Dolichoderus curvilobus

Identification
Color black with abundant yellow pubescence; scapes and mesosomal dorsum with abundant erect setae; dorsal and posterior faces of propodeum separated by a well-defined transverse flange; petiolar summit not transversely truncate, lateral margin continuing and tapering into spine; vertex margin weakly concave, nearly flat.

This species is morphologically very similar to Dolichoderus validus, with which it has a parapatric distribution. I have examined ten separate collections of D. curvilobus and 7 separate collections of D. validus, from scattered localities, and the head shape character is consistent.

It is also similar to Dolichoderus bispinosus. (Jack Longino)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia, Costa Rica.

Biology
Jack Longino: Dolichoderus curvilobus and Dolichoderus validus have identical nesting habits, forming large carton nests of very loosely woven plant fibers.

Nomenclature

 *  curvilobus. Hypoclinea curviloba Lattke, 1987b: 259, fig. 1 (w.) COLOMBIA. Mackay, 1993b: 45 (q.). Combination in Dolichoderus: Shattuck, 1992c: 77.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bustos H., J. 1994. Contribucion al conocimiento de al fauna de hormigas (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) del occidente del Departamento de Narino (Colombia). Bol. Mus. Ent. Univ. Valle 2(1,2):19-30
 * Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
 * Mackay, W.P. 1993. A review of the New World ants of the genus Dolichoderus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 22(1):1-148
 * Ulloa Chacon P., M. L. Baena, J. Bustos, R. C. Aldana, J. A. Aldana, and M. A. Gamboa. 1996. Fauna de hormigas del departamento del Valle del Cauca (Colombia). Pp. 413-451. In Andrade-C M. G., G. Amat Garcia, and F. Fernandez. Insectoss de Colombia, estudios escogidos.
 * Yanoviak S. P., and M. Kaspari. 2000. Community structure and the habitat templet: ants in the tropical forest canopy and litter. Oikos 89: 259-266.