsolaterally (as in Stenamma diversum), nor completely obscuring the underlying torular lobes in full-face view; head roughly oval-shaped, slightly, but distinctly longer than broad (CI 87-93), posterior margin gently convex, never depressed medially; eyes relatively large and somewhat bulging (EL 0.15–0.18, REL 2324), oval-shaped, with 7–10 ommatidia at greatest diameter; face mostly smooth and shining, with variable amount of weak carinulae/rugulae and punctae confined to lower 3/4 of head; most specimens with some carinulae around antennal sockets and on gena, others with more extensive carinulae fanning outward from frontal carinae, sometimes with reticulae between antennal carinae and eyes; scape relatively long (SI 95-103), reaching and slightly surpassing posterior margin of head when laid back; dorsal surface of scape striate; flagellum with distinct 4-segmented antennal club; mesosoma shiny, almost entirely reticulately costate to coarsely rugoreticulae; propodeal declivity smooth, sometimes with a few transverse carinulae; promesonotum in profile low-domed and roughly symmetrically, anterior slope a little steeper and longer than posterior slope; propodeal spines reduced to small upward projecting points, or only forming sharp right angles where dorsal and declivitous surfaces of propodeum meet (PSL 0.14–0.18, PSI 1.4-1.9); petiole moderately long (PL/HW 0.57–0.63) and robust, node roughly half length of petiole and asymmetrical, with anterior face long and gradually sloping, and posterior face nearly vertical, but slightly angled so that apex of petiole points posteriad; dorsum of petiolar node viewed from posterior side weakly rounded; postpetiole in profile similar in size to petiolar node (PPH/PH 0.91–0.97), roughly circular, although with anterior face slightly longer and more sloping than posterior face; petiole and postpetiole shiny, nodes mostly smooth, with some rugulae and faint punctae on sides; venter of petiole and postpetiole weakly punctate; gaster mostly smooth and shiny, with scattered piligerous punctae; most of body with single layer of long standing setae; setae on legs and scapes varying from predominately suberect to mostly decumbent; coxae and femoral venters always with a row of longer suberect setae.
Queen
(5 measured) HL 0.71–0.85 (0.79), HW 0.63–0.76 (0.73), FLD 0.22–0.27 (0.24), PCW 0.07–0.09 (0.07), SL 0.64–0.78 (0.69), EL 0.20–0.24 (0.21), ACL 0.53–0.66 (0.60), ML 1.05–1.29 (1.12), PrW 0.57–0.70 (0.60), PSL 0.18–0.21 (0.19), SDL 0.09–0.11 (0.10), PL 0.43–0.53 (0.48), PH 0.24–0.29 (0.25), PW 0.20–0.25 (0.22), PPL 0.20–0.26 (0.23), PPH 0.23–0.29 (0.25), PPW 0.25–0.31 (0.26), MFL 0.77–0.94 (0.81), MTL 0.61–0.73 (0.64), CI 91–93 (93), SI 93–95 (94), REL 28–30 (28), FLI 34–37 (24), PSI 2.0–2.2 (2.0), MFI 87–90 (90), ACI1 63–66 (64), ACI2 82–90 (87).
Same as worker except for standard queen modifications and the following: face usually more sculptured, with light fan of rugulae/carinulae extending from frontal lobes to ocelli, sculpture around antennal sockets more distinct; costae on mesoscutum with a decidedly longitudinal orientation, but often wavy, and usually with some reticulation anteriorly; costae on side of promesonotum longitudinal in orientation; mesopleuron mostly smooth and shiny; propodeal spines always present, short, projecting dorsoposteriad (PSL 0.18–0.21, PSI 2.0–2.2); wing venation as in photo.
Type Material
Holotype worker. COSTA RICA, Heredia Prov.: 10km NE Vara Blanca, 10.233°N, 84.067°W, 1500m, 9 Mar 2005 (Project ALAS, collection 15/ WF/02) INBC, specimen CASENT0622416. Paratypes: same data as holotype 1w, CASC, CASENT0622417, 1w, FMNH, CASENT0600104, 1w, ICN, CASENT0623501, 1w, INBC CASENT0623502, 1w, JTLC, CASENT0623503, 1w, LACM, CASENT0623504, 1w, MGBPC, CASENT0623505, 1w, MCZ, CASENT0623506, 1w, MZSP, CASENT0623507, 1w, UCDC, CASENT0622414, 1w, USNM, CASENT0622415.
References
- Branstetter, M. G. 2012. Origin and diversification of the cryptic ant genus Stenamma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), inferred from multilocus molecular data, biogeography and natural history. Systematic Entomology 37:478-496. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3113.2012.00624.x
- Branstetter, M.G. 2013. Revision of the Middle American clade of the ant genus Stenamma Westwood (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae). ZooKeys 295, 1–277. doi:10.3897/zookeys.295.4905
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Branstetter M.G. 2013. Revision of the Middle American clade of the ant genus Stenamma Westwood (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae). ZooKeys 295: 1277
- Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.
- Longino J. et al. ADMAC project. Accessed on March 24th 2017 at https://sites.google.com/site/admacsite/